Indiana opens spring practice on Thursday, and in advance of that we continue to examine the new look Hoosiers as they embark on a national title defense.
The Hoosiers have lost several of the top players from the 2025 team, but also bring back some key contributors. And they’ve made some significant additions to the roster via the transfer portal. IU has clear talent. Their biggest questions center on depth and role definition.
Led by Broyles Award winning defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, IU should have one of the nation’s top defenses again in 2026. But here are some of the most significant question marks going into the spring.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE/INTERIOR
There aren’t many questions here, as IU returns both Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino while adding Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State), and Joe Hjelle (Tulsa) from the portal. Led by defensive tackles coach Pat Kuntz, that foursome should prove to be a strength of this team.
But like Landino, Obiazor is versatile and will line up on the outside at times. And that presents some depth concerns if the preference is to keep him on the edge. A strength of Indiana’s 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes was the interior of the defensive line, but will anyone be ready if duty calls? One of second-years Jhrevious Hall or Kyler Garcia might be needed in this rotation-heavy role.
EDGE
IU lost three All-Big Ten caliber performers on the outside in Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley. And that’s why the staff placed a heavy emphasis on the role in the transfer portal.
Tobi Osunsami (Kansas State) and Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame) were added from the portal, and both will play key roles. They’ll join Daniel Ndukwe, who stepped up in a major way during the postseason, and Obiazor when he’s outside.
Again, depth might be the only real question here.
Quentin Clark has been groomed for two years and might be ready to contribute, and the Hoosiers have a lot of talent among the first and second-year players.
LINEBACKER
Indiana must replace the heart and soul of its 2024 and 2025 defense in linebacker Aiden Fisher. That certainly creates a major question.
But the good news is, IU played almost two full games without him in 2025 — against UCLA and Maryland — and won those contests 111-16.
Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy return as the clear starters. Jones will assume the green dot role as the communicator with Haines. He’s smart and knows the defense inside and out. And Hardy has vastly exceeded expectations two years in a row and looks like a future pro.
Neither Jones nor Hardy are as vocal as Fisher, so it remains to be seen how much that aspect is missed.
And who will fill in behind Jones and Hardy, especially considering Haines likes to play three linebackers at times?
Jeff Utzinger and Kaiden Turner are reserves who the staff has trusted to be on the field here and there, but would they be ready to start if needed or play that third role? IU has some highly-ranked true freshmen at the position, but how much can they be counted on in year one?
CORNERBACK
At corner, Indiana has to replace one of the most valuable players ever in the program.
Who is going to step in for D’Angelo Ponds at boundary cornerback?
The logical choice is Penn State transfer A.J. Harris. He’s a former 5-star recruit who played for Penn State and Georgia. He has the pedigree, but replacing Ponds’ impact is no small ask. Harris didn’t perform as well in 2025 as 2024 for the Nittany Lions according to PFF. His ability to step in, learn the scheme, and reach his potential could be a make-or-break element to the 2026 season.
SAFETY
The Hoosiers have major losses on the back end and at rover in Louis Moore and Devan Boykin, respectively.
Their replacements seem clear in the trio of Wisconsin transfer Preston Zachman, Cincinnati transfer Jiquan Sanks, and returning sophomore Byron Baldwin. Those three join Amare Ferrell, who is locked in at as one of the back end starters.
The biggest question might be the competition presented by Zachman and Sanks to keep Baldwin off the field. Baldwin is a playmaker who had an impact as a true freshman after missing several games at the start of the season with an injury. And Baldwin can play rover or safety. It will be interesting to see who emerges and earns the most snaps among those three.
For all the key dates to know for the spring, GO HERE.
ALSO SEE:
IU football’s biggest questions on offense going into 2026 spring practice
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