Height: 6’6”
Weight: 253 pounds
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana (Bloomington South)
Class/Position: Redshirt Senior / Tight End
Twitter/X: (@jmbomba5)
The 2025 Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff is more than halfway over! With the August 30th showdown against Old Dominion drawing closer, we turn our attention to the Bloomington native, tight end James Bomba.
Bomba served as the team captain for Bloomington South’s football team and starred on both sides of the ball as a tight end and edge rusher. A two-time all-state and all-conference selection, Bomba capped off his high school career by earning team MVP honors as a senior—thanks to his dominant blocking on offense and special teams, and his relentless motor on defense. While he wasn’t heavily featured in the passing game in 2019, his ability to bulldoze defenders in the trenches was impossible to ignore. Defensively, he racked up 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. He wasn’t just a football guy; he also lettered in basketball.
Before kicking off his senior year of high school, James Bomba committed to Miami (Ohio), where he didn’t see any action and was able to retain his freshman status. He hit the transfer portal in December and made a move that just felt right—coming home to Bloomington to carry on the family legacy. Bomba isn’t just another name on the roster; he’s a third-generation Hoosier. His grandfather Brad Bomba was a standout tight end for IU from 1954 to 1956, later earning a spot in both the Indiana Football Hall of Fame (2007) and the IU Athletics Hall of Fame (2017).
On the other side of the line, his other grandfather, Bob Van Pelt, anchored the offensive front as a starting center and earned All-Big Ten honors in 1966. James’ father, Matt Bomba, continued the tradition in the early ’90s as a defensive lineman from 1990 to 1992. Simply put, James Bomba was born to wear the cream and crimson.
Bomba’s journey with the Hoosiers started as a walk-on in the spring of 2021 and would later redshirt his season. He earned Scout Team Player of the Week honors during Indiana’s prep for Minnesota, showing early on that he was ready to work. His dedication paid off in a big way ahead of the 2022 season, when he was awarded a scholarship, becoming the fourth member of his family to earn one from Indiana.
From redshirt freshman to redshirt junior, Bomba appeared in 29 games, including 10 starts, and hauled in 12 catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. But his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. Ahead of the 2024 season, Bomba was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a prestigious honor that highlights college football players making a difference in their communities. On and off the field, Bomba continues to make his mark.
Throughout his college career, Bomba has carved out a niche as a dependable blocking tight end—and that role likely won’t change heading into this season. A steady presence in the program since 2021, he brings valuable leadership and experience to a revamped tight end room. With high-profile transfers like Holden Staes and Riley Nowakowski joining the mix, Bomba may find himself in more of a rotational role. Still, his grit and reliability should give him a fair amount of playing time, especially in run-heavy and goal-line situations.
The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff continues with Day 47 tomorrow!