2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Running Backs

Indiana's Roman Hemby (1) takes the handoff during spring football practice on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Subscriber Content The 2024 Indiana Hoosiers tailbacks, led primarily by Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison, were a balanced crew that produced prolifically the entire season. The team finished the season having scored 37 rushing touchdowns, the most from the Hoosiers since 2001. Lawton and Ellison accounted for 22 of these; the pair alone outpaced the 2023 Hoosiers team by seven scores. Adding in Kaelon Black and Elijah Green, and the Hoosiers had an exciting four-headed attack at the position. But with the graduation of both Lawton and Ellison and Green entering the portal, Curt Cignetti and his staff dipped back into the portal this offseason to secure additional depth at the position - some of which may even be the stalwarts of the room. How will Indiana replicate the ground game success they showed last season? Let’s take a look at the depth chart. The Starter Roman Hemby From day one at the helm, Curt Cignetti has preferred production over potential. He couldn’t have found a better example of this than Maryland transfer Roman Hemby, who has played in 41 games and tallied 38 starts in the Big Ten over his four seasons with the Terrapins. The two-time honorable mention Big Ten halfback has tallied 3,352 all-purpose yards in his career and has five multi-touchdown games. He finished his career at Maryland ranked 8th in program history for rushing touchdowns and 4th in total touchdowns. He has also proven to be durable, handling over 130 carries in each of his last three seasons. Just last season in Memorial Stadium, he ran for 117 yards, a rushing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown - from the opposing sideline. Indiana's Kaelon Black (8) runs during the Indiana versus Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Rotational Guys Lee Beebe Jr. and Kaelon Black The next two guys that will see a good amount of time at the position include a newcomer (Beebe Jr.) and a returning member of last year’s room (Black). Though there was some drama with Beebe Jr’s recruitment from the portal, he signed and has a good case to be a co-starter along with Hemby. The UAB transfer totaled 884 yards on 166 carries last season and is another guy with a lot of college experience - 24 games and 10 starts. He was a third team All-American Athletic Conference honoree last season and had two multi-rushing touchdown games and two 100-yard rushing games. The best part of Beebe and Hemby’s games are that they both add production in the receiving game, adding another layer of versatility to the room that we didn’t necessarily see last season. Kaelon Black returns to the squad this year after a season in which he likely had more limited opportunities than he would have liked, but the opportunities he did see he was productive. The redshirt senior has appeared in 40 games with 16 career starts, all with Cignetti at the helm at James Madison and last season with Indiana. He led James Madison in 2023 with 637 rushing yards. With his experience not only at the collegiate level but also with Cignetti specifically, there’s no reason to believe Black cannot carve out a significant role for himself this season. Indiana’s Lee Beebe Jr. (29) runs the ball during spring practice at Mellencamp Pavilion on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Additional Pieces Khobie Martin, Sean Cuono, Solomon Vanhorse (Special Teams Primarily) The three players listed above are the main reasons why Indiana has confidence that the 2025 running backs room could potentially be even better than last year’s unit. Pat Coogan said it himself after the spring game earlier this year. “It's an explosive run game, which is super exciting,” said Coogan. “We can come at you with the ground and pound, but like we saw tonight we can also pop a few for big chunk plays. That was really exciting to see.I'm overall super excited about the progress we've made and where we're headed because it's going to be a great run game for sure.” But past those three, Indiana has some youth pieces they are excited about the futures of in Khobie Martin and Sean Cuono. Martin will be entering his second season with the Hoosiers after appearing in two games last year, tallying 14 carries for 73 yards. Cuono joins as a three-star prospect that amassed 3,328 rushing yards during his high school career along with 43 touchdowns. Additionally, Solomon Vanhorse rounds out the scholarship players in the running back room as he enters his eighth season playing college ball. He has battled the injury bug the last two seasons, missing 20 of 24 games, but he is back for one last year and could have an impact on special teams. Outlook The bar was set high after last season’s rushing attack, but the word around Bloomington is the room this year could be even better. With the proven track record from the three players at the top of the depth chart plus adding the versatility to get the running backs involved in the passing game, Hoosier running backs are poised for a big year. Preseason Position Previews Cornerbacks Wide Receivers Tight Ends Continue to follow along with Hoosier Huddle’s coverage as we quickly approach opening kickoff! Subscribe to get access Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Log in

2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Running Backs

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2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Running Backs

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