Indiana has already made two additions to its offensive line for the 2025 season via the transfer portal.
Needing replacements for outgoing center Mike Katic and tackle Trey Wedig, and possibly injured guard Drew Evans, the Hoosiers are still heavily pursuing potential starters up front for this fall.
According to multiple reports, Indiana has already had Notre Dame starting guard Rocco Spindler on campus for a visit, and they’re expecting a Friday visit from former Irish starting center Pat Coogan according to Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong of On3.
Neither Spindler nor Coogan initially earned starting roles for Notre Dame to open the 2024 campaign. But both filled in for injured starters early in the season and held onto those roles throughout their run to the national championship game.
Behind Spindler and Coogan, Notre Dame finished the 2024 season 19th in the nation with more than 200 yards per game rushing.
Indiana is believed to be battling at least Nebraska and Michigan for Spindler, and Ole Miss and Michigan for Coogan.
Both Spindler and Coogan have one year of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Spindler logged 747 snaps for Notre Dame in 2024. He has started 23 games in four years and played 1,325 snaps in his Notre Dame career. Spindler started 13 of 16 games he played in this season and had a 70.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. That included 71.8 on pass-blocking and 70.3 on run-blocking.
Per PFF, the 6-foot-5 and 310-pound Coogan played 813 snaps this season and was the team’s second highest-graded pass-blocker with a grade of 79.0 on the season. He had a 69.0 grade in run-blocking. Coogan started 13 games at guard in 2023 and has played in 30 career games.
Indiana learned the hard way against Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame — they need to be better up front to run effective offense at the highest level of the game. An addition of even one of Spindler and Coogan should quickly elevate offensive line to a strength of the team in 2025.
Indiana previously added Ohio State tackle Zen Michalski and Colorado rebound transfer Kahlil Benson at offensive line via the transfer portal over the last month. And returning are Evans, who started nine games before an Achilles injury, and 13-game starters Carter Smith and Bray Lynch.
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