How unexpected freshman emerged as Indiana football's key utility player
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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football offensive lineman Adedamola Ajani has met the moment.
The redshirt freshman stepped into the starting lineup down the stretch for an injured Drew Evans at left guard then jumped over to the opposite side with Bray Lynch struggling during the Big Ten title game.
Ajani could get playing time at a third different position in as many games in the Rose Bowl — he told The Herald-Times he expects to play at right tackle — but he’s willing to do whatever the coaches ask of him on Thursday when the No. 1 Hoosiers (13-0) take the field against Alabama.
“It don’t really matter where I’m at,” Ajani said with a wide smile. “I’ve played every position possible on the line. Wherever they need me, I’m ready to go anytime.”
The former Speedway standout stayed in the state as a former three-star recruit with more than a dozen scholarship offers, including ones from West Virginia, Duke and Louisville. He redshirted as a freshman, but his versatility allowed him to jump into the rotation this season among an experienced group of offensive linemen that includes five multi-year starters.
He said all of those veterans have been quick to help him with tips and advice along the way, but the primary resource that’s allowed him to hit the ground running has been Indiana‘s offensive line coach Bob Bostad.
Ajani raved about the coach at the Rose Bowl media day on Tuesday.
“You aren’t going to find a coach that’s so bought into football as coach Bostad,” Ajani said. “Every single detail, he’s on us for every single thing. That’s really helped us as a group grow exponentially.”
Bostad, who coached 11 All-Americans during his two stints at Wisconsin, has helped Ajani significantly improve his technique over the last two seasons.
“If you have bad technique you aren’t going to be able to move guys off the time,” Ajani said. “You got to have the technique then you put the physicality and mental part, and everything comes together.”
The verteran assistant’s tutelage has fueled Ajani’s confidence at a time when he’s playing some of the most talent laden-defensive in the country.
“I don’t feel pressure,” Ajani said. “When you feel pressure you start making mistakes. You have to be confident.”
As for his emotions going into the biggest game in IU history, Ajani is just plain excited.
“I’m just taking it all in,” Ajani said. “I haven’t been playing football for too long. Being in this type of surrounding is just crazy to me. I’m just enjoying it.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Who is IU football’s Adedamola Ajani? A freshman making the most of the moment
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