The offensive line for Indiana football has played a massive part in this year’s success and they are being recognized for their efforts nationally. The group has been named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line unit in the nation.
The offensive line’s dominance has been critical to the offensive success this year as Indiana football is averaging 176.7 rushing yards per game. They have also allowed just 11 sacks through 10 games while throwing the ball nearly 28 times per game.
Led by offensive line coach Bob Bostad the unit has improved immensely from last season. Bostad was one of the only coaches that Cignetti retained from last year’s staff.
RELATED: Coach Postgame Q&A: Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti recaps 20-15 win against Michigan
While Indiana football added multiple potential impact players on the offensive line in the transfer portal, it has been the returners who have stepped up.
Carter Smith and Mike Katic highlight the group after starting in 2023, but Drew Evans and Bray Lynch have both become standouts on the interior in their first year as starters.
“Whatever Coach Cig says. Keep the standard. It never changes,” Carter Smith said ahead of week 11. “Every single week, we have to get better with each and every practice, stack those days. Little by little, it gets a bit easier.”
The ‘standard’ that Curt Cignetti has set has been focused on changing the culture and the offensive line’s improvement from last season is indicative of that.
In addition to the four returners, Indiana football added offensive tackler Trey Wedig from Wisconsin. Wedig who played under Bostad while at Wisconsin has had a seamless transition to Indiana and has been a key piece on the right side of the offensive line.
Cignetti who rarely gives praise to his players has spoken highly of the group throughout the season.
“The line did a good job throughout the entire game. First series we had one or two missed assignments. After that, played very consistently like they have all year,” Cignetti said after the team’s win over Washington.
The most exciting part of the group’s play is there is potential to sustain this level of play moving forward. While Katic and Wedig are in their senior year, the other three starters are all sophomores who could anchor this group moving forward.
The group will have arguably their biggest test of the season after the bye week when they face an aggressive Ohio State defense that has 26 sacks and is allowing 2.9 yards per rush in nine games.
Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.
Looking for a place to get more Indiana content? Hoosier Illustrated has partnered with Tom Brady’s company ‘Autograph’ to streamline our coverage, so you can continue to do what you do best – follow IU sports. Use the CODE: Indianafr to get started today. For more info, you can start here.
