With the 2025 football season that will start next month, Inside the Hall offers a position-per-position preview of the schedule. Today: Defensive line.
Earlier: Quarterback, running back, attacking line, broad recipients and tight ends
As was the case with most position groups of Indiana Football, the line of defense had a wonderful season 2024, in which the Quarterbacks were en route to the play -offs of the University Football week after week.
Pat Kunz and Buddha Williams were great with the talent last season and did an even better work to fill the vacancies left by the departure of Lineman James Carpenter and CJ West.
With the additions of important defensive rulers, there is optimism on the defensive front in the second season of Curt Cignetti’s term of office in Bloomington.
The projected line
Stud: Mikail Chamber (R-Sr.), Kellan Wyatt (Sr., Maryland)
Fresh of a season full of both Big and National Accolades, Kamara returns to Bloomington for his last season of collegial suitability with an opportunity to be the first team of Indiana Football All-American since Antwaan Randle EL in 2001.
In his first season at the Power Four level, the James Madison transfer made its presence, with a total of 10.0 bags and 15.0 tackles on the way to the first team All-Big ten, Second team All-America of the Athletic and third team All-America honor of the Associated Press.
In anticipation of his long -awaited season, Kamara deserved a place on the Honors list of the Big Ten’s preseason. The indigenous Ashburn, Virginia, is most likely one of the best defensive rulers in the country from the study position this year for the Hoisiers.
While Kamara will play a majority of his snaps on the cutting position, he will occasionally venture to the peripheral position, so that Wyatt leaves the space to get meaningful snaps this season.
Wyatt appeared in 35 career competitions for three seasons in Maryland and had a total of 30 tackles (19 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, three bags and two forced junk in his junior season with the Terrapins. The 6-foot-2, 262 pound Lineman who dedicated to Indiana at the end of April and will probably have to earn its place in the rotation during the autumn camp in the coming weeks.
Nose equipment: Tyrique Tucker (R-JR), Dominique Ratcliff (R-Sr., Texas State)
Another JMU transfer that immediately found success at the highest level, Tucker immediately had an impact in the middle of the line for Indiana last season. The second -year -olds appeared in all 12 games, a total of 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 bags.
Tucker was assessed as the ninth best defensive interior in the Big ten and 25th National per Pro Football Focus. The resident of Norfolk, Virginia is ready for an even better Junior season, because he will be sandwiched between Kamara and Hosea Whea Wheeer.
Behind the talented Tucker, Ratcliff brings nearly 40 experiential matches to a collegial level and plays the last three seasons in Texas State. Despite his experience with seeing the field, Ratcliff only started in four games in five seasons.
The Redshirt Senior will commit to Indiana in January, will be in the rotation when Tucker needs a break, which maintains the talent level at the nasal position.
Defensive Tackle: Hosea Wheeler (R-Sr., Western Kentucky)
With the coming graduates from Carpenter and West, Indiana had to hit the portal and quickly secure important replacements. The first Domino that was Fall was Wheeler, who was committed to Indiana on December 16.
Wheeler, a first team All-Conference USA from 2024, led Conference USA interior defenders with 619 Snaps played, where a tackle was placed in all 14 games for the Hilltoppers.
Phil Steele Tabbed Wheeler as a third team All-Big in Defensive Lineman before the 2025 campaign, which becomes a member of Kamara (first team). The Senior Redshirt is likely to play an important role for the Hoosiers in his only season in Bloomington.
Defensive End: Stephen Daley (Sr., Kent State), Mario Landino (SO.)
Part of the defense line of Indiana dives into the transfer portal brought Daley, a veteran from the state, who will be on the line for Indiana this year.
Daley has collected 24 Starts for three seasons with the Golden Flashes, with 103 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, six bags and one interception. De Winchester, Virginia, Native will not be as flashy as its counterpart on the other side of the line, but will do the work to complete a hungry line of defense.
Landino appeared in a dozen competitions and was one of the 12 True-Freshmen in Indiana who made his collegial debut last season, a total of nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 bags.
Although it was not a projected starter prior to his second season, Landino earned a lot of praise from Kamara on Big Ten Media Day last week, and noted that the Macungie, Pennsylvania, Native is ready for a Breakout season in year two.
Prospect
With veteran transfers, crucial returners and a potential all-American Pass Rusher, there is reason to assume that the defense line of Indiana will be even better than last season.
The pass -rush will probably be just as harmful to the attacking lines and quarterbacks of opponents, forcing rushes that the rest of the Hoosier defense can benefit.
It is an expectation that the defensive front of Indiana will be destroyed on its way to another record-breaking season.
(Photocredit: iu athletics)
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