Recruitment season is already in full swing for Indiana football.
Just over a week after the spring game, the Hoosiers have been busy in the transfer portal and in recruiting the class of 2026. Notably, IU added Maryland linebacker Kellen Wyatt from the transfer portal earlier this week, though he’s expected to play defensive line in Bloomington. Also added along the defensive front this week was Kent State’s Stephen Daley.
The portal closed on Friday, April 25 at the end of the day. But players in the portal can still join new teams well into the spring and summer.
Here are a few areas of potential interest or need for Indiana as portal season rolls on.
Wide receiver
This was the program’s clear biggest need coming out of spring camp.
IU has a strong group of starting wide receivers, with Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., E.J. Williams Jr., and Makai Jackson. But losing Michigan transfer Tyler Morris to injury this spring created some question marks about the rest of the room.
Curt Cignetti has praised sophomore Charlie Becker and freshmen Lebron Bond, Myles Kendrick, and Davion Chandler, seemingly high on their potential. But it’s a real question whether he and Mike Shanahan feel good enough about those options to stand pat at wide receiver after the Morris injury. Cignetti also hinted, after announcing the bad news on Morris, that the Hoosiers could turn to the portal to fill his void.
IU spreads the ball around offensively, with five receivers in the main rotation last season, along with tight ends and running backs. There’s a possibility the staff is comfortable enough with the current roster. But given the way Cignetti prioritizes production over potential, it would make a lot of sense to add a replacement for Morris in the portal this spring.
Offensive tackle depth
With Austin Barrett departed to the transfer portal, the Hoosiers started looking lighter on offensive line depth behind the starters.
Whenever Drew Evans returns to playing shape, he’ll give IU a sixth lineman to utilize in rotation with the starters. But he’d be more likely to stay on interior offensive line. After returning to IU from Colorado, Kahlil Benson has played some tackle during his career and is an option on the outside.
Carter Smith and Ohio State transfer Zen Michalski should be rock solid on both sides at tackle. But if anything happens to them, Indiana could be relying on a true freshman or redshirt freshman to step in. Cignetti hasn’t been shy about putting underclassmen on the field if he feels they’re ready, but there’s always risk in doing so, particularly in a big role.
If IU could add another tackle from the transfer portal to have in reserve, that could make things easier for both the team and for the younger players if any injuries pop up.
Safety and defensive line depth
These positions profile similarly to offensive line.
The Hoosiers have Amare Ferrell and Louis Moore at safety, two experienced, productive veterans to rely on in the back. They added N.C. State’s Devan Boykin, and either he or Ferrell should play the rover position. Should anything happen forcing one of them out, Bryson Bonds is another capable, experienced option ready to step in. IU did add several other defensive backs in the transfer portal in the winter window, and one of them could move to safety if disaster strikes the position group. But it’s easy to see Cignetti and Bryant Haines wanting another security blanket, particularly if they have any questions about whether freshmen Byron Baldwin Jr. and Seonta Stewart Jr. would be ready.
On interior defensive line, IU saw Marcus Burris Jr. enter the transfer portal at the end of spring camp. The Hoosiers still have plenty of options in that area, between Tyrique Tucker, Hosea Wheeler, Dominique Ratcliff, J’Mari Monette, and Mario Landino. Adding Wyatt from Maryland could allow them to focus Landino on the inside instead of putting him on the edge. It’s possible that Burris left because of those other options, potentially seeing a tough path to consistent snaps. But defensive line depth is so important, particularly on the interior, that IU could seek a replacement for Burris more suited for the reserve role he may not have been interested in.
Extra points
Indiana obviously has a starting quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, but are they comfortable they have a game ready backup? Tayven Jackson provided that luxury last year, but he has moved on. And if not, how difficult would it be to bring someone in via the portal with a reserve expectation?
The Hoosiers seems to have a primary trio at tight end — Holden Staes, Riley Nowakowski and James Bomba. But after losing Sam West to the portal, they only have five on scholarship at the position.
There seems to be growing confidence Rolijah Hardy can fill Jailin Walker’s spot at linebacker. He and Isaiah Jones both saw the field last year. But it wouldn’t come as a complete shock if IU made a run at someone with more experience.
(Mike Schumann contributed to this story.)
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
