Indiana Hoosiers senior starting offensive lineman Harry Crider today announced via Twitter that he’d opted to decline the NCAA’s 2020 COVID eligibility-freeze and declare himself available for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Crider, who grew up in nearby Columbus, Indiana before playing for the home-state U, wrote a short note of thanks to go with the announcement. He hash-tagged his post #LEO after head coach Tom Allen’s now-famous expression for the mystic powers inherent in a true team: Love Each Other.

“Growing up in Indiana and being able to play for this university is something I dreamt of as kid,” read Crider’s statement in part. “These past four years have been a blessing and the best years of my life. Being part of the culture coach Allen developed has allowed me to grow into the man I am today. There is nothing better than going to battle with my brothers and creating relationships that will last a lifetime. 

The Hoosiers went 14-7 over Crider’s final two seasons, excellent numbers for a program with an established history of losing and finishing at or near the bottom of the Big Ten. Indiana opened up this season at 6-1, with the lone loss coming in a tight game against Ohio State, before finishing 6-2 after a disappointing Outback Bowl loss to Ole Miss. 

Crider certainly left the program in better shape than he found out and now he’s going to test himself in the shark-infested waters of the NFL. No doubt the lads back home will be watching to see how he fares.