Harry Crider More Than the Center of IU’s Attention
10/2/2020 6:15:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Harry Crider is back where he wants to be, where the Indiana Hoosiers need him to be, and rewards loom.
Never under-estimate the power of a good football center.
It's the key to a dominant offensive line and a potent offense. A center has to be smart, tough, aware and, sometimes, a little bit nasty.
The 6-4, 311-pound Crider is all of that, and more.
"The great thing is," Hoosier offensive line coach Darren Hiller says, "I can just put the film on and say, 'Hey, you young guys, if you want to see how to do it, just watch Harry Crider.'"
Crider is a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection who graduated in two-and-a-half years (he's working on his master's degree). He's overcome diabetes, not just by football performance, but in community service. His Columbus (Indiana) East High School senior project was organizing a fundraiser for the Riley Children's Hospital.
He was just named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes to the nation's best combination of academic success, football performance and outstanding leadership.
"It means a lot to be recognized in areas like (community service) because, like Coach (Tom) Allen always preaches, football will end at some point," Crider says. "We're only here for so long and if we're lucky, only at the next level for so long, so being able to develop in other areas is really great. I'm happy to have been given opportunities to do that here."
Crider played eight games at center as an IU freshman, then one last year when Hunter Littlejohn was injured. He was a left guard the rest of the time.
"I'm super excited to be back at the center position," the senior says. "When I first moved to O-line in high school, all I played was center.
"The past two years were my only experience being outside of center, so center's home and I'm happy to be back in that more of a leadership role.
There was no drop off in offensive line performance last year when Crider replaced Littlejohn, sophomore tackle Matthew Bedford says.
"Harris is ready. I don't feel there has been a change. There is not much of a difference in the calls.
"Harry moves the same way Hunter moved. They don't have different ways in calling the defense.
"The one thing I can say about Harry is that he picks up on blitzes a little better. Sometimes he gives me a gut call, which is when the linebackers are on different levels. He sees that a little quicker. He's a huge help in that aspect."
Crider is also big in communicating, redshirt junior tackle Caleb Jones says.
"A common misconception about Harry is that he hates to talk. Harry will talk when he has to. He's a pretty funny guy. You just kind of have to hear him because he's not the (loudest).
"He'll never be the guy who is the noisiest in the (offensive line) room, but when he has something to say, you've got to make sure it's heard, because nine out of 10 times, it's important."
Hiller, who did perhaps his best coaching job last season while juggling massive injuries to the offensive line, is pushing to develop a difference-making unit. Time is not on his side given the Hoosiers will open with No. 10 Penn State in about three weeks.
"These next seven practices, which will get us through the end of next week, will be very critical because we will be two weeks from game time," he says. "At that point, there will be some decisions to make."
Crider, Bedford and Jones are the anchors in a line still building an identity.
The good news -- there's plenty of talent to build with. Hiller has guys such as Stanford transfer Dylan Powell, redshirt senior Mackenzie Nworah, redshirt freshman Michael Katic, redshirt freshman Tim Weaver and redshirt junior Britt Beery to develop.
"There will be some interesting battles," Hiller says. "We are in the early stages from a physicality standpoint.
"There is great competition. There is a sense of urgency to see who will come out on top."
The Hoosiers have no choice but look up to Jones. He's 6-8 and 362 pounds, massive even for a line dominated by 300-pounders.
Jones has always led by action, but more than ever before, his word makes a difference.
"I am taking the leadership role really seriously," he says. "I am trying to take the burden off of Coach Hiller.
"When he is coaching the guys and one of the tackles in the room has an individual question, they know they can come ask me instead of having to interrupt Coach and whatever he is doing. I try to be a helping hand for all of the guys that may not have everything figured out yet."
Jones has the versatility to play on either side of the line. He did it a lot last year, and likely will again this season.
"That is a result of Coach Hiller having a lot of faith in me and playing both sides. I started here as a left tackle and he moved me a lot from left to right in practice and put me in a lot of situations and scenarios that would prepare me to play both sides."
Bedford played left tackle last season, while Jones started at right tackle. They will switch positions this season.
"Right tackle is more natural to me," Bedford says. "I am able to see the field in a different way because I have had that experience on the left side.
"Now that I am back on the right side, my set is normal. I have not had to tweak that much. I have talked to Caleb Jones to get tips on what he used last year. It has been an easy transition for me."
IU's brutally challenging schedule is still not guaranteed. A Covid-19 outbreak could shut it down for three weeks or more, which heightens the urgency, Jones says.
"A lot of guys know that because this is such a unique situation, there has to be a heightened tempo when it comes to being in the weight room, watching film and becoming a better player overall.
"Our team has really taken on that challenge and taken everything that the coaches and strength staff have given us and try to push ourselves to be the best that we can be and prepare for the season in the best way that we know."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Harry Crider is back where he wants to be, where the Indiana Hoosiers need him to be, and rewards loom.
Never under-estimate the power of a good football center.
It's the key to a dominant offensive line and a potent offense. A center has to be smart, tough, aware and, sometimes, a little bit nasty.
The 6-4, 311-pound Crider is all of that, and more.
"The great thing is," Hoosier offensive line coach Darren Hiller says, "I can just put the film on and say, 'Hey, you young guys, if you want to see how to do it, just watch Harry Crider.'"
Crider is a two-time academic All-Big Ten selection who graduated in two-and-a-half years (he's working on his master's degree). He's overcome diabetes, not just by football performance, but in community service. His Columbus (Indiana) East High School senior project was organizing a fundraiser for the Riley Children's Hospital.
He was just named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which goes to the nation's best combination of academic success, football performance and outstanding leadership.
"It means a lot to be recognized in areas like (community service) because, like Coach (Tom) Allen always preaches, football will end at some point," Crider says. "We're only here for so long and if we're lucky, only at the next level for so long, so being able to develop in other areas is really great. I'm happy to have been given opportunities to do that here."
Crider played eight games at center as an IU freshman, then one last year when Hunter Littlejohn was injured. He was a left guard the rest of the time.
"I'm super excited to be back at the center position," the senior says. "When I first moved to O-line in high school, all I played was center.
"The past two years were my only experience being outside of center, so center's home and I'm happy to be back in that more of a leadership role.
There was no drop off in offensive line performance last year when Crider replaced Littlejohn, sophomore tackle Matthew Bedford says.
"Harris is ready. I don't feel there has been a change. There is not much of a difference in the calls.
"Harry moves the same way Hunter moved. They don't have different ways in calling the defense.
"The one thing I can say about Harry is that he picks up on blitzes a little better. Sometimes he gives me a gut call, which is when the linebackers are on different levels. He sees that a little quicker. He's a huge help in that aspect."
Crider is also big in communicating, redshirt junior tackle Caleb Jones says.
"A common misconception about Harry is that he hates to talk. Harry will talk when he has to. He's a pretty funny guy. You just kind of have to hear him because he's not the (loudest).
"He'll never be the guy who is the noisiest in the (offensive line) room, but when he has something to say, you've got to make sure it's heard, because nine out of 10 times, it's important."
Hiller, who did perhaps his best coaching job last season while juggling massive injuries to the offensive line, is pushing to develop a difference-making unit. Time is not on his side given the Hoosiers will open with No. 10 Penn State in about three weeks.
"These next seven practices, which will get us through the end of next week, will be very critical because we will be two weeks from game time," he says. "At that point, there will be some decisions to make."
Crider, Bedford and Jones are the anchors in a line still building an identity.
The good news -- there's plenty of talent to build with. Hiller has guys such as Stanford transfer Dylan Powell, redshirt senior Mackenzie Nworah, redshirt freshman Michael Katic, redshirt freshman Tim Weaver and redshirt junior Britt Beery to develop.
"There will be some interesting battles," Hiller says. "We are in the early stages from a physicality standpoint.
"There is great competition. There is a sense of urgency to see who will come out on top."
The Hoosiers have no choice but look up to Jones. He's 6-8 and 362 pounds, massive even for a line dominated by 300-pounders.
Jones has always led by action, but more than ever before, his word makes a difference.
"I am taking the leadership role really seriously," he says. "I am trying to take the burden off of Coach Hiller.
"When he is coaching the guys and one of the tackles in the room has an individual question, they know they can come ask me instead of having to interrupt Coach and whatever he is doing. I try to be a helping hand for all of the guys that may not have everything figured out yet."
Jones has the versatility to play on either side of the line. He did it a lot last year, and likely will again this season.
"That is a result of Coach Hiller having a lot of faith in me and playing both sides. I started here as a left tackle and he moved me a lot from left to right in practice and put me in a lot of situations and scenarios that would prepare me to play both sides."
Bedford played left tackle last season, while Jones started at right tackle. They will switch positions this season.
"Right tackle is more natural to me," Bedford says. "I am able to see the field in a different way because I have had that experience on the left side.
"Now that I am back on the right side, my set is normal. I have not had to tweak that much. I have talked to Caleb Jones to get tips on what he used last year. It has been an easy transition for me."
IU's brutally challenging schedule is still not guaranteed. A Covid-19 outbreak could shut it down for three weeks or more, which heightens the urgency, Jones says.
"A lot of guys know that because this is such a unique situation, there has to be a heightened tempo when it comes to being in the weight room, watching film and becoming a better player overall.
"Our team has really taken on that challenge and taken everything that the coaches and strength staff have given us and try to push ourselves to be the best that we can be and prepare for the season in the best way that we know."
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