Indiana Football began preparations for the 2026 season on Tuesday with a team practice.
Curt Cignetti’s program was reloaded, entering the highest transfer portal class according to On3’s rankings. The Hoosiers brought in 17 transfers and 20 freshmen.
Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the Hoosiers 2026 spring roster.
OFFENCE
Quarterback
Returners: Jacob Bell (R-Fr), Maverick Geske (R-Fr), Grant Wilson (R-Sr), Tyler Cherry (R-Fr)
Transfer: Josh Hoover (R-Sr, TCU)
Freshmen: No
With 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza declaring for the NFL Draft, Indiana went to the portal to land his successor in Josh Hoover from TCU.
Hoover threw for 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Horned Frogs last year. He becomes Indiana’s third different Week 1 quarterback under Curt Cignetti.
Running back:
Returners: Lee Beebe Jr. (Sr), Sean Cuono (R-F), Khobie Martin (R-So)
Transfer: Turbo Richard (Jr, Boston College)
Freshmen: Jayreon Campbell (Powder Springs, GA)
Needing to replace the production of Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, Indiana pulled Turbo Richard from the portal.
He will join Lee Beebe Jr., who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Indiana State last season, as the two-man defenseman.
Khobie Martin should be in the mix again as a third back – similar to his role last season.
Wide receiver
Returners: Charlie Becker (Jr), LeBron Bond (So), Davion Chandler (So), Myles Kendrick (R-Fr), Tyler Morris (R-Sr)
Transfers: Nick Marsh (Jr, Michigan State), Shazz Preston (R-Sr, Tulane)
Freshmen: Kortez Rupert (East St. Louis, Illinois)
Charlie Becker is the frontrunner among returners as the Hoosiers will get Tyler Morris back from injury after he missed the entire 2025 season with a knee injury suffered in spring training.
Nick Marsh was the nation’s most sought-after portal target, committing to Indiana in the second week of January. He will likely play a big role in the success of the offense.
Tight end
Returners: Blake Thiry (R-F), Andrew Barker (R-F)
Transfer: Brock Schott (R-Fr, Miami [FL])
Freshmen: Parker Elmore (Columbus, Ind.), Trevor Gibbs (Crown Point, Ind.)
Cignetti said in an appearance on the Big Ten Network last week that Brock Schott will miss spring training after labrum surgery. Schott is probably Indiana’s best member in an incredibly youthful room.
Offensive line
Returners: Carter Smith (R-Sr), Drew Evans (R-Sr), Bray Lynch (R-Sr), Adedamola Ajani (R-So), Jack Greer (R-Sr), Austin Leibfried (R-So), Matt Marek (R-Fr), Baylor Wilkin (R-Fr)
Transfer: Joe Brunner (R-Sr, Wisconsin)
Freshmen: CJ Scifres (Bargersville, Ind.), Ben Novak (Crown Point, Ind.), Sam Simpson (River Falls, Wis.)
Four starters return for the 2026 season, with Bray Lynch likely moving to center with the graduation of Pat Coogan.
Among the top offensive linemen in the portal, Brunner brings a wealth of experience to an already experienced line.
Bob Bostad’s group appears – on paper – to return as one of the top players in the country.
DEFENSE
Defensive end
Returner: Tyrone Burrus Jr. (R-Fr)
Transfers: Josh Burnham (R-Sr, Notre Dame), Chiddi Obiazor (R-Jr, Kansas State)
Freshmen: Ronelle Johnson (Blue Springs, Mo.)
The Hoosiers reloaded their strong-side defensive end room before it could even be empty, bringing in top talent in Joshua Burnham and Chiddi Obiazor.
Mikail Kamara left big shoes to fill after two productive years, but the transfer class has the potential to pick up where the future NFL draft pick left off.
Internal defense line
Returners: Tyrique Tucker (R-Sr), Jhrevious Hall (R-Fr), Mario Landino (Jr), Kyler Garcia (R-Fr)
Transfer: Joe Hjelle (R-Sr., Tulsa)
Freshmen: Gabe Hill (Naperville, Ill.), Blake Smythe (Trafalgar, Ind.), Came McHaney (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Tyrique Tucker’s decision to return for his senior season immediately strengthened the interior defensive line. Mario Landino broke out in a big way during the playoffs, so his return will be big for the pass rush.
Joe Hjelle totaled 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks, solidifying the Hoosiers’ inside defense.
STUD
Returners: Daniel Ndukwe (Jr), Quentin Clark (R-So)
Transfer: Tobi Osunsanmi (R-Sr, Kansas State)
Freshmen: KeVontay Hugan (Sarasota, FL)
Stephen Daley’s injury allowed Daniel Ndukwe to break out in the playoffs, solidifying his role for his junior season.
The departures of Daley, Kamara and Kellen Wyatt leave a big hole in the Indiana Pass rush, but the addition of K-State’s Tobi Osunsanmi fills the void. He may not be a starter, but his contributions could be a big piece to the defense and special teams puzzle.
Linebacker
Returners: Rolijah Hardy (Jr), Isaiah Jones (R-Sr), Amari Kamara (R-Fr), PJ Nelson (R-Fr), Kaiden Turner (R-Sr), Jeff Utzinger (R-Sr).
Transfers: No
Freshmen: Jacob Savage (Union, Kentucky), Henry Ohlinger (Columbus, Ohio), Ja’Dyn Williams (Massillon, Ohio)
Aiden Fisher’s declaration for the NFL draft leaves a gaping hole in Bryant Haines’ defense. The green dot will likely become Isaiah Jones’ role, giving the redshirt senior the coach-to-player communication as the leader of the defense.
One of college football’s most underrated linebackers, Rolijah Hardy, returns for his junior season and is poised for a breakthrough in his new role.
Kaiden Turner will take on the role of third linebacker, which fits well with Haines’ three-linebacker system.
Cornerback
Returners: Jamari Sharpe (R-Sr), Ryland Gandy (R-Sr), Jaylen Bell (So), Seaonta Stewart, Zacharey Smith
Transfers: AJ Harris (Sr., Penn State), Carson Williams (R-So, Montana State)
Freshmen: Kasmir Hicks (Camby, Ind.)
D’Angelo Ponds left for the NFL draft, so Indiana continues to search for a replacement for the All-American.
With a championship-clinching interception to his credit, Jamari Sharpe returns for his senior season with a slew of returners in the Indiana Corners Room.
AJ Harris, a 2025 honorable mention All-Big Ten, finished the 2025 season with 33 tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery for the Nittany Lions. Williams should also play an important role next season.
Safety
Returners: Amare Ferrell (Sr), Byron Baldwin Jr. (So), Anthony Chung (R-Jr), Garrett Reese (R-Fr)
Transfers: Jiquan Sanks (Jr, Cincinnati), Preston Zachman (Gr, Wisconsin)
Freshmen: D’Montae Tims (Tampa, Florida), Jamar Owens (Jonesboro, Georgia)
Amare Ferrell’s return makes the losses of Louis Moore and Devan Boykin more palatable. By Byron Baldwin Jr. he is expected to make a big leap in his second season.
Additions Jiquan Sanks and Preston Zachman give the Hoosiers some much-needed depth after spending last season short at safety.
D’Montae Tims could make noise in spring camp. The freshman headed to Indiana in November after committing to Colorado.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Returners: Nico Radicic (K), Quinn Warren (K/P)
Transfers: Drew Clausen (LS, Iowa State), Bily Gowers (P, Hawaii)
Freshmen: Jackson Tolle (LS, Fishers, Ind.)
Mitch McCarthy, Mark Langston and Brendan Franke are ineligible, so the Hoosiers had to search the portal for a few specialists.
Radicic has been the best player for the Hoosiers the past two seasons, making 18 of 19 kicks last season. Kick-off specialist Quinn Warren will likely take on the duties he had when Franke was injured in the second half of the season.
Billy Gowers turns 30 in June and is entering his second season after spending a year in Hawaii. The Australian saw 25 of his 49 kicks within 20 countries last season for the Rainbow Warriors.
Indiana’s spring game at Memorial Stadium will take place on Thursday evening, April 23.
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