We wrap up our position-by-position overviews with the quarterbacks.
The group looks far different than it did in November, when injuries forced IU to go to the fifth quarterback on the depth chart and a walk-on started against Purdue.
Coming out of spring practice, IU has several healthy alternatives to run new offensive coordinator Walt Bell’s system.
The competition for the starting job is open going into fall camp in August, but the early favorite is Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak.
Bazelak threw for 5,084 yards with 23 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a 66.4 completion percentage in 20 starts (24 games) from 2019-21 for the Tigers.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder started all 11 games in which he appeared in 2021 and threw for 2,548 yards. Bazelak, a team captain, added 16 TDs and 11 INTs with a 65.3 percent completion rate.
Jack Tuttle is back and pushing Bazelak. He completed 51.7 percent of his throws in 2021 with two touchdowns and five interceptions.
The injury situation in 2021 caused Donavan McCulley to be pushed into playing before he was ready. The hope is that a full offseason and his first spring practice will have him ready to take a stop forward in the fall. He completed 35-of-85 throws for 475 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He is IU’s best threat to run from the QB spot and finished with 135 sack-adjusted yards with two touchdowns on the ground.
Third-year player Dexter Williams is back from a season-ending knee injury, and walk-on Grant Gremel and true freshman Brendan Sorsby round out the room.
See also: Bazelak and Tuttle spring practice Q&A
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Leaving: Michael Penix, Jr. (transfer, Washington)
Key Returning: Jack Tuttle (redshirt senior), Dexter Williams (redshirt sophomore), Donaven McCulley (sophomore), Grant Gremel (redshirt junior, walk-on).
Transfers In: Connor Bazelak (redshirt junior, Missouri)
Incoming Freshmen: Brendan Sorsby (3-star)
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Below are our summaries of the rest of the offense, and the complete defense.
OFFENSE
RUNNING BACKS
Leaving: Stephen Carr (eligibility), Sampson James (transfer portal), Tim Baldwin, Jr. (transfer portal), Chris Childers (transfer portal), Davion Ervin-Poindexter (transfer portal).
Key Returning: David Ellis (senior), Trent Howland (redshirt freshman), David Holloman (redshirt freshman), Charlie Spegal (redshirt sophomore/walk-on)
Transfers In: Shaun Shivers (Auburn, senior+), Josh Henderson (North Carolina, senior)
Incoming Freshmen: Jaylin Lucas (3-star)
TIGHT ENDS
Leaving: Peyton Hendershot (NFL Draft), Matt Bjorson (transfer portal), Kham Taylor (transfer portal).
Key Returning: A.J. Barner (junior), Aaron Steinfeldt (redshirt freshman).
Transfers In: None.
Incoming Freshmen: Ryan Miller (3-star), Brody Foley (3-star).
Note: Four walk-ons (Ryan Barnes, Trey Walker, James Bomba, and Sam Daugstrup) are also in the mix for playing time.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Leaving: Ty Fryfogle (eligibility), Miles Marshall (transfer), Camron Buckley (transfer), Jacolby Hewitt (transfer), Da’Shaun Brown (transfer), Jordyn Williams (transfer).
Key Returning: D.J. Matthews (Senior+), Javon Swinton (junior), David Baker (redshirt sophomore), Malachi Holt-Bennett (sophomore), Jaquez Smith (redshirt sophomore).
Transfers In: Emery Simmons (North Carolina), Cam Camper (Trinity Valley C.C.), Andison Coby (Tennessee)
Incoming Freshmen: Omar Cooper, Jr. (4-star), Kamryn Perry (3-star).
Keep an eye on: David Ellis (senior RB with WR skills) and Jaylin Lucas (freshman RB with WR skills).
OFFENSIVE LINE
Leaving: Caleb Jones (eligibility), Dylan Powell (eligibility), Brady Feeney (transfer)
Key Returning: Chris Bradberry (redshirt senior+), Luke Haggard (senior+), Matthew Bedford (senior), Zach Carpenter (redshirt junior), Mike Katic (redshirt junior), Tim Weaver (redshirt junior), Kahlil Benson (redshirt sophomore), Luke Wiginton (redshirt sophomore), Randy Holtz (redshirt sophomore), Cameron Knight (redshirt sophomore), Vinny Fiacable (redshirt freshman), Joshua Sales (redshirt freshman).
Transfers In: Parker Hanna (West Texas A&M)
Incoming Freshmen: D.J. Moore (3-star), Carter Smith (3-star), Bray Lynch (3-star)
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Leaving: Ryder Anderson (Eligibility), Weston Kramer (Eligibility), Jonathan King (Transfer), Gavin McCabe (Transfer), Shamar Jones (Transfer), C.J. Person (Transfer)
Key Returning: James Head, Jr. (senior+), Demarcus Elliott (senior+), Sio Nofoagatoto’a (senior), Beau Robbins (redshirt junior), Cooper Jones (redshirt freshman)
Transfers In: JH Tevis (Cal, redshirt senior), Patrick Lucas (Ole Miss, redshirt junior), LeDarrius Cox (Ole Miss, redshirt junior)
Incoming Freshmen: Nick James (4-star), Richard Thomas (3-star), Venson Sneed (3-star), J’Mari Monette (3-star)
Position change: Caleb Murphy is focused on the offensive side of the football during the spring.
LINEBACKERS/BULLS
Leaving: Micah McFadden, LB (NFL Draft), Michael Ziemba, OLB (eligibility), Thomas Allen, LB (eligibility), Jaren Handy, OLB (dismissed), D.K. Bonhomme, OLB (transfer), James Miller, LB (transfer), Ty Wise, LB (transfer), Cameron Williams, LB (transfer)
Key Returning: Cam Jones, LB (senior+), Alfred Bryant, OLB (senior+), Aaron Casey, LB (senior)
Transfers In: Myles Jackson, OLB (UCLA, sophomore), Bradley Jennings, LB (Miami, senior+), Jared Casey, LB (Kentucky, sophomore)
Incoming Freshmen: Dasan McCullough, LB (4-star), Kaiden Turner, LB (3-star), Isaiah Jones, LB (3-star)
CORNERBACKS
Leaving: Reese Taylor (transfer – Purdue), Larry Tracy III (transfer – Illinois State), Larry Smith (transfer portal).
Key Returning: Tiawan Mullen (senior), Jaylin Williams (senior+), Lem Watley-Neeley (redshirt sophomore), Christopher Keys (redshirt freshman), Larry Smith (redshirt freshman)
Incoming Freshmen: Trevell Mullen (4-star freshman), James Monds III (3-star freshman), Jamari Sharpe (3-star freshman)
Position Change: Noah Pierre (senior) has moved to the husky position this spring.
SAFETIES AND HUSKIES
Leaving: Raheem Layne, S (eligibility), Marcelino Ball, H (eligibility) Juwan Burgess, S (transfer), Jordan Jusevitch, S (transfer), Ty Wise, H (transfer), Maurice Freeman, H (transfer).
Key Returning: Bryant Fitzgerald, S (redshirt senior+), Noah Pierre, H (redshirt senior+), Devon Matthews, S (senior+), Jonathan Haynes, S (senior+), Josh Sanguinetti, S (redshirt junior), Deland McCullough, S (redshirt junior), Bryson Bonds, S (junior), Jordan Grier, S/H (sophomore).
Incoming Freshmen: Phillip Dunnam (3-star freshman)
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