Sitting down with a national champion: Mike Blake interviews grandson Jeffrey Utzinger

EVANSVILLE, Ind.

(WFIE) - Unexpected..

Undefeated..

Unbelievable..

Thats what Mike Blake titled the event hosting an Indiana University linebacker who stood alongside Fernando Mendoza while winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Yet he wasnt there just to talk about that.

He took the students athletes all the way back to his college recruitment.

I brought in about five to six division one offers and it was great.

Then it all kinda settled down and I was kinda ready to be done with football..., said Jeffrey Utzinger, IU linebacker.

But he wasnt, he just hadnt found his home.

And so I told myself, maybe Ill just go to IU and Ill try to walk on the team myself..., said Utzinger.

From no scholarships, no promises, and no guarantees, Utzinger is now heading into his fifth year at IU, with a scholarship and a championship ring.

His many stories resonated with those who were there.

He had multiple D1 offers and still chose to walk-on will teach me to most definitely trust my gut, said Kinzlie Russell, Central High School student-athlete.

When he mentioned his first two years under a different coach and a new coach coming in and changing the culture, changing the program, because I can relate to that here.

Our first two years we were under different coaches and Coach Nero, and he came in and really just changed everything around, said Jeraden Copeland, North High School student-athlete.

Event organizers hoped the event would give up-and-coming athletes an idea of what it takes to succeed, all from someone whos done it.

When I sit here and Im looking at these kids, I know that these are what the kids are going through on a daily basis so for them to hear it from me, as a national champion and someone who has it so great, gives them really a different perspective of okay, hes right, its not always sunshine and rainbows.

Its gonna be a roller coaster of emotions, said Utzinger.

But dont forget, no matter how much you may love the Hoosiers, few think more of Utzinger than his grandpa.

Hes been a special kid, and I just think its a perfect story going from a walk-on to a special teams player of the year to national champion.

But the big thing is his dream continues, and as I said, I think if he gets into the starting lineup of the rotation, I think itll be tough to keep out, said Mike Blake.