Written by Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

The Hoosiers return plenty of experience on the defensive line, but beyond the frontline there will be some questions about IU’s depth that need answered. Seniors Allen Stallings and Gavin Everett are set to anchor the defensive end spots. Stallings tied for the team lead in quarterback hurries last season while collecting two sacks, six tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Everett started 11 games last year and was the IU defensive player of the week against Michigan. Together, Stallings and Everett hope to make the most of their senior season.

Following the two seniors, junior Michael Ziemba and sophomores James Head and Alfred Bryant round out the defensive end rotation. Ziemba has embraced a shift to weak-side defensive end. The two sophomores will play primarily on the strong side. Bryant saw some snaps as a redshirt freshman last year and he will get an opportunity to play a bigger role in 2019. James Head is a highly talented player and from a purely physical perspective, he is one of the better athletes on the roster. If he can put it all together, Head could be poised for a breakout career as a pass rusher.

Some younger guys will be in the mix at defensive end, although not ready to be major contributors. They are redshirt sophomore Tramar Reece, redshirt freshman Madison Norris, and true freshman Beau Robbins. Reece saw limited playing time last year, but the Florida native will add to IU’s depth at the position. Madison Norris is another player who could contend for best athlete on the roster. Norris was a state champion hurdler at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Robbins joined the Hoosiers from Carmel High School where he was ranked as a top-20 weak-side defensive end in the country and one of the top five players in the state in the class of 2019. The young talent Indiana has assembled at the defensive end position is reason enough for fans to be excited for the future of this group.

There is much less certainty on the interior, where the Hoosiers return only one player with significant experience at defensive tackle. Jerome Johnson, a redshirt junior, led the team in sacks last year with 3.5. Johnson is very agile for a 300-pounder, so the Hoosiers will look to utilize his athleticism. Another familiar face on the D-line is Juan Harris. Harris returned to Bloomington after spending a season at Independence Community College. Indiana isn’t sure what to expect from Harris, but his unique combination of size and explosiveness is tantalizing. Another former community college player, Demarcus Elliott, joined the Hoosiers for fall camp and will have a chance to earn playing time at nose tackle.

Three redshirt freshmen will battle to see who can emerge as a significant contributor. Shamar Jones from Pennsylvania, Jonathan King from Tampa, Florida, and Gavin McCabe from Chicago. Jones is one of the shortest IU defensive linemen at 6-foot-1, but he makes up for it with his wingspan and explosiveness. King was a three-star recruit and one of the top-50 weak-side defensive ends in the country coming out of high school. King has since bulked up and made the move to defensive tackle where he’ll play the three-technique. McCabe was also moved from defensive end to defensive tackle where he will have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. All three players should see ample playing time, and time will tell who stands out from the rest.

Similar to the defensive end spot, Indiana has a lot to look forward to in the future at defensive tackle. It is very rare for true freshmen to see consistent playing time at the Big Ten level, but it won’t be too surprising if some of these players carve out a role. C.J. Person from Alabama comes to Bloomington ranked as the 81st best defensive tackle per 247Sports. Another Florida native, Jeramy Passmore has excellent athleticism but will need to add size before he can consistently crack the rotation. Antoine Whitner was recruited as a guard but has since moved to nose tackle. Sio Nofoagatoto’a, from American Samoa, is a nose tackle with great size and strength for a young player.

Overall, the defensive line could be a strength for the Hoosiers in 2019 if they manage to stay healthy. The production at defensive end should be consistent with three upperclassmen leading the charge. The production at defensive tackle is more uncertain, but Indiana has plenty of capable players ready to step up. On both levels of the defensive line, the Hoosiers have a stable of young players with loads of talent. While they likely won’t be ready to contribute in 2019, the future outlook at the position is very promising.

The Huddle

2019 Indiana Football Position Preview: Defensive Line

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