Zander Diamont Appears Prepared to Battle

With the Summer upon us, there is very little available for the common college football fan to enjoy. Luckily, Zander Diamont has filled that void this offseason, using his social media to display the potential benefits that come with a quarterback competition.

Zander Diamont has done everything that has been asked of him ever since he first arrived in Bloomington. He accepted his role as a redshirt when he first arrived. He then did a serviceable job replacing Nate Sudfeld after an injury in that same season. This includes beating Purdue and taking the most legendary photo of Indiana quarterback history.

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Diamont then did the same exact thing this past season, filling in for Nate Sudfeld in Indiana’s biggest game of the season against Ohio State. In that game, Diamont electrified the crowd and had the Hoosiers within a touchdown of one of their greatest upsets in history.

Of all the things Diamont has done for this program, the biggest thing he has done has been wait.

Diamont has waited for this season to be the one where he claims the reins as the starting quarterback, but thanks to the arrival of JUCO transfer Richard Lagow, Coach Kevin Wilson appears to have one more ask of Diamont.

Win the job.

There is no question about the fact that there is going to be a quarterback competition this upcoming season, but many in the media have been too quick to give Lagow the crown.

Oct 18, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Zander Diamont (12) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The reasoning behind this premature crowning is rather consistent with what Diamont seems to always be facing when he steps on the field.

Zander Diamont will always be the underdog.

He doesn’t look like your prototypical quarterback, measuring at just above 6 feet and weighing 175 pounds, and he doesn’t play like one either. For that reason, he will always be considered the underdog. This especially comes into play when being pit against a 6’6″ 240 pound pro-style quarterback.

Luckily, Zander Diamont relishes the “underdog” title, and nothing makes that more clear than current rampage that Mr. Diamont has been going on through social media.

Just looking through his twitter feed, Zander has put the Hoosier faithful on notice displaying the work he has put in this offseason, and making sure all are aware that he’s ready to compete come the fall.

Some highlights include…

These are just a few examples of Diamont’s positive branding lately, but if you were to look through it all, one thing is evident.

Zander Diamont is coming to Bloomington with a chip on his shoulder.

Now I am fully aware that an individual shouldn’t read too far into what is said over social media, but it’s hard not get excited over what Diamont is doing here.

No matter who you would prefer to have the job, there is nothing better for this program than two individuals willing to battle for the job.

Zander has expressed his interest in being the guy, and you have to appreciate that as a fan. All things said and done, having Diamont at the helm may be exactly what this team needs.

Diamont might not be able to match the arm strength of Lagow, but as made clear by his play against Ohio State, Diamont brings versatility to the game that can cause defenses nightmares.

Diamont has the speed and potentially the killer instinct to become a star for this program.

Lagow might be the easy choice for many in the media, but Diamont has the potential to energize a fan base with his electrifying play.

Of course he is far from perfect, as he needs to work on his arm strength and his decision-making forward. With that said, Diamont could be exactly what Indiana Football needs.

No matter what, Zander Diamont is providing fans with hope moving forward, simply by using 140 characters.

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