Two of Indiana’s most impactful defenders from the 2025 national championship team are unexpectedly back.
Over the last few days, edge rushers Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt were both granted fifth years by a federal court injunction, and both announced their intent to return to IU.
The news creates something of an embarrassment of riches for Indiana, especially along the outside of its defensive line.
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has gone from what projected to be a very good line to a group that looks like the best he’s had in the last three years, and arguably the best in the nation — at least when you consider what he’s able to get out of them.
Both Daley and Wyatt were lost to season-ending injuries in 2025. Combined they played 772 snaps last season, still less than some every-down players on the team. And the duo combined for 27 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 13 games. That’s an incredible amount of production to suddenly have added to the roster in early August, just over a month ahead of the 2026 season.
The addition of Daley and Wyatt begs some questions — namely how will Haines allocate snaps? During last season’s title run he often used the phrase “best 11 on the field,” and we suspect you’ll see a lot of creativity from the Broyles Award winner to ensure he does just that in 2026.
Here are the main contenders for meaningful snaps along the defensive front in 2026. Don’t view this as a depth chart with the 1s, 2s and 3s listed in order, but instead who could play where in an effort to maximize the talent available.
To give you a sense for just how experienced this group is, each player’s total career college snaps are in parenthesis.
Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle
Tucker and Hjelle seems fairly locked in here.
- Tyrique Tucker, 6-foot, 307 (1,240 career snaps)
- Joe Hjelle, 6-foot-3, 318 (756)
3-Technique/Interior
Indiana went two-deep on the interior last year. Bumping Obiazor inside might be the answer to maximizing his snaps and impact.
- Mario Landino, 6-foot-4, 288 (707)
- Chiddi Obiazor 6-foot-5, 279 (860)
Defensive End (Field End)
The two end positions are where Indiana is stacked with talent.
- Stephen Daley 6-foot-1, 273 (1,740)
- Josh Burnham 6-foot-4, 255 (882)
- Chiddi Obiazor
Stud/OLB
- Tobi Osunsanmi 6-foot-2, 251 (671)
- Kellan Wyatt, 6-foot-2, 257 (1,393)
- Daniel Ndukwe, 6-foot-3, 238 (214)
- Josh Burnham
Third Linebacker?
It’s worth remembering, Indiana spent a lot of time in a 4-3 or 3-3 defense in 2025 with Isaiah Jones on the field as the strong-side third linebacker. Jones was often at the line of scrimmage and was used heavily as a pass rusher. He’s moving to middle linebacker this year, leaving an opening in that scheme. Osunsanmi began his college career as a linebacker, and he has all-state speed as a sprinter. Wyatt played outside linebacker at Maryland. Either could potentially man the Sam linebacker role at times in an effort to go “best 11,” with the scenario (run vs. pass) dictating the better fit.
- Tobi Osunsanmi
- Kellan Wyatt
There won’t be a lot of snaps for younger, inexperienced players this year, but there does appear to be an opportunity for at least one emerging talent with good size along the interior to see some meaningful action. Indiana has six first or second-year interior players at 280-pounds or more. It won’t be a surprise to see one of them on the field regularly after some early season evaluation.
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