2025 IUFB Preseason Position Preview: Linebackers

Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images Subscriber Content IU’s football history is dark but recent history has shined a light on the linebacker position with players like Tegray Scales, Marcus Oliver, Micah McFadden and Aaron Casey admirably leading often overwhelmed and undermanned defenses. When Curt Cignetti was hired and brought defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bryant Haines with him, IU landed James Madison transfers Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker to lead the defense. The results were greater than even the most optimistic Indiana fan could have dreamt of and Aiden Fisher is on the precipice of possibly leading that impressive list of former terrific Indiana linebackers. Fisher and Walker were first and second on the 2024 defense in tackles, combining for a remarkable 200 tackles (118 for Fisher and 82 for Walker) and 15.5 tackles for loss (10 for Walker and 5.5 for Fisher). Aiden Fisher decided to return for his final season in college and he’ll captain the defense. The places beside and behind Fisher are up for grabs but it’s difficult to feel the least bit of concern about Haines’ linebackers as long as the All-American senior is on the field. Projected Starters (4-2-5 base defense) Aiden Fisher – Senior – 6’1”/233 pounds Aiden Fisher is a special player. He has an incredibly tight relationship with coordinator Bryant Haines and Haines has repeatedly gushed about Fisher’s intelligence and understanding of the defense. Beyond that, he’s incredibly easy to root for. Fisher lost his father before college and has dealt with that tragedy admirably. A recent example of his compassion for others could be found on social media as he was notified of a young father of two lost his wife and Fisher promptly went out of his way to send the grieving family a box loaded with signed and personalized IU apparel and gear. It’s a cliché but Fisher “gets it” and in an age where players often get understandably criticized for only being about the money, that should be lauded. On the field, Fisher is an All-American linebacker with proven production. He led the Hoosiers with 118 tackles (18th nationally) and commanded the middle of the field as the “quarterback” of the defense. He wears the green dot for the Coach to Player communication system and is responsible for making sure the calls and fits are correct before each play. Fisher is back for his senior season and, in soccer parlance, he’ll be “one of the first names on the team sheet”. The only question mark for Fisher this season is how he will fit with his new partner at linebacker. He was asked at Big Ten Media Days about IU’s mindset heading into this campaign after shocking the world and making the College Football Playoff in 2024. His answer was exactly what you would expect from a coach on the field. "I would say the easy answer would be locked in," Fisher said when asked to describe the mindset of the team for 2025. "I do think it is a collective effort to make sure we are not letting outside noise in. You're going to hear all season long 'Can they repeat' and 'Was it a fluke' and all these things, but it's really all about the people in the building. I think that's what we need to focus on. So just keeping that mindset, being locked in, worrying about what we have in the building, and eliminating the clutter outside of it." Indiana's Rolijah Hardy (21) scores a touchdown after an interception during the Indiana versus Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. Rolijah Hardy – Sophomore – 5’11”/225 pounds There are players that grow on you over time and then there are players that immediately stand out as soon as they step on the field and play begins. Sophomore Rolijah Hardy fits into the latter category. To be clear, the Florida native does not stand out for any particular standout physical characteristic but he immediately began making plays and doing things that were easy for even this simpleton writer to notice. Hardy appeared in all 13 games with four starts and he forced a pair of turnovers plus scored a touchdown on an interception return against the Western Illinois Leathernecks. Hardy is not quite as athletic as Jailin Walker but no one was going to fit that bill. He’s a solid tackler and impressed during the spring making him the favorite to win the second starting spot. Projected Rotation -Isaiah Jones – Redshirt Junior – 6’2”/230 pounds Isaiah Jones was an afterthought ahead of the 2024 season but he stuck around through the coaching change and used all of the staff turnover as a fresh start and a new opportunity. Jones impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a spot on the depth chart and he took advantage of his playing time, moving up to the primary backup at linebacker and amassing 42 tackles. There’s a chance that he could grab the second starting spot but I think Jones makes more sense as the backup for both linebacker positions. -Kaiden Turner – Redshirt Junior – 6’0”/228 pounds I would have had Quentin Clark in this spot but the redshirt freshman was moved to edge and is not expected to be a part of the linebacker corps. That leaves this unit a bit thin beyond the top three names and they certainly can’t afford an injury to Aiden Fisher or Rolijah Hardy. Turner entered IU in the same recruiting class as Isaiah Jones and things have not really clicked yet for him. Turner appeared in four games in 2022, six games in 2023 and just two last season. He’s listed fourth on the depth chart by default and there is at least some optimism in the coaching staff seeing progress or they would have addressed the position in the transfer portal, one would think. -Jeff Utzinger – Redshirt Junior – 6’3”/230 pounds Cathedral High School product Jeff Utzinger is probably the walk-on most likely to make an impact during the 2025 season. He does not look out of place at all when he’s on the field and appeared in all 13 games a season ago, mostly on special teams. Utzinger is a sure tackler and knows exactly what is expected of him when he steps on the field. The coaches trust him so he might work his way into the rotation if he’s good in early games this season. -PJ Nelson – Freshman – 6’1”/212 pounds If IU stays completely healthy at linebacker, PJ Nelson will redshirt but the margin between that outcome and the one where he is needed to play some meaningful snaps because of injury is quite small. The Cincinnati native was a three-star prospect and a good recruiting win in Ohio for the Hoosiers. He’s the lightest linebacker the Hoosiers have and would ideally have a year to add another ten to 15 pounds to his frame but Nelson played at Princeton High School in a very competitive area for high school football and he was with the program during the spring. Walk-Ons Kaden McConnell, Amari Kamara and Clayton Allen are the 2025 walk-ons at the position. Amari Kamara is the younger brother of terrific defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and he racked up 104 tackles as a senior at Stone Bridge High School. Projected Depth Chart Aiden Fisher’s spot in the lineup can be written in permanent ink and it seems highly likely that Rolijah Hardy emerges as the other starter. Isaiah Jones is the only proven option so he slots in as the primary backup for both starters. The options beyond those three are question marks and IU needs to stay healthy at this position. If there is a rash of injuries, expect the Hoosiers to look at moving players like Kellan Wyatt (Maryland) or Quentin Clark (moved from LB to EDGE) to help out. Starters: Fisher and Hardy Backups (in projected order): Jones, Turner, Utzinger, Nelson (redshirting) Preseason Position Previews Cornerbacks Wide Receivers Running Backs Hoosier Huddle’s preseason coverage rolls on daily! Subscribe to get access Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Log in

2025 IUFB Preseason Position Preview: Linebackers

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2025 IUFB Preseason Position Preview: Linebackers

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