Indiana has to replace two players currently at NFL training camps along the interior of the defensive line.
They would be C.J. West and James Carpenter, who lined up inches from each other in 2024 but are currently on opposite ends of the country — San Francisco and Jacksonville, respectively.
They also have to replace Lanell Carr, who played most of the snaps on the outside opposite Mikail Kamara a year ago.
But the Hoosiers brought in multiple transfers during the offseason, and alongside Kamara, they are showing signs the defensive line could continue to be a strength of the team in 2025.
Kamara is probably going to be schemed into multiple advantageous roles to maximize his ability as one of college football’s best pass rushers. And opposite him much of the time will be veteran Big Ten defender Kellan Wyatt, who should keep defenses honest.
Wyatt epitomizes Curt Cignetti’s production over potential mantra, starting since he was a freshman at Maryland and playing in 35 games with 28 starts over the last three years. The Glen Burnie, Md. product was listed by Maryland as a linebacker, but he was on the outside in their 3-4 scheme, and primarily lined up as an edge rusher. That will be his role at IU.
He recorded 7.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles a year ago. One of the sacks came against Kurtis Rourke and Indiana.
6-foot-2 and 257 pounds, Wyatt is listed five pounds lighter than a year ago. Perhaps that has played a part in him standing out this month at Indiana’s fall camp. He’s earning the praise of IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
“Huge fan of Kellan Wyatt, he’s had an unbelievable fall camp,” Haines told the Big Ten Network crew when they visited Bloomington. “He’s very versatile guy, we can use him in a number of ways.”
On Monday, head coach Curt Cignetti echoed Haines’ sentiments about Wyatt.
“High effort, high energy, intelligent guy,” Cignetti said. “He’s very versatile, he could do a lot of different things, he’s had a really good camp. He’ll be a big addition for us.”
When it comes to replacing West and Carpenter, that won’t be easy.
Tyrique Tucker is a veteran who Cignetti says has a chance to start. And Indiana did go out and pick up two promising interior transfers, to join promising younger players like Mario Landino.
6-foot-3 and 298-pound Western Kentucky transfer defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler is listed a couple pounds lighter than last season, but he figures to earn a lot of snaps and occupy a lot of attention from opposing offenses.
“I like Hosea Wheeler, he’s probably the biggest, most powerful guy that we have up front,” Haines said.
“We have a huge void losing C.J. West and James Carpenter and last year, so there’s a hole at that defensive tackle position. Hosea Wheeler and Dominique Ratcliff (6-foot-3, 296 pounds, plus three pounds vs. a year ago at Texas State) have shown up at this fall camp. They’ve made vast improvements since spring ball and I have big expectations for them.”
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