I’m working under the assumption that IU is probably done in the portal and we’re nearly set with the current roster. I use this space to talk about the depth chart as I see it at this moment in time. Depth charts are extremely fluid, especially when practice starts so these are subject to change but the points I’m making, typically, are still what I believe even if I make a switch because until we get reports from live practices, I’m just guessing.
You can find the working Google Sheet here as well as checking the Hoosier Huddle message board where it is a pinned topic.
It’s updated with current class, weight, height, total scholarship, walk on’s and more. I recommend viewing on a desktop and not on Twitter or any “preview” type browser. It looks much better in almost any browser than the one Twitter has. Also, you can click on the players IU profile which I update as soon as players are given a page on the IU website.
Today I’m going to hit the linebacker position. IU currently has 42 scholarships on offense and 19% of those scholarships are going to linebackers (8).
Starters Set at Linebacker
Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy are written in pen as the starters heading into the spring. They were among the best linebackers in the nation in ’25 and both likely have NFL aspirations either after ’26 (Jones) or, if he sticks around, after ’27 for Hardy.
Jones was a revelation and allowed IU to play three linebackers basically at all times. Neither Jones, nor Hardy graded out very well in coverage but both were difference makers for IU’s defense when on the field.
For some reason, Pro Football Focus never seems to like middle linebackers like Jones or Aidan Fisher. I’m not sure why that is but neither graded out very well when it was plainly obvious to anyone who watched the games that both were all over the field making plays. Jones will get his shot to (likely) wear the green dot and call the defense in ’26.
PFF did like Hardy, not really overall (80th percentile / 96th overall) but they loved his run defense (99th percentile / 6th overall) and his tackling (97th percentile / 12th overall).
Hardy’s job is to stop the run. He still needs to get better in coverage but he and Jones are out there to shoot gaps and make plays in space against the run. Both will look to build on their ’25 campaigns this Spring.
Battle for No. 2’s at Linebacker
Kaiden Turner is back for his final go around at IU. He didn’t play a ton last year but when he did (the Maryland game), he was super impactful and then hurt his knee making a big INT.
Turner isn’t going to wow you with anything he does. He’s clearly a good locker room guy and team player. His dad confirmed that he’d be back and that I was wrong when he announced his return and had him backing up Hardy at WILL. For the record, I was just throwing him back onto the depth chart but it was good to get confirmation from Mr. Turner that he was back and I didn’t have his son in the right spot.
His addition is a big one because it gives IU another veteran presence in a room full of super talented but young players with little to no experience.
PJ Nelson is my other two-deep player as the back up to Hardy.
We don’t really know a ton about him but I do know the staff likes him and his HUDL showed an athletic, thick LB who loves to hit and diagnoses pretty well. He’s one I’m super interested in getting the reports on this Spring as he played zero snaps last season.
But, my guess is that if the staff didn’t think he or one of these other guys wasn’t ready to contribute, they’d have more aggressively pursued another linebacker.
The Future at Linebacker
This is “The Freshman” tier. This is as talented a HS class of LB’s I’ve ever seen at IU.
I’m starting with Ja’Dyn Williams. IU had to fight off a late charge by OSU to keep Williams in the fold and just watching the HUDL videos you can see why. The 4* from the Canton, OH area (Massillon) is a true sideline to sideline LB who loves to hit and diagnoses quickly.
If you told me that Williams ended up as the third LB behind Jones and Hardy this season, I wouldn’t be surprised. Williams is going to be another one of my sleeper picks among this class and I think he has multi year starter level ability.
Henry Ohlinger is in a similar boat. The 3* “athlete” from LB from Ohio (Columbus area) was one of the better RB’s in the state as well. He’s another kids with smarts to diagnose quickly and the prototypical size you want in a MLB prospect.
The last one in this group is 3* Jacob Savage. He’s another thickly built MLB prospect with looks like he has all the skills to help out at the high major level. Savage played at a smaller school but was a hell of a RB too (29 TD’s his senior year) and finished his career with 511 tackles, including 112 his senior season. That’s the kind of production this staff loves.
IU wanted athletes in the LB room and they go them in the ’25 class. Having all three on campus is also a bonus as they’ll get their first taste of Spring Practice, but also a college weight and nutrition program. All three of these guys look like they could be future starters and I’m excited to hear about how they’re coming along.
Finally, we’re down to Amari Kamara. I just don’t know much about him other than that he’s Mikail Kamara‘s younger brother. He wasn’t highly rated and we didn’t see him last season. He does have the pedigree but, at this point, I believe in the talent of the other four freshman (Nelson, Williams, Ohlinger and Savage).
Since this is only scholarship players, I have to mention linebacker Jeff Utzinger. He played in jumbo packages last year and earned a scholarship as a former walk on. Whether that carries over remains to be seen but he is someone I have been considering moving into my roster from the walk on page because he’s earned it.