Even as IU football prepares for the national championship, the staff continues to focus extensively 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.
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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: Jan. 14, 2026)
Offense
QUARTERBACK
Departing:
- Out of eligibility: Grant Wilson
- Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: None
Returning:
- Eligible to return: Fernando Mendoza*^, Alberto Mendoza, 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: Makai Jackson
Returning:
- Eligible to return: Omar Cooper, Jr.*^, 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*
- Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: Mitch Verstegen
Returning:
- Eligible to return: Carter Smith*^, Drew Evans*, Bray Lynch*, Adedamola Ajani*, Austin Leibfried, Evan Lawrence, Evan Parker, Matt Marek, Baylor Wilkin, Jack Greer
- 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: Hosea Wheeler*, Dominique Ratcliff*
- Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: None
Returning:
- Eligible to return: Tyrique Tucker*, Mario Landino*, J’Mari Monette, 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 Osunsami (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*
- Transferring out/Early NFL Draft: Jah Jah Boyd
Returning:
- Eligible to return: Amare Ferrell*^, Byron Baldwin, Bryson Bonds#, Anthony Chung, Garrett Reese
- 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: Amariyun Knighten, Dontrae Henderson
Returning:
- Eligible to return: D’Angelo Ponds*^, Jamari Sharpe*, Ryland Gandy*, Jaylen Bell, Seaonta Stewart, 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)*,
- Transferring in: Billy Gowers (punter, Hawaii), Drew Clausen (long snapper, Iowa State), Paddy McAteer (kickoffs, Troy)
- Freshmen in 2026: None
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