Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers signed 18 prospects in the 2020 class during the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday. The class is made up of 17 three-star prospect and one four-star. The Hoosiers are currently ranked 49th nationally according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. The Hoosiers knew going into this cycle that the class would be smaller since they are still a very young team, but that doesn’t mean Tom Allen and his staff didn’t have a clear plan in place.

The mission from Tom Allen was clear, get long, athletic players (there is not a single player listed under six feet tall) that fill the needs of the Hoosiers going forward. “We really like the length and athleticism in this class," Allen said Wednesday afternoon. "Our main priority was to add more length and bring in guys that we can develop.”

The Hoosiers prioritized the offensive line as they signed six players to plug holes in the trenches. Allen talked at length about the offensive line class and line coach Darren Hiller.

“What we try to do is identify certain body types, whether an inside guy, outside guy,” Allen explained, “inside meaning a guy that can play guard or center. An outside guy who has length to play tackle. It was a priority for us to get some high school guys that could do that.”

Allen broke down the class player-by-player as well:

“Luke Wiginton is a guy out of high school here in Indiana that has the length. Obviously needs to develop and get stronger and all that.

Basically you want to recruit the things that you can't change. They're not going to usually get much taller once you get them here.

Luke Haggard, also a guy that just joined our class here at the end. As a junior college guy, qualifies out of high school, a guy that plays a lot of defense, goes to offense when he goes to junior college. 6'7", lean, but an athletic skill set.

I feel like those two guys kind of give us that length you are looking for.

You have a guy inside, Randy Holtz, he's a guy you can say can do both. Nice to be able to have a guy that can be in both of those spots. 6'7", 350 plus pounds. A rather large human being.

I also like the inside guys we got. Cam Knight, Brandon's younger brother, comes to camp, good athlete, ran well, change of direction, strong, tough. We know what we're getting because of his brother, the family, mindset he's going to be for us.

Brady Feeney is a big old guard, 320-pound guy, got a girth in there. Coach did a really good job of identifying these types of bodies that we're looking for for each spot.

We said it would be nice to have an older guy. That's where Dylan Powell gives us a chance to get a grad transfer from Stanford. Excellent student that's going to come here as a grad transfer, done with his undergraduate. I think he gives us a chance to kind of fill some of those holes you have in the upper part of our class that I feel like over time have kind of been creative with some injuries and caused guys not to be able to finish.

I feel like Coach Hiller understood that, addressed our needs. I really like our offensive line class.”

According to an IU athletics release IU’s 2020 signing class so far has 11 offensive players, six defensive players and one athlete. Indiana added six offensive linemen, two wide receivers, one quarterback, one running back and one tight end on offense, and three defensive backs, two defensive linemen and one linebacker on defense. The class is made up from players from nine different states with Indiana leading the way with six followed by Georgia, , Michigan, Missouri and Virginia with two each, and one each from California, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas.

Here is the list of signees in Indiana’s 2020 class thus far:

Other Notes From Wednesday

- There will be nine early enrollees according to Allen including Ty Wise, who can will be joining the team for select on-campus bowl practices. “We have the opportunity to have nine of these guys be midyear guys, which would be a record number since I've been here. We'll get that list finalized, make that public later. At the same time that gives them a tremendous advantage” Allen said.

- Allen said that there are two spots still available for the class and they are looking to add a rush defensive end and will probably take the best available offensive player.

- Coy Cronk has NOT a decision on 2020 yet, he is focused on getting healthy

- Allen and IU’s intent is to have Kalen DeBoer call the offense for the Hoosiers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on January 2nd. “Our goal,” Allen said in his opening statement, “is for him to call the offense during the bowl game. That's the intent for us to make that work. Things we have to work through to get to that point. We've talked to both administrations with that, trying to make sure we can coordinate that, do our best to allow him to do the job he needs to do there, also be able to finish strong here. It's been a special season, he wants to finish that out.”

- Allen talked about where athlete Javon Swinton will play as well. “He plays both (defensive back and receiver). He's an extremely talented basketball player. He brings a lot of skill to our team. He's going to probably start at receiver. Like I say, he's a guy that plays both sides. Could be a DB, could play receiver. Sitting down with him, he wants to start there. I'm fine with that. He may stay there and be a receiver the whole time.”

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