After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season.
Next up are the linebackers.
THE COACHES
Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines coaches the linebackers. In a recent interview, head coach Curt Cignetti said he thought Haines might be a better linebackers coach than defensive coordinator. That’s a major statement considering Haines was named the 2025 assistant coach of the year primarily due to his work as the DC.
Haines has been with Cignetti since 2014 and has earned the full trust of the head coach.
THE MAIN MEN
Indiana doesn’t announce depth charts, but there’s no doubt who will be starting for the Hoosiers.
Isaiah Jones (6-foot-2, 227) will be the Mike linebacker, the same role Aiden Fisher played for the last two years. Jones will have the green dot on his helmet, meaning he’ll be in direct communication with Haines before each play. Jones played nearly two full games in that position last year, and says he practiced the role throughout the 2025 season. Cignetti has referred to Jones as “cut from the same cloth” as Fisher.
Rolijah Hardy (5-foot-11, 228) is back at the Will spot next to Jones. Hardy’s progression has been staggering. From unknown recruit, to a role as a freshman, to All-Big Ten as a sophomore — he’s now generating All-American buzz. A great tackler with elite speed and athleticism, Hardy can do it all and plays his best in big games.
This duo is about as good as you could hope for in a season when IU is replacing Fisher in the middle. Jones and Hardy have both been on numerous preseason watchlists, including the Butkus Award which goes to the nation’s best linebacker.
A YOUNG PICK TO CLICK
This one is a tough call. Indiana has landed several talented recruits in the last two classes, and at various points over the spring and fall camp they’ve flashed here and there.
Jacob Savage (6-foot, 225), Henry Ohlinger (6-foot-1, 226) and Ja’Dyn Williams (6-foot-1, 216) are all first year players with immense potential. They are the next wave of star linebackers in the program. Of the three, a slight edge might go to Savage, but it’s really too close to call.
But you might have to go up a class to second year PJ Nelson (6-foot-1, 222) for the answer. He would be our pick at the moment. But this is a competition for back-up duty that likely plays out over the first half of the season as these four see snaps in the second halves of blowouts.
ONE QUESTION
Jones is vacating the third (Sam) linebacker IU used often in 2025. Who steps in when Haines wants to go with three guys from his position group?
There are a number of options, from veterans Kaiden Turner (6-foot, 228) and Jeff Utzinger (6-foot-3, 230), to the four underclassmen, to even guys outside the linebacker room like Kellan Wyatt or Tobi Osunsanmi.
We’ll be watching with you when IU goes up against two and three tight end personnel.
ONE CONCERN
Because Jones and Hardy are so good, it’s reasonable to wonder how much of a drop off there might be if one of them is injured?
The staff has trusted Turner and Utzinger in short bursts, but could they truly fill those shoes? Could one or more of the younger guys be ready to compete at that level?
To be fair, we questioned how IU would replace Jailin Walker, and Hardy was fabulous. We wondered if the Hoosiers could survive a Fisher injury, and Jones was ready. In all likelihood, Haines will have answers again in 2026.
BOLD PREDICTION
Both Hardy and Jones are at least second-team All-Big Ten or better, and at least one is second team All-American or better. One of the two will exceed 20 tackles for loss on the season. They could go down as the best linebacker duo in team history.
THE OUTLOOK
As long as Hardy and Jones stay healthy, this is an elite unit. And they’ll be bolstered by playing behind one of the nation’s best defensive lines. Hardy and Jones will be all over the field, posting absurd numbers.
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