BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football officially added Stephen Daley to its 2026 roster.
And with fall camp starting Wednesday, he’s working towards getting back to full speed.
Daley suffered a season-ending injury while celebrating Indiana’s victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game in early December, which impacted his offseason plans. NFL workouts weren’t an option for him as he recovered from knee surgery. He’s already back on the field — he participated in Wednesday’s practice in Bloomington.
But IU head coach Curt Cignetti said the program won’t rush him back into full action.
“It’s a potential opportunity (for the team) to get better,” Cignetti said Wednesday. “Stephen would’ve been cleared for camp. He’s in pretty good shape. We’ll have a plan for his return to play. We’re not in a hurry (or) in a rush. We’ll bring him along, evaluate it day by day. And if it works out for him long term, I think it’s a great thing.”
Daley rejoined the Hoosiers this week after recent court rulings granted an additional year of eligibility to players from the class of 2022. This will be his second season at IU after transferring in from Kent State last year.
IU football: Stephen Daley returning to the Hoosiers for fifth year
Cignetti couldn’t put a percentage on Daley’s current availability, but said he looks good.
“He’s on a modified program. He’s going to dress out for practice, participate in some individual (activity) right now. No 11 on 11. And then get with the strength and conditioning staff who will bring him along till they feel confident he’s ready to go,” Cignetti said. “He was training to be ready for next year. Looks like he’s in pretty good shape.”
IU’s defensive line was already stacked without Daley, with Kansas State transfers Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor joining Notre Dame transfer Josh Burnham and Indiana returnee Daniel Ndukwe on the edges. But Daley’s return makes that group even more loaded.
Cignetti said he has not yet thought about whether Daley would be ready by Indiana’s season-opener against North Texas on September 5. But he knows how much this opportunity could mean for the Winchester, Virginia native.
“Here’s a guy who played at Kent State, then came to us last fall. And it really took him three to four games before he started to get the hang of it. Wasn’t playing a key role. And then became the most dominant defensive lineman in the Big Ten, led the Big Ten in TFLs with 19. Suffers the injury, and so ends up not getting drafted, and so on and so forth. So if it all works out and he can participate and help this football team, then his life could change,” Cignetti said. “But I know one thing about him: he’ll give it his best shot. He really will.”
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