Idzik, a native of Bridesburg in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attended Northeast Catholic High School, where the Philadelphia Daily News described him as "one of this city's top high school football players". In After the 1945 season he was selected as a 1st team All-Scholastic back by the Philadelphia Bulletin which honored the best high school players in the 5 county area in and around Philadelphia. He was also voted to the Coaches All-Catholic League team in 1944 (2nd team) and 1945 (1st team). Idzik was also the catcher for North Catholic's City Championship baseball team of 1945. After graduating high school in 1946 he enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1947. Idzik played on the football team and was a 4 year letterman as a back from 1947 to 1950. Idzik was also invited to play