Indiana has big shoes to fill on the edge after losing defensive end Stephen Daley to a freak injury during the Big Ten Championship game celebration.
And it isn’t just Daley’s production defensive coordinator Bryant Haines must replace.
The Hoosiers previously lost Kellan Wyatt for the season. He was starting in Daley’s role at field end.
Combined Daley and Wyatt had 27 tackles for loss and eight sacks. They are the top two players on the team in tackles for loss per game. And all of that production is gone as the No. 1 Hoosiers (13-0) get set to face Alabama in the CFP quarterfinals at The Rose Bowl on Thursday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The obvious question on everyone’s mind is who will step into the void.
IU head coach Curt Cignetti was asked about it last week and to the surprise of no one didn’t have much to say.
“Bryant Haines does a great job coordinating our defense and we have a lot of confidence in our players,” Cignetti said. “We’ll find the best solution that gives us the best chance to be successful.”
Fair enough.
Haines fielded a similar question on Sunday. He was asked specifically about the player who many believe will replace Daley, sophomore Daniel Ndukwe.
“Same with with all positions, it’s always next man up,” Haines said. “So I expect that when Daniel Ndukwe’s number is called, he’ll be ready, just like everybody that came before him and everybody that’s going to come after him as well. And again, that’s regardless of position.
“We had some some issues at linebacker during the middle of the year,” Haines said. “Whether it be Jeff Utzinger that shows up in there, Kaiden Turner, there’s a job description needs to be done, find a way to get it done, and then it’s on me to adapt the scheme that fits what those guys are capable of.
“Whether it’s Daniel Ndukwe or whoever shows up at field end, I need to put them in a great spot to be successful,” Haines said. “That’s what I get paid to do and so I’ll fight my tail off to get that done.”
Ndukwe has had two full years to learn Haines’ scheme and physically mature into a player who certainly could be ready if his number is called. He played 104 defensive snaps this year, including 68 in the last three games, and another 17 in 2024. And he has been on the field for another 246 special teams snaps over the last two seasons. Special teams snaps go a long way towards building a staff’s confidence in a player’s ability, and there’s little doubt Ndukwe will see an expanded role in the CFP.
But it’s probably not as simple as next man up.
Starting on the other end of the line at the stud position is Mikail Kamara. He played the field end in prior years under Haines and Cignetti and could be moved back. And Mario Landino has played 30 outside snaps this year and 64 a year ago. He could bounce outside some and give more interior snaps to players such as Hosea Wheeler and Dominque Ratcliff.
Indiana also has some 3-3-5 looks and other scheme variations that could be emphasized to ensure they get the best 11 players on the field as much as possible with Daley and Wyatt both out.
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