Indiana has completed spring practice and now turns the page to summer workouts and the start of fall camp in early August.
What does the IU depth chart look like for the reigning national champs?
Here’s an estimation of where things stand for the defense.
In case you missed it, here’s where we believe things stand with the offense.
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DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1s – Tyrique Tucker, Mario Landino
2s – Joe Hjelle, Several
There is no more heavily rotated position than defensive tackle, so all of the ones and twos and beyond will see significant action. The early nod goes to the returning veterans from the national championship team, Tucker and Landino. But Hjelle is right there with them and will see extensive snaps this fall.
The fourth defensive tackle seems like more of an open competition at the moment, with redshirt freshmen Jhrevious Hall and Kyler Garcia in the mix. It’s not common for true freshmen to see meaningful action at defensive tackle, but Blake Smythe and Cam McHaney flashed potential this spring and caught the staff’s eye.
Realistically, IU will get its best players on the field, so at times 6-foot-5 and 279-pound Chiddi Obiazor will probably bump in along the interior.
DEFENSIVE END/STUD
Field End: Chiddi Obiazor or Josh Burnham
Stud (OLB): Tobi Osunsanmi or Daniel Ndukwe
Despite heavy losses, this might be the position on the defense with the most depth. Indiana has four capable starters in the players listed above. The slight nod coming out of the spring goes to the Kansas State transfers Obiazor and Osunsanmi, at least in part because they were healthier. But the depth and versatility on the edge is another reason to expect Obiazor to bump inside at times.
Among the younger players, redshirt freshman Tyrone Burrus has real potential. He’ll see the field but is likely a year away from a major role due to the depth. His fellow redshirt freshman Triston Abram is in the mix as well.
LINEBACKER
1s – Isaiah Jones, Rolijah Hardy
2s – Jeff Utzinger, Kaiden Turner
There’s no position on the team with two more locked in starters than Jones and Hardy. Both were All-Big Ten performers in 2025. Jones will take over the green dot role from Aiden Fisher, and leadership will be needed from both.
There’s a significant drop-off in experience should anything happen to Jones or Hardy. Turner had 82 defensive snaps last year, and Utzinger 49. As redshirt seniors, they’re both college veterans, but could benefit from more early season reps.
There’s an opportunity for a younger player to carve-out a role similar to Hardy in 2024. P.J. Nelson returns as a redshirt freshman, and IU really likes its first-year trio of Jacob Savage, Henry Ohlinger and Ja’Dyn Williams. Savage made some plays in the spring game. We’ll look for one of those four to separate at fall camp.
SAFETY
S1s: Amare Ferrell, Preston Zachman
Rover1: Byron Baldwin
S2s: Baldwin, Quan Sanks, Seaonta Stewart, Garrett Reese
Rover2: Quan Sanks
Indiana has a combined nine years of experience between Ferrell and Zachman, providing a trustworthy backend for the Hoosiers. There’s little doubt they’ll be the starters when the season kicks off.
The rover spot is more uncertain, but Baldwin began to earn trust as a true freshman last season, and he was the healthier option this spring as Sanks dealt with an injury.
Baldwin and Sanks are versatile, and likely the backups to Ferrell and Zachman, making this a relatively deep room along with Stewart and Reese.
Freshman Jamar Owens was getting a lot of snaps in the spring game. Anthony Chung has respect in the locker room.
CORNERBACK
CB1s: Jamari Sharpe, A.J. Harris
CB2s: Ryland Gandy, Jaylen Bell or Carson Williams
There’s no bigger loss on the defense than the early departure of D’Angelo Ponds. But IU coach Curt Cignetti specifically mentioned this spring he likes the depth in this room.
Returning national championship game hero Jamari Sharpe, and Penn State transfer A.J. Harris seem like clear starters. Cignetti said he likes Sharpe’s approach and improvement over the last few months. And Harris is a veteran with a 5-star pedigree on the other side.
Cignetti also commented this spring on the progress of Gandy, who filled in admirably for a game at Iowa last season.
Ball had the fourth-most snaps of any IU cornerback last year despite being a true freshman, and he’ll compete with Williams, who is coming off an FCS national title and Central FCS All-American honors.
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