Veteran Hoosiers Speak to Media About Standout Transfers in Spring Practice
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Written By: Ben Gillard (@benjgillard)
Spring practice is underway in Bloomington, and the Hoosiers are looking to build upon the success of their historic 2024 season. A large part of this success was due to the talented transfers that Coach Cignetti brought with him from James Madison. Cut to 2025, and the Hoosiers have another talented transfer portal class that is looking to make an immediate impact on the field this fall. Following their second spring practice, several leaders on the team met with the media to share their thoughts on how they feel the transfers are fitting in.
When asked about who has stood out among the transfers, senior linebacker Aiden Fisher said, “I would say a lot of the transfers have meshed really well with us. Devin Boykin from NC State has been a really good addition. He works hard and is always trying to learn something. He continually asks questions, ‘How can I make this look better?’ even through the first two practices.”
Fisher continued by highlighting a pair of cornerbacks, saying, “Amariyun Knighten from NIU has also looked really good. Ryland Gandy from Pitt…a lot of the guys look really good. I am really happy with how they approach the game and respect the weight room, respect the field, and how hard they have worked so far.”
On the offensive side of the ball, there may not be a happier Hoosier than Elijah Sarratt, who has finally reunited with his high school teammate, Appalachian State transfer Makai Jackson. When asked about what it means to reunite with Jackson, Sarratt said, “He's one of my best friends. Coming out of the portal my freshman year, James Madison had offered us both, so [the coaching staff] knew about him before this year, but he went to Appalachian State, and I went up to JMU. This offseason, I mentioned something to Coach Shanahan, and he said if he enters [the Transfer Portal], we'd like him. He eventually entered, came up on a visit and things went well here.”
Sarratt continued singing the transfer wide receivers’ praises, saying, “He's a great player. Can play inside, can play outside, and I feel like he is going to make a lot of contributions for us.”
Sarratt and Jackson are also very excited about transfer QB Fernando Mendoza, who will likely be the Hoosiers starter this season. When asked about Mendoza, Sarratt said, “He loves the game of football. Just going out there and throwing 7-on-7 routes, he is throwing passes and yelling at us, you know, 'good job' and 'great catch.' He flips the switch a little bit when he is on the field, and I love seeing that. He throws the ball great, as you've all seen during Pro Day. He was spinning it. It's all a process, and it is not going to happen in one day, so we are just building reps.”
IU is fortunate to have an abundance of talented transfers on their roster. Spring practice is when these transfers begin to mesh and build rapport with their teammates and coaches. If transfers like Mendoza and Gandy are already standing out, get ready to hear their names a lot come the 2025 season.