Hoosiers Try and Turn the Page as the 2023 Spring Season Nears

It’s safe to say that the 2022 season was not how the Indiana Hoosiers and head coach Tom Allen expected the season to go. The Hoosiers went 4-8 in Big Ten play including just 2-7 in conference play. It was a second straight losing season for the Hoosiers after going 2-10 in 2021 which included an 0-9 conference record after starting No.17 in the country in the AP Poll to start the year.  

The good news for the Hoosiers is that it probably can’t get much worse going forward. After a back-to-back season that totaled a record of 6-18 including 2-15 in conference play, the Hoosiers can only go up from here in all reality.

The good news is, however, the Hoosiers have quite a bit of talent returning for next season and brought in a fair share with their recruiting and transfer portal classes. Michigan residents can get into the Big 10 action whether football or basketball by signing off with one of Michigan Sportsbooks' many promo codes.  

The Hoosiers this offseason have already seen plenty of changes including the departure of quarterbacks Connor Bazelak and Jack Tuttle. Bazelak landed on his feet at Bowling Green while Tuttle found his way to Ann Arbor as part of the Michigan Wolverines. 

The quarterback position is a giant question as the Hoosiers head into spring practice after Dexter Williams II was hurt against Purdue. The Macon, Georgia native played in four games last year, completing 13-of-38 passing attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Beyond Williams, the program has limited depth with Brendan Sorsby as another name to consider, in his first season with the program he had just six passing attempts, completing three for eight yards, he also threw one interception. The Hoosiers bring in Tayven Jackson from Tennessee from the Transfer Portal and Broc Lowery in as a freshman.

Their biggest returning playmaker on offense is running back Jaylin Lucas. Lucas was named an All-American as a kick returner and is going to me more of a focus on offense. Wide receiver Camp Camper also returns after posting 46 receptions for 569 yards and two touchdowns this past season before an ACL injury. 

The Hoosiers offense was one of the worst in the country in 2022, a large part of it due to their struggles at quarterback. For the season, the Hoosiers only ended up averaging 23.2 points per game, ranking 100th in the country. 

Defensively, linebacker Aaron Casey returns as the leader of the Hoosiers after totaling 85 tackles including 10.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. On top of the Hoosiers returning Casey, they return quite a bit more talent and hope that it will improve one of the country's worst defenses from last season. In 2022, the Hoosiers allowed nearly 34 points per game, ranking 120th in the country out of 131 FBS programs. 

On top of their returning talent, the Hoosiers also brought in a strong crop of transfers this offseason thus far. 

Arguably the biggest name is Tennessee quarterback transfer, Tayven Jackson. Jackson will step into the Hoosiers quarterback conversation. This season for the Volunteers, Jackson completed three of four passing attempts for 37 yards. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining with the Hoosiers. The other major name to know for Indiana out of the transfer portal is defensive lineman Andre Carter who comes to the program after a 67-tackle season including 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks at Western Michigan in 2022. 

The Hoosiers also brought in a quality 2023 recruiting class headlined by defensive back Amare Ferrell, DE TaDerius Collins, and TE Anthony Miller. All four players were highly recruited by programs throughout the country and the Hoosiers were able to battle it out and land all four players to headline their recruiting class.  

The Hoosiers schedule next season, however, won’t be easy. They start the season off with a September 2nd showdown against Ohio State before taking on Indiana State, Louisville, Akron, and Maryland to round out September. In October, they’ll have Michigan, Rutgers, and Penn State before finishing the season off in November with Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue.