Curt Cignetti On National Signing Day Class: ‘It All Starts Up Front’

Written By: Ben Gillard (@benjgillard)

Wednesday was National Signing Day, and head coach Curt Cignetti looked to make a splash. Cignetti opened his Signing Day press conference by saying, “Signing day sure has changed. They've moved it up, which is good. The month of December has changed a lot as well across the country, whether you still have games remaining or not.” The Hoosiers definitely still have games remaining in December as they are projected to make the College Football Playoffs, yet that’s not stopping them from recruiting at a high level. 

While Cignetti acknowledged that it’s “a juggling act” to recruit and prepare for the postseason, he is excited about the future with these new recruits. “I like these guys. Good players, good people, good character, good students. This game is all about recruiting and development and then retention. You know, keeping the guys that eventually produce. So excited about them.”

As excited as Cignetti is, the players are arguably even more excited. All 21 of Indiana’s recruits signed before 9:30, well before Cignetti took the stage for his press conference. In terms of the class itself, Cignetti said, “Got all of our papers in early this morning. Signed 21 guys. Fourteen will be early enrollees. Seven will enroll for the fall and report in the summer. Nine on offense; 12 on defense. Four from Indiana and Ohio. Two from Illinois and Tennessee. One from St. Louis. So 13, roughly from a four-hour radius.”

Perhaps the highlight of this class is the depth that the Hoosiers have built in the trenches. Including the tight ends, half of the Indiana signing class will get to work on either the offensive or defensive lines. When asked about the importance of building up the lines, Cignetti said, “Well, it all starts up front, and the defensive linemen are always the hardest to find and get. So we got two inside guys and two ends, and [I’m] pleased with that.”

Cignetti continued by saying, “Offensively, three offensive linemen all report in midyear and then the two tight ends. The one in-state tight end will be an early enrollee, and Blake Thiry will be a fall enrollee. I feel good about that. Feel good about all these guys.”

The Hoosiers are currently in the midst of a program-defining season, and with the help of this recruiting class, the future looks very bright.