Indiana appears to be losing a position coach and possibly also two of the highest rated recruits in program history in one move.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic is reporting running back coach Deland McCullough is expected to leave IU to take the same position at Notre Dame under new head coach Marcus Freeman. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg confirmed the report. McCullough came back to IU just a year ago from the Kansas City Chiefs.
McCullough’s son Dasan has enrolled early at IU as a linebacker in the recruiting class of 2022. He is the highest rated recruit in program history during the rankings era. Because he has signed and enrolled he is technically prohibited from leaving, but Indiana could let him out of his obligation or he could choose to sit out a year.
Daeh McCullough, a 4-star class of 2023 defensive back, has verbally committed to IU as well. There are no reports that either of the sons intend to join their father in South Bend, but obviously that becomes a distinct possibility at this point.
Deland McCullough was on his second stint as the running backs coach at IU. He worked under Kevin Wilson in Bloomington from 2011 to 2016, then left for USC for a season before spending three seasons in Kansas City.
Deland McCullough, Jr. is also a member of the IU football team after transferring from Miami, Ohio last spring.
[UPDATE: Deland II, Dasan and Daeh indicated on Tuesday they intend to stay at Indiana]
Two Indiana running backs transferred during McCullough’s one-year return. Sampson James left for Purdue during fall camp, and Tim Baldwin, Jr. left midseason. Both players fell on the depth chart after McCullough recruited transfer Stephen Carr from USC. Carr was injured late in the season and missed the last three games, forcing IU to turn to walk-on running backs to close out the season.
Carr is now out of eligibility. During the offseason IU brought in several running backs including North Carolina transfer Josh Henderson, Auburn transfer Shaun Shivers and class of 2022 high school recruits Gi’Bran Payne and Jaylin Lucas.
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