Hoosiers 2025 Defensive Portal Haul and Projected Impact
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Written by: TJ Inman
The 2024 season was a memorable and historic campaign for the Indiana Hoosiers. IU went 11-1 in the regular season with the lone loss coming at Ohio State. In Curt Cignetti’s first season in Bloomington, he led the program to the College Football Playoff and the season ended in South Bend with a first round exit to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The attention and fanfare surrounding the program is unprecedented for Indiana University football and Cignetti is now faced with the difficult task of building on what was put in place by his first Indiana team. The coaching staff has been very busy since the regular season ended, putting together an impressive portal class in hopes of assembling another strong roster and ensuring the Hoosiers are not a “one-hit wonder”.
Defensive Line
Adds: Hosea Wheeler (DT - RS SR), Dominique Ratcliff (DT - RS SR+)
Projected Depth Chart
Mikail Kamara (DE), Hosea Wheeler (DT), Dominique Ratcliff (DT), Mario Landino (DE)
Daniel Ndukwe (DE), Tyrique Tucker (DT), Marcus Burris (DT), Ta’Derius Collins (DE)
Tyrone Burrus (DE), Robby Harrison (DT), Keishaun Calhoun/Kyler Garcia (DT), William Depaepe (DE)
One of the biggest pieces of news for this roster came on Christmas day as star edge rusher Mikail Kamara announced he was returning for his final season of eligibility instead of leaving for the NFL. Kamara had 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, establishing himself as one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten during an All-American campaign. Kamara announced he would be dropping a bit of weight, treating the season like a professional and playing more of the stud position previously occupied by Lanell Carr. That would more closely approximate his likely landing spot in the NFL and help prepare him for the next level. I would expect Kamara to line up at both defensive end spots but his slide to the stud position means the Hoosiers need a few defensive ends to step up.
Mario Landino looked like a real find during his true freshman campaign and he’s in line for a larger role. Other candidates for increased playing time include young players like Daniel Ndukwe, Ta’Derius Collins and William Depaepe. Ndukwe blocked two punts in 2024 and is a player I could see taking a major step forward with an increased role. The Hoosiers are in the market for another edge rusher. Of course, most every other team is in the same boat so the most likely path to success is developing the players you already have there.
The interior of the defensive line was a major concern throughout last offseason. The late addition of CJ West was a key development after the spring and IU’s run defense was one of the best in the nation with West and James Carpenter anchoring the line. Both of those players are gone but the staff took care of business at defensive tackle, one of the most difficult positions to land in the portal, very early and very well.
Hosea Wheeler was an all-Conference USA selection at Western Kentucky. He can play either spot on the interior (three-technique or nose tackle) of the line and he’s been very productive during his career for the Hilltoppers. IU also snagged Dominique Ratcliff, an all-Sun Belt performer from Texas State. Those two 300-pounders look like terrific additions and they are both projected to start on the interior of the line. Behind them, Tyrique Tucker and Marcus Burris both return as key depth pieces and the Hoosiers brought in three exciting true freshmen in the 2025 class that could play a bit if needed as they develop and get bigger. The defensive line looks like another major strength for the Hoosiers in 2025.
Linebackers
Adds: -
Projected Depth Chart
Aiden Fisher (SR), Rolijah Hardy (SO)
Isaiah Jones (RS JR), Quentin Clark (RS FR)
Kaiden Turner (RS JR), Jamari Farmer (FR)/Paul Nelson (FR)/Jeff Utzinger (RS JR)
The only position on offense or defense that IU has left untouched in the transfer portal is linebacker. It would hardly be surprising to see that change but Indiana has not really been linked with any during this cycle thus far. Aiden Fisher is one of the best linebackers in the country and his return is massive both on and off the field. Fisher is the “green dot” player for the Hoosiers and serves as the coach on the field, an extension of defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and a leader for the whole unit. The biggest loss on defense from the 2024 roster is undoubtedly uber-athletic linebacker Jailin Walker. He was terrific as a sideline-to-sideline tackler and presence and Indiana does not have another player of his athletic ability on the roster. In fact, very few players in the entire country would fit that bill and it would be even more rare for a player like that to hit the transfer portal.
So, the role of the second linebacker might change a bit to match the personnel. Bryant Haines has a whole offseason to figure that out. As of now, there are three candidates to take the starting role: Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones and Quentin Clark. Clark missed nearly all of the 2024 season but he was reportedly showing out in practice towards the end of the campaign and is likely the most athletic linebacker remaining on the roster. Jones was a very solid contributor in 2024 and looks like the primary backup to Aiden Fisher. Rolijah Hardy was a late addition to the roster after spending a year at Naval Academy Preparatory School and he was mostly an afterthought in the recruiting class. That all changed as soon as he stepped on the field. Hardy just seemed to make plays every single time he was on the field, immediately making an impact in his first action against Western Illinois and never really letting up as a speedy and hard-hitting buzzsaw. I’m projecting Hardy wins the starting spot but I do think Clark and Jones will both play plenty. It strikes me as a sign of confidence from Bryant Haines in the guys he has in the room that IU has not been tied to any incoming linebackers in the portal.
Secondary
Adds at Cornerback: Ryland Gandy (RS JR), Amariyn Knighten (RS JR)
Adds at Safety: Louis Moore (RS SR+)
Projected Depth Chart
D’Angelo Ponds (CB) (JR), Ryland Gandy (CB) (RS JR), Amare Ferrell (S) (JR), Louis Moore (S) (RS SR+), Jah Jah Boyd (Rover) (RS FR)
Amariyun Knighten (CB) (RS JR), Jamier Johnson (CB) (RS SR), Jamari Sharpe (CB) (RS JR), Josh Philostin (CB) (RS FR), Dontrae Henderson (CB) (RS FR), Seaonta Stewart (CB) (FR), Bryson Bonds (S/Rover) (RS SR+), Byron Baldwin (S) (FR)
If I were told that IU only gets to add one more player from the transfer portal prior to the 2025 season, I would bet the coaching staff would select a safety to bolster a pretty thin group. An argument could be made for a receiving tight end but I believe the need at safety would win out. As of right now, IU has two safeties that you would feel confident about getting major snaps in 2025: Amare Ferrell (a star in the making) and Louis Moore (former Hoosier turned Ole Miss Rebel turned Hoosier again).
Bryson Bonds and redshirt freshman Jah Jah Boyd, a very talented player the staff fought hard to bring to Bloomington last offseason, would be battling for the Rover position. There’s a lot to play out at safety and true freshman Byron Baldwin, a four-star recruit and major recruiting win, could definitely earn some playing time. It’s not that Indiana lacks talent at safety and Rover, it’s just a lack of proven options that makes it a “yellow light” at this point. The status of the cornerback room is very, very different.
Cornerback might be the deepest position on the entire roster after the additions of former Pitt starter Ryland Gandy and NIU standout Amariyun Knighten and the retention of every key piece from the 2024 season.
IU is led at cornerback by D’Angelo Ponds, an All-American and true shutdown corner. Fellow starter Jamier Johnson is also back but he has serious competition from Gandy, Knighten and Jamari Sharpe. Talented young redshirt freshmen or true freshmen like Dontrae Henderson, Josh Philostin and Seaonta Stewart add exciting depth pieces. Given the personnel and the potential lack of depth at Rover, it’s possible Bryant Haines plays with three or four corners more than they did in 2024. It would not be shocking to see a departure or two from the cornerback room after the spring because this group is just so deep and a couple of players might not see a path to the field.
Hoosier Huddle will have ongoing portal coverage as Curt Cignetti and his staff continue to build towards the 2025 season and the upcoming spring practice sessions.