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    The Daily Hoosier

    IU football: Position-by-position look at anticipated 2026 roster changes

    Mike SchumannBy Mike SchumannJanuary 23, 2026 IU Football 71 Comments
    Photo by Owen Graham for TDH
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    Your national champion IU football staff is now focused on the 2026 roster.

    Below we take a position-by-position look at which players are out of eligibility, who is eligible to return, transfers in and out, and freshmen in 2025.

    Scholarship players and notable walk-ons are included.

    This post will be updated regularly and added to the IU football drop-down menu.  Check back for updates.

    —————————————-

    LEGEND:

    *Started during the 2025 season or otherwise had a significant role.

    ^Early NFL Draft potential (NOTE:  No players will be marked as transferring in or out or leaving early for the NFL Draft until they have definitively declared their intent to do so.)

    #Requires medical hardship waiver to return

    (LAST UPDATED:  April 28, 2026)

    Offense

    QUARTERBACK

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  Fernando Mendoza* (NFL), Alberto Mendoza

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Grant Wilson, Tyler Cherry, Jacob Bell
    • Transferring in:  Josh Hoover (TCU)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  None

    RUNNING BACK

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Roman Hemby*, Kaelon Black*, Solomon Vanhorse
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  None

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Lee Beebe, Jr.*, Khobie Martin, Sean Cuono
    • Transferring in:  Turbo Richard (Boston College)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Jayreon Campbell  (3-star)

    WIDE RECEIVER

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Elijah Sarratt*, E.J. Williams*, Jonathan Brady*
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  Omar Cooper, Jr.*^ (entering NFL Draft), Makai Jackson

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Charlie Becker*, Tyler Morris, Davion Chandler, Lebron Bond, Myles Kendrick
    • Transferring in:  Nick Marsh (Michigan State), Shazz Preston (Tulane)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Laver Keys (3-star), Kortez Rupert (3-star)

    TIGHT END

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Riley Nowakowski*, Holden Staes*, James Bomba
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  None

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Blake Thiry, Andrew Barker
    • Transferring in:  Brock Schott (Miami, Fla.)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Parker Elmore (3-star), P.J. MacFarlane (3-star), Trevor Gibbs (3-star)

    OFFENSIVE LINE

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility: Kahlil Benson*, Pat Coogan*, Zen Michalski*, Jack Greer
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  Mitch Verstegen, Evan Lawrence

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Carter Smith*^ (declared intent to return), Drew Evans*, Bray Lynch*, Adedamola Ajani*, Austin Leibfried, Evan Parker, Matt Marek, Baylor Wilkin
    • Transferring in:  Joe Brunner (Wisconsin)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  C.J. Scifres (3-star), Kenton Mondeau (3-star), Sam Simpson (3-star), Ben Novak (3-star)

    Defense

    INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Dominique Ratcliff*
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  Hosea Wheeler*, J’Mari Monette

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Tyrique Tucker*^ (declared intent to return), Mario Landino*, Jhrevious Hall, Kyler Garcia
    • Transferring in:  Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State), Joe Hjelle (Tulsa)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Gabe Hill (4-star), Cameron McHaney (4-star), Blake Smythe (3-star), Rodney White (3-star)

    EDGE DEFENSIVE LINE

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Mikail Kamara*, Stephen Daley*, Kellen Wyatt*, Andrew Turvy
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: Andrew DePaepe, William DePaepe

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Daniel Ndukwe, Quentin Clark, Keishaun Calhoun, Triston Abram, Tyrone Burrus, Jr.
    • Transferring in:  Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State), Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Kevontay Hugan (4-star), Ronelle Johnson (3-star), Trevor Gibbs (3-star)

    LINEBACKERS

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Aiden Fisher*
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  None

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Rolijah Hardy*, Isaiah Jones*, Kaiden Turner*, Jeff Utzinger*, P.J. Nelson, Amari Kamara
    • Transferring in:  None
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Henry Ohlinger (4-star), Ja’Dyn Williams (3-star), Jacob Savage (3-star)

    SAFETIES

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Louis Moore*, Devan Boykin*, Bryson Bonds
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: Jah Jah Boyd

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Amare Ferrell*^ (declared intent to return), Byron Baldwin, Anthony Chung, Garrett Reese, Seaonta Stewart
    • Transferring in:  Preston Zachman (Wisconsin), Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Jamar Owens (3-star), D’Montae Tims (3-star)

    CORNERBACKS

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  None
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  D’Angelo Ponds* (NFL), Amariyun Knighten, Dontrae Henderson

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Jamari Sharpe*, Ryland Gandy*, Jaylen Bell, Zacharey Smith
    • Transferring in:  Carson Williams (Montana State), A.J. Harris (Penn State)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  Kasmir Hicks (3-star)

    Special Teams

    Departing:

    • Out of eligibility:  Mitch McCarthy (P)*, Mark Langston (LS)*, Brendan Franke (K)*, Jonathan Brady (PR)*
    • Transferring out/Early NFL Draft:  None

    Returning:

    • Eligible to return:  Nico Radicic (K)*, Quinn Warren (kickoffs, punter)
    • Transferring in: Billy Gowers (punter, Hawaii), Drew Clausen (long snapper, Iowa State), Paddy McAteer (kickoffs, Troy)
    • Freshmen in 2026:  None

    IU football 2026 transfer portal tracker

    For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.


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    Aiden Fisher Amare Ferrell D'Angelo Ponds Fernando Mendoza
    Mike Schumann

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