Indiana’s 2024 offensive line was never quite the same after Drew Evans went down with a season-ending injury.
To be sure, Evans’ early-November setback came ahead of IU’s most difficult stretch of games — Michigan, Ohio State and later Notre Dame — but his presence certainly seemed to be missed.
The 6-foot-4 and 306-pound Evans was Indiana’s overall top-rated pass blocker according to PFF before an Achilles injury ended his season. Among the starting offensive linemen, he ranked fourth among run blockers ahead of the injury. He started all nine games for the Hoosiers, playing a total of 578 snaps.
With Evans sidelined and playing against elite defensive lines, Indiana gave up a flurry of sacks and struggled to put points on the board, save for a 66-0 dismantling of Purdue.
Evans is not participating in spring practice, but he’s been walking around the practice field without a noticeable limp or any other visible limitations. Still, recovering from Achilles injuries can be long and arduous, and Evans still has more rehab ahead of him.
But IU coach Curt Cignetti said Tuesday he expects Evans to be back on the practice field for fall camp in August. He didn’t specify a precise timeline or anticipated workload for Evans, but the general trend is encouraging for an Indiana team looking to perhaps even take a step forward up front this season.
Also absent from spring practice among offensive linemen is former Hoosier Kahlil Benson, who transferred back to Bloomington from Colorado. Cignetti says Benson will be back for fall camp as well.
While the Hoosiers are shorthanded up front this spring, Cignetti likes the direction his group is headed under the guidance of position coach Bob Bostad.
“I see progress. [Pat] Coogan is making progress. Carter Smith has got to get better: they all have to get better,” Cignetti said. “The first line looks like an offensive line for the most part, functions like an offensive line for the most part. Going to continue to get better, working together, [making] calls. A lot of multiples [defensive looks] up front for an offensive and some of the techniques are different for some of the newer guys.”
The offensive line is anchored this spring by Pat Coogan at center and Carter Smith at tackle. 2025 starting guard Bray Lynch is back as well, and Ohio State transfer Zen Michalski is in the mix competing for a spot on the starting line along with Benson and Evans when they get back. On paper, those are the top six contenders for the five spots.
But Evans, a former walk-on at Wisconsin, came from seemingly nowhere last season, and the Hoosiers have several young players who could end up emerging by the time the 2025 season opens in late August.
“Some of the young guys, I see progress,” Cignetti said. “[Adedamola] Ajani has made progress. [Austin [Liebfried] broke his hand and is in a big hand cast, so that is kind of limiting him a little bit right now. [Baylor] Wilkin has done a nice job, and [Matt] Marek has done a nice job.”
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