Indiana football wraps up its spring camp on Thursday evening with its spring game.
This will be the public’s first look at the 2025 Hoosiers, with fall camp beginning in just over three months and the season-opener a month after that. Curt Cignetti and his staff will be thrust quickly into offseason mode immediately after the spring game, with the spring transfer portal window in full force.
But for now, the spring game looms. It’s always important to remember to take everything with a grain of salt with the spring game. It’s essentially a practice session — a scrimmage — and it’s a small sample size of the many practices and scrimmages Indiana’s held this spring. Andison Coby was one of the standout performers in last year’s spring game with 114 receiving yards; he finished last season with 70.
But still, the spring game is a good table-setter ahead of more roster changes over the summer and fall camp beginning in due time.
Here are a few things to watch for on Thursday.
The Mendoza line
Quarterback is the most important position in sports, and IU has a new man in that job.
The Hoosiers brought in Fernando Mendoza from Cal out of the transfer portal, and this will be the first time fans and media can see him in anything resembling a game. So all eyes will certainly be centered on his outing on Thursday.
How does he look throwing the ball? How accurate is he to all three levels? Who are his seemingly preferred targets? How well does he handle any pressure? How mobile is he?
There’s a chance that the redshirt junior’s performance is not revelatory. After all, Tayven Jackson did outshine Kurtis Rourke in last year’s spring game. But fans can still get excited if Mendoza comes through with some big plays.
The backfield
IU’s running game was its biggest strength last season, as both Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison reached double-digit rushing touchdowns.
The Hoosiers showed signs of a potentially strong group of running backs during the spring game last year. So could their new-look backfield display similar promise on Thursday?
Kaelon Black returns, after playing a clear third-string role behind Ellison and Lawton. Meanwhile, transfers Roman Hemby (Maryland) and Lee Beebe Jr. (UAB) will look to establish themselves in Bloomington this year and keep IU strong on the ground.
The spring game could provide a glimpse at where Indiana’s backfield pecking order stands heading towards summer and fall.
Linebacker
Aiden Fisher gives Indiana a critical returning piece in the middle of the defense this season.
But he lost his running mate dating back to James Madison, Jailin Walker. Walker’s speed was a huge weapon at linebacker and helped mask other miscues on several occasions. So one of the biggest questions for the Hoosiers heading into next season is how they’ll replace him.
Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy both saw limited action last season, and one of those two will likely become Indiana’s starter in Walker’s vacated spot. The spring game could at least show who the current frontrunner is for the job, and it’s an opportunity for both players to get fans excited about their prospects of picking up where Walker left off.
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