Indiana Football 2025 Transfer Portal Shopping List
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Written by T.J. Inman
The Indiana Hoosiers exceeded all expectations in 2024 as they soared to an 11-1 regular season and have, in all likelihood, made the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Everything about Curt Cignetti’s first campaign in Bloomington has been remarkable. The transfer portal played a large part in helping the Hoosiers reach this level as the Indiana staff valued “production over potential” and flipped the roster after taking charge in December of 2023. IU is expected to bring in around 20 players via the portal again this season and it should be fascinating to follow as Cignetti and his staff assemble the 2025 roster. The transfer portal officially opens on Monday, December 9th.
Offense
Quarterback
Departures: Kurtis Rourke
Freshman Arrivals: None
Needs: 1
Star quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s eligibility has been exhausted. That leaves the Hoosiers with Tayven Jackson and redshirt freshmen Tyler Cherry and Alberto Mendoza on the roster. Indiana pursued five-star recruit Julian Lewis but ended that recruitment after multiple cancelled visits. That makes it incredibly likely the staff will be aggressively pursuing the transfer portal for a quarterback, something Curt Cignetti confirmed in a signing day press conference. The question becomes, is the staff comfortable with Tayven Jackson leading the offense or is there enough doubt that they feel a need to go after a player that can come in and start? There will be some very notable programs in the market for a quarterback so competition for the best available gunslingers will be fierce. We have already seen IU express social media interest in USC’s Miller Moss, Cal’s Fernando Mendoza and Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold.
Running Back
Departures: Ty Son Lawton, Justice Ellison, Solomon Vanhorse
Freshman Arrivals: Sean Cuono
Needs: 1 to 2
The Hoosiers leaned heavily on Lawton and Ellison all season but the duo are both gone. The cupboard is not bare as both Kaelon Black and Elijah Green return after getting some experience this season. Green offered an explosive element when he got his opportunities and they should both be able to step in and give the Hoosiers quality play. Khobie Martin redshirted this season and he’ll be asked to step up and contribute in 2025. I would anticipate Indiana wanting to bring in a sophomore or junior running back in order to balance the classes some and to add depth to the room. Curt Cignetti will look for a back with proven production and a guy that runs the ball hard and there will be plenty of quality options wanting to play in this offense.
Wide Receiver
Departures: Miles Cross, Myles Price, Ke’Shawn Williams, Andison Coby
Arrivals: LeBron Bond, Davion Chandler, Myles Kendrick
Needs: 3 to 4
Just how big of a need the wide receiver position is depends on a couple of things: is Elijah Sarratt going pro or coming back and how confident are the coaches in Charlie Becker and the incoming freshmen? I am confident that LeBron Bond is going to play quickly and be an immediate part of the rotation in 2025. Beyond that, the Hoosiers should have Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt to lead the way as an excellent one-two punch. I think Mike Shanahan and Curt Cignetti have a whole lot of good things to sell to wide receivers on the transfer market and I’d expect them to bring in at least three veterans that can play right away. Two of those will likely be smaller, shifty players in the mold of Price and Williams and then they will probably try to bring in a big target or two.
Tight End
Departures: Trey Walker, Zach Horton
Arrivals: Blake Thiry, Andrew Barker
Needs: Zero
Zach Horton is a big loss and the Hoosiers will need to find someone that can step up and fill his role as an ace blocker and tone-setter. There are lots of young options on the roster and a pair of very promising young players arriving. I’m not an expert tight end talent evaluator but to me, Blake Thiry looks like a guy that is going to be hard to keep off of the field. James Bomba and Brody Foley both return and Sam West and Brody Kosin are high-potential pass-catchers. Unless there is a player the coaches love and feel they can land, I don’t think they’ll add a tight end.
Offensive Line
Departures: Trey Wedig, Mike Katic, Nick Kidwell
Arrivals: Baylor Wilkin, Evan Parker, Matt Marek
Needs: 2 or 3
Bob Bostad has worked wonders with IU’s offensive line in the past 12 months. He’ll have his work cut out for him again as IU has to replace a couple of key pieces. There are a lot of talented freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the roster but it seems likely IU will want to bring in a few veterans to provide stability, add experienced depth and give some balance to the classes. Mike Katic is a big loss at center and Trey Wedig has been rock solid at right tackle. Indiana did not bring in any recruit that is expected to play tackle and it’s incredibly unlikely a true freshman will play at guard or center in 2025 (I can’t wait to watch Baylor Wilkin plant some defensive linemen in the ground though!). No one knows how the starting line will shake out but barring very surprising developments, Carter Smith will be at left tackle, Drew Evans will be at guard and I’d bet Bray Lynch will be at center. That would leave two starting spots and a lot of depth positions available for competition. Players to watch include Austin Barrett at tackle, Nick Kidwell if he chooses to take his final year of eligibility and Adedamola Ajani at guard. I would expect IU to try and bring in at least one veteran tackle and one interior lineman (if not two).
Defense
Defensive Line
Departures: Jacob Mangum-Farrar, CJ West, Lanell Carr, James Carpenter
Arrivals: Tyrone Burrus (EDGE), Triston Abram (EDGE), Jhrevious Hall, Keishaun Calhoun, Kyler Garcia
Needs: 2 to 3
We know with certainty that James Carpenter, Jacob Mangum-Farrar, CJ West and Lanell Carr have exhausted eligibility. Mikail Kamara was a revelation this season. Although a bit undersized, he has earned the opportunity to test the NFL Draft and if he chooses to leave IU after one season, the defensive line will become the major need for this roster. Assuming Kamara returns to anchor the line, the Hoosiers will be able to put some good pieces around him: Tyrique Tucker, Robby Harrison and Marcus Burris are good pieces on the interior and young players like Daniel Ndukwe, Ta’Derius Collins, Andrew and William Depaepe and the very intriguing Mario Landino should be ready to contribute a bit. IU’s staff loves the defensive linemen they added in this class but they’ll still need to add a pass rusher or two and a beefy interior lineman that can play right away and help against the run.
Linebackers
Departures: Jailin Walker
Arrivals: Jamari Farmer, Paul Nelson
Needs: 1
Indiana loses hyper-athletic Jailin Walker, a player that will be difficult to replace. The Hoosiers are far from bereft of talent at the position though. Aiden Fisher is back to lead the unit and be IU’s “green dot” player on defense. He’ll almost certainly be a captain for this squad in 2025. The battle for the other starting spot will be fun to watch unfold. Isaiah Jones has played very well when given a chance in three-linebacker formations. Rolijah Hardy has flashed his potential as a playmaker everytime he gets on the field. Quentin Clark has the kind of athleticism IU is losing with Walker’s departure. Ultimately, I think IU would like to add a veteran linebacker that can provide quality depth and compete for the starting position next to Aiden Fisher. It’s not a huge priority as Jones, Hardy and Clark are all quite capable.
Secondary
Departures: Terry Jones Jr., Shawn Asbury, Cedarius Doss, Nic Toomer, Josh Sanguinetti
Arrivals: Byron Baldwin (safety), Garrett Reese (safety), Jaylen Bell (CB), Seaonta Stewart (CB), Zacharey Smith (CB)
Needs: 3
IU should be quite strong at cornerback as the Hoosiers return star De’Angelo Ponds along with Jamier Johnson, Jamari Sharpe and JoJo Johnson. In addition, freshman Dontrae Henderson is someone that has the belief of the coaching staff. Jaylen Bell, Seaonta Stewart (who could play early) and Zacharey Smith will be added to the fold. In short, I don’t think IU will be in the market for any corners. The safety and rover positions will be a very different story. Amare Ferrell looks like a natural at safety after switching there midseason. He’ll almost certainly be a starter. That leaves the starting Rover position and the other starting safety spot wide open. Where does Jah Jah Boyd fit? Will Byron Baldwin be able to play right away at one of the positions? Even if both of those young talents are ready to go in 2025, IU will still need at least two safeties ready to move into the lineup plus some added depth that has proven production.
Special Teams
Departures: James Evans (Punter)
Arrivals: -
Needs: Punter
Mark Langston is listed as a senior but he did not go through Senior Day festivities and he should have one year of eligibility remaining after missing a season due to injury. If he does not actually return, the Hoosiers will need to grab a long-snapper in the portal but it appears he should be back and take care of that position in 2025. James Evans is now out of eligibility and IU only returns Alejandro Quintero at the position. Expect the Hoosiers to grab a veteran punter that will start right away.
There are already some very interesting names in the transfer portal and the market should explode on December 9th when things officially open. Hoosier Huddle will have ongoing coverage as IU’s staff tries to juggle playoff preparations, practice and building the 2025 roster.