After months of speculating about the 2025 IU football depth chart, we got answers on Saturday.
Below we took a look at Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades, notes and snap counts from their week one contest vs. Old Dominion.
On the whole, IU did not grade well at PFF. The Hoosiers are just No. 61 overall through Saturday action. They have the No. 58 offense and No. 65 defense.
Next up for Indiana (1-0) is PFF No. 122 Kennesaw State (0-1) on Saturday (Noon ET, FS1). The Owls lost their season opener at Wake Forest by a final score of 10-9.
OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS
Fernando Mendoza was Indiana’s best overall offensive player according to PFF, with a 74.4 grade. His running was the highlight of his day. PFF says his adjusted completion percentage was 67.9% after accounting for drops and throwaways. He was sacked once and under pressure seven times.
Roman Hemby was the top-rated running back. He led the team in yards after contact and missed tackles forced. Both Hemby and Kaelon Black received very high marks in pass blocking.
Elijah Sarratt wasn’t heavily utilized in the passing game, but he had the top run-blocking grade on the team and led the receivers in yards after catch. E.J. Williams had the most targets with six and the most catches with five. Omar Cooper, Jr. had the only drop on the day.
Four offensive linemen — Drew Evans, Carter Smith, Bray Lynch and Pat Coogan — had pass blocking grades of 82 or better. As a team IU had the second-best overall team pass blocking grades in the country through Saturday. No one on the line allowed more than one pressure. Despite playing in his first game since an Achilles injury in November, Evans had the best pass blocking and run blocking grade.
OFFENSIVE SNAP COUNTS (92 total)
What stands out the most in the offense is the amount of snaps the starting receivers played. There was not a heavy rotation. And Makai Jackson seems to be below Charlie Becker and Lebron Bond on the depth chart, at least for now.
- Fernando Mendoza (QB) – 92
- Drew Evans (G) – 92
- Carter Smith (T) – 92
- Pat Coogan (C) – 92
- Bray Lynch (G) – 92
- Khalil Benson (T) – 92
- Elijah Sarratt (WR) – 84
- Omar Cooper, Jr. (WR) – 75
- Riley Nowakowski (TE) – 68
- E.J. Williams (WR) – 53
- Roman Hemby (RB) – 48
- Holden Staes (TE) – 41
- Kaelon Black (RB) – 31
- Jonathan Brady (WR) – 22
- Lee Beebe, Jr. (RB) – 13
- Charlie Becker (WR) – 10
- Lebron Bond (WR) – 8
- James Bomba (TE) – 5
- Makai Jackson (WR) – 1
- Zen Michalski (T) – 1
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
Amare Ferrell had the best overall defensive grade on the team.
Hosea Wheeler and Aiden Fisher led the defense with two quarterback pressures apiece.
Stephen Daley had the top run defense grade in limited snaps. Aiden Fisher and Amare Ferrell were next. Rolijah Hardy had the best tackling grade, with Ferrell right behind him. As a team IU only had the 93rd-best team tackling grade.
Amare Ferrell had the best coverage grade, with D’Angelo Ponds right behind him. ODU took an interesting approach, targeting Ponds six times, but Jamari Sharpe just once. Ponds did allow four receptions, but they went for just 4.5 yards per catch.
DEFENSIVE SNAPS COUNTS (46 total)
Nothing too terribly surprising here. Consistent with last season, Indiana only rotated along the defensive line, and they had some personnel groupings that included three linebackers. Jamari Sharpe’s grip on the starting cornerback seems very firm.
- Amare Ferrell (S) – 46
- D’Angelo Ponds (CB) – 46
- Aiden Fisher (LB) – 46
- Louis Moore (S) – 46
- Jamari Sharpe (CB) – 46
- Devan Boykin (CB) – 46
- Rolijah Hardy (LB) -39
- Hosea Wheeler (DT) – 33
- Kellan Wyatt (DE) – 30
- Mikail Kamara (DE) – 30
- Tyrique Tucker (DT) – 24
- Isaiah Jones (LB) – 23
- Mario Landino (DT) – 18
- Stephen Daley (DE) – 17
- Dominique Ratcliff (DT) – 16
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