The addition of the transfer portal and NIL has entirely changed the college football landscape in the past few years and Indiana has been a clear winner of this new era. Today, we’ll break down the Indiana Hoosiers’ top transfer additions this century. Certainly, the rise in the commonality of transferring will skew this list toward recent seasons.
Still, it also makes one thing very clear: Curt Cignetti and his staff have absolutely nailed their player evaluations. How many on this list will have come from the last two seasons? How heavy will the JMU presence be? Who will claim the top spot? Let’s take a look.
10. Pat Coogan, Notre Dame –> Indiana
From the moment he was seen preaching ‘four quarters of f**k you football’ for the Irish the prior season, it was clear Coogan had the right mindset for a Curt Cignetti team. Coogan proceeded to get redemption for his championship game loss the prior year, leading an offensive line that posted games with multiple rushing touchdowns in 12 of 16 games and pass-blocked for a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. He was the Rose Bowl’s offensive player of the game, the first offensive lineman to win the accolade since 1944.
9. Jailin Walker, JMU –> Indiana
In a “wish they had one more season so they could have won a championship too” draft, how high is Walker selected? He’d be pretty high for me.
Walker came over from JMU and was a perfect tandem piece next to Aiden Fisher at linebacker, starting all 13 games and ultimately grading as the number five linebacker in the Big Ten per PFF.
He helped lead a defense that set program bests for games holding an opponent under 100-yards rushing (8), fewest total yards rushing allowed (1,043), lowest opponent scoring average (15.6) and fewest yards of total offense (3,332) and total offense per game (256.3).
8. Louis Moore, Ole Miss –> Indiana
Sometimes the best additions are the ones you already had? Moore joined the Hoosiers originally from JUCO under Tom Allen and then found himself back with Indiana last season. He was an absolute ballhawk for the entirety of the season, finishing the year tied for third in school history for interceptions in a single season with six. He was securing wins on and off the field (shoutout Judge Tillery) and as a fellow man who attended both Indiana and Ole Miss during his schooling, he seems like a guy who knows how to make smart decisions.
7. Mikail Kamara, JMU –> Indiana
The next few on this list fit a mold in my mind as the “staple Curt Cignetti guys”, and Kamara certainly fits that mold. The versatile do-everything edge could get after the quarterback, drop in coverage, or execute a perfect stunt to open up a rushing lane for a teammate.
He finished the 2024 season fifth in IU’s single-season sack record book with 10.0, tied with CFP Championship game honorary captain Adewale Ogunleye. He went on to block the punt in that championship game, another example of how he would do anything for the team to help secure a win.
6. Elijah Sarratt, JMU –> Indiana
Waffle House was always open at St Francis (PA), James Madison, and then at Indiana for his final two seasons. Sarratt earned all-conference honors all four of his collegiate seasons and was second team all-Big Ten last year. He caught a pass in 51 of his 52 games played and had over 100-yards receiving six times with the Hoosiers. He finished last year at number two in single-season receiving touchdowns in school history, behind only James Hardy. He’ll now head back closer to home and be an always-open target for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
5. Aiden Fisher, JMU –> Indiana
Every championship defense needs its captain and Aiden Fisher filled that role perfectly. I have a clear memory of watching the spring game before Cignetti’s first season and the broadcast did a sideline interview with Fisher. I was just getting to know Cignetti and how he functioned, but very quickly identified that Fisher had his exact mindset. He was fully bought in, tough, and willing to do what it takes. That became more evident over the next two seasons, as Fisher made a name for himself, calling out offense’s plays before they even happened, and making sure everyone was aligned correctly before every play. He is a champion and I’m rooting for him to make my Indianapolis Colts regret allowing him to be drafted by a division rival.
4. Jordan Howard, UAB –> Indiana
Jordan Howard found his way to Bloomington by way of UAB shutting down their football program, and Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers are forever grateful. Howard had established himself as a clear weapon at this lower level, but I’m not sure anyone could have estimated the impact he would have stepping up into the Big Ten. He finished the year with over 1200 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He then declared for the NFL Draft, where he was graded a 6.1 on NFL.com for running backs as a prospect, behind only Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliot. He proceeded to have a seven-year professional career.
3. D’Angelo Ponds, JMU –> Indiana
Try five, get six! Ponds finds himself at three on this list and maybe first in the list in terms of memorable highlights over the past two seasons. Whether it be the Peach Bowl pick six, the Illinois blocked punt, ‘roll out the big, red, carpet’, or a number of other highlights, Ponds “too undersized” self left an oversized impact on the program. Adding an absolute lock-down corner to Bryant Haines’ already complex defense took the unit to another level.
2. Kurtis Rourke, Ohio –> Indiana
Curt Cignetti knows that the most important position in football is the guy behind center and through two seasons with the Hoosiers, he has nabbed the right guy to lead the team. Rourke had the resume of a prior MAC Player of the Year, but after battling injuries and having to make the jump to the Big Ten under a first-year head coach, the ceiling was unclear. He brought clarity from the jump, executing the RPO offense flawlessly and finishing the year with over 3,000 yards passing and 29 touchdowns. He led the team to what was then the best record in school history and a College Football Playoff berth in Curt Cignetti’s first year at the helm.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Cal –> Indiana
Until someone is able to dethrone him, Fernando Mendoza will probably find himself as #1 on a lot of Indiana football all-time lists moving forward. The 4th-ranked quarterback prospect in the transfer portal turned Heisman winner came over from Cal and logged one of the greatest college football seasons of all time, leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and national championship. He hoovered up nearly every single one of last season’s player of the year awards and threw 41 touchdown passes, a single-season school record. The NFL Draft’s #1 pick captured the hearts of Hoosier – and even rival fanbases – hearts, and finds himself as a clear-cut number one addition via transfer that the Hoosiers have seen.