Allen Expects Small 2023 Recruiting Class for IUFB

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Tom Allen addressed IU’s 2023 recruiting class on Tuesday after the team’s first fall practice and told reporters that he expects a small class for the December signing period. “I will say this: It's not going to be a big class. I think right where we are is kind of where we thought we would be. We've got several positions where we're taking one, and you want to be really, really selective with that process” Allen explained.

As of publication the Hoosiers’ 2023 class sits at eight members and ranks 67th nationally. While the optics may be disappointing, especially after bringing in the program’s best class in 2022, the low rating is due to many factors and shouldn’t be the only metric used to grade the class.

“I know the way it's evaluated and the way it's graded is based on numbers. Numbers rewards that group, so it's not going to be -- just being very blunt with you, it's probably not going to be what it's been this last year numerically because of that variable right there.” Allen said of where this class will be rated.

The small size of the class is due to the Hoosiers being low on scholarship players after an influx of transfers and the COVID exemptions still being in play. These constraints will affect how IU recruits this year.

“Because of that, the charge has been ‘let's be very deliberate’, ‘let's be very slow with this’, and ‘let's make sure we get the ones that we want for sure’.” Allen said.

Recruiting is the life blood of a program and for a program like the Hoosiers, a miss on a recruit in a year with a small class can be catastrophic. Allen has said many times that he wants players who want to be at IU.

“ We got a lot of positions where we got a lot of guys coming back. I think that the ones where you have the higher numbers, you can just do the math with the guys that will be graduating and those areas that have to be replaced. It is going to be a small class. I'm thinking 12 to 15 at the most. That's definitely small.” Allen said.

It is just the beginning of August and a lot can change by early December. However, IU fans should not be shocked if the Hoosier haul is on the smaller side in 2023.