Notebook: Hohlt’s Scholarship Reflects True Swarm D Spirit
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Video doesn’t lie. It shows the passion, the belief, and the love that Indiana redshirt sophomore linebacker Matt Hohlt generates.
Make that scholarship linebacker Matt Hohlt.
Walk-on status is over.
“He's a really good player,” head coach Tom Allen says. “He has great instincts, but it's the details. It's the way he works; it's the he way prepares; it's the way he practices; it's the way he does everything. It's at such a high level and allows him to be very effective. He was a really good player for us last year, and so he earned it.”
Hohlt arrived in Bloomington as a walk-on three years after a standout career at state-of-Indiana powerhouse Center Grove High School. He worked his way up the depth chart. That included a pair of scout team awards during his first season.
This week’s scholarship moment made social media waves via IU Football’s accounts. It shows linebacker coach and co-defensive coordinator Chad Wilt making a passionate case for Swarm D standouts.
Swarm D players represent the best of IU’s defensive culture.
“Those are the men on this defensive unit,” Wilt says. “They are the standard. They are bought in, all in. They go all out. Every rep is a game rep. That’s the standard.
“This guy gives it every time he steps on that field. I want this guy in the foxhole with me. I know he has my back. He is one of the ultimate warriors, ultimate competitors.”
A pause.
“Matt Hohlt.”
IU players cheer. Then Allen adds to the moment.
“No walk-on has ever made this board, and that’s still the case because Matt Hohlt is on scholarship!”
Players swarm Hohlt in an emotional group hug.
“You saw the response,” Allen says. “That was passionate and just so genuine. They love him and respect him. He works so hard.”
The 6-2, 225-pound Holht has played in 12 games over the last two seasons. He’s totaled 19 tackles, highlighted by last year’s crucial third-and-goal stop against Western Kentucky that forced a field goal and allowed IU to rally for an overtime victory.
He joins his father, Eric, as a Hoosier walk-on who earned a scholarship. The elder Holht played from 1982-85 under former head coach Bill Mallory.
“It’s a neat legacy to have that opportunity,” Allen says.
Transfer Jacob Mangum-Farrar will join with veteran Aaron Casey to form a formidable linebacker pair.
“Jacob is a guy that I trust,” Allen says. “He's big and physical. He can run. He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s earned the respect of his teammates by how hard he's worked, how much time he's put in the film room, and how much he studies and prepares.”
Linebackers in Allen’s system run the defense. Mangum-Farrar has the experience to handle that responsibility despite being in his first Hoosier season after transferring from Stanford. He played in 26 games for the Cardinal and totaled 44 tackles last season with a forced fumble.
“They've got to run that side of the football with confidence,” Allen says of Casey and Mangum-Farrar. “Jacob has the ability to do it. He has a lot of experience and played a lot of football in the Pac-12. I’m excited to have him here. I expect him to be a very good player for us.”
Friday’s practice at Lucas Oil Stadium gave the Hoosiers an early sense of what it will be like when they play Louisville there on Sept. 16. It’s the first time they will have played at the Indianapolis Colts’ facility since a 2019 game against Ball State.
IU incorporated team building activities along with Friday’s practice to facilitate team chemistry.
“We don't have a chance to come here the week of the game,” Allen says, “so I wanted to find a way to get here in fall camp. It's also a nice change of pace for the schedule.
“A lot of guys haven't played there before. We want to get them familiar with the setting, how the lights feel. We wanted to make sure the setting will be just like what it will be on game day with specialists and catching kicks and punts, and kicking in this venue.”
The offensive line continues to progress under coach Bob Bostad. Intensity surfaces even during practice warmups.
“They are full-bore, lathered up,” Allen says. “It’s the relentless attention to detail, the absolute bulldog focus on technique and fundamentals. It’s the same things over and over, which develops toughness, consistency, and confidence in your guys.”
Better offensive line play is crucial in boosting the run game as well as pass protection.
“We’ve got to run,” Allen says. “We’ve said that. We know that. Coach Bostad has brought a different attitude, a different end. He’s all business.”
IU coaches expect to have settled on a starting quarterback by the end of this weekend. That will include the results from the two scrimmages.
Allen says Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson have completed a lot of passes in recent practices, and have shown improvement in execution, decisiveness and decision-making.
“They’ve shown a lot of growth, which is encouraging,” he says. “It’s going through the progressions of getting the ball out when it needs to be.”
And one other thing:
“Our receivers have been catching the ball well.”
The goal is to have the starting quarterback work with the No. 1 offense for the next two weeks in preparation for the Sept. 2 season opener against Ohio State.