Portal Haul Continues as IU Adds Sanks

Written by: TJ Inman

Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers are in the midst of preparation for the Peach Bowl as they take on the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff Semifinals but that has not stopped them from assembling the beginnings of a monster haul from the transfer portal. After some headline additions on offense and a major commitment on the defensive line, IU added a second safety with the addition of safety JiQuan Sanks from Cincinnati.

Career Stats (2024 and 2025)

2024 – 12 games – 42 total tackles, 1 TFL

2025 – 12 games – 50 total tackles, 26 solo, 4 passes broken up and 1 forced fumble

Sanks, a native of Phenix City, Alabama, is a 5’10” and 200-pound player that has started every game for the Bearcats in his first two collegiate seasons. Cincinnati plays a 3-3-5 scheme and Sanks plays the middle safety spot. He had 31 tackles as a true freshman and followed that up with 50 tackles in 2025. The most comparable position in IU’s defensive scheme is free safety and he split his snaps between the traditional free safety alignment and lined up in the box with 56 snaps taken as a slot corner.

Indiana has already added Wisconsin safety Preston Zachman and they are a major contender for Toledo safety Brandon Awls so the Hoosiers are well on their way to replenishing the back end of the defense with the departure of Louis Moore and potential departure of Amare Ferrell. If Ferrell does go pro, IU would pair these new additions with sophomore Byron Baldwin.

Keep coming back to Hoosier Huddle as we cover the ongoing transfer portal additions as well as the upcoming College Football Playoff Semifinal contest against Oregon.