Hoosiers Start of Portal Class With Lee Beebe From UAB

Written by: TJ Inman

Curt Cignetti and his staff utilized the transfer portal to help put the Hoosiers into position for a special 2024 season. One year later, Cignetti is expected to bring in more than 15 new players from the portal as IU prepares for the 2025 campaign. On Friday afternoon, Indiana’s first commitment in this season’s portal class became official as former UAB Blazers running back Lee Beebe signed to play in Bloomington. 

Beebe, a third-team All-American Athletic Conference performer in 2024, has two years of eligibility remaining and he will step into a backfield that should have plenty of carries available. Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison are both out of eligibility after this season and Elijah Green entered the portal, leaving only Kaelon Black, Khobie Martin (redshirt freshman) and Sean Cuono (freshman) in the running back room. The Hoosiers are expected to add another running back through the portal and it would not be shocking to see two more brought in. As a redshirt sophomore, the 220-pound back had 885 yards on the ground, averaged 5.3 yards per carry and added 30 catches for 219 yards while playing on a mostly dysfunctional UAB offense. Beebe meets the “production over potential” mantra that Curt Cignetti aims to follow in the transfer portal and he began his career as a walk-on in Birmingham in 2022 before earning a scholarship in 2023 and rushing for 360 yards.

This is expected to be the beginning of a busy few days in the portal for the Hoosiers and Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of any commitment that rolls in.