“Iron Sharpens Iron”: Indiana Football OL Carter Smith Continues to Grow His Game

When Indiana football went 4-8 in 2022, with no hope of postseason play, offensive lineman Carter Smith was there- on the sidelines and in the locker room, perfecting his game. In 2023, under offensive line coach Bob Bostad, Smith found his place on the field, and through every defeat of the 3-9 season, Smith remained at left tackle, absorbing every impact. During a coaching change that brought Curt Cignetti, there was a natural feeling of uncertainty; however, Smith chose to stay, believing in the foundation that lay before him.

And just two years later, Smith found his way to the 2026 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., where he helped pave the way for one of the most dominant offensive line showcases in recent postseason history. Lastly, when the Indiana Hoosiers completed a perfect 16-0 season and watched as cream and crimson confetti fell from the sky, Carter Smith was there to take it all in.

Maybe it was a moment of impossibility, but maybe it was something more. Maybe it represented his journey as a Hoosier, the rocky path he followed to get here and the one he continues to believe in as he embarks on the 2026 season.

Smith has seen all facets of Indiana football, from failure to success and everything in between. However, he has also watched the Hoosiers pick themselves back up and inch their way towards greatness. Smith’s choice to remain a Hoosier has always been purposeful and deliberate, built on belief and a duty to lead, and this year is no different for the redshirt senior.

“I think my coaching role has kind of dissipated, and now I’m just doing my best to try to provide the best example on the field I can,” said Smith. “Having an older guy that they can lean on is really good for them.”

In the 2025 season, Smith fell into a larger leadership role, appearing in all 16 games for the Hoosiers at left tackle. He was part of the offensive line room that anchored four-straight 300-yard rushing efforts at the start of the season. His talent earned him consensus All-American honors, along with first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Smith has been recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder, which caused him to miss spring practices. He has been fighting for a chance to get on the field ever since, and his time has finally arrived in fall camp, and he is as ready as ever.

“I feel strong,” said Smith. “In terms of playing the game, you know, it never really leaves. Being out for spring ball and just being a part of the offense still, having a good gauge and watching everything that’s happening doesn’t count me out, I don’t think. So I am feeling good, and it’s good to be back in there.”

While being forced to the sidelines is never something a player wishes for or accounts for, Smith made the most of it; observing his teammates, taking notes, and giving advice.

“You know, every time that my teammates ask me something, I’m like, ‘Hey, we run the same plays. Make sure you get your mental reps in and get all your communication done as well.’ Making sure that they have those aspects done in the classroom to be able to apply on the field,” said Smith.

Mental reps are just as important as the physical reps, and much of that practice begins in the classroom under the leadership of Coach Bostad. Bostad was the only coach retained when Cignetti entered the picture in 2024. He has molded this offensive line through the ups and downs of Indiana football, and Smith remained right along with him.

“So we are going to get back in the film room and make sure that whatever we did out on the field is going to be corrected,” said Smith. “So Bostad is a great teacher, he is a good mentor, and he’s done a great job for us these past four years.”

Physically, everything has returned naturally for Smith, and facing Indiana’s defensive line provides the ideal setting for betterment and consistency.

“You have got to find a way to get better every single day. And that’s really easy to do when you have a great defense that you get to go up against every day,” said Smith. “You know, they cause a lot of problems on the field, and just being able to immerse myself in that really makes a difference for everybody’s progress, not just my own.”

So, what is the key to Indiana’s offensive line success this season? Well, the answer seems to lie in the Hoosiers’ defensive line and how well this group can compete against them, and fall camp is the perfect stage for this challenge.

When discussing the defensive line unit, Smith said, “They are some of the most explosive guys that I’ve gotten to go up against, and I think they only continue to get better.”

As for this offensive line group, the All-American leads the way and continues to take the team with him. Even from the sidelines in the spring, Smith was there to grow his football IQ and guide his teammates. A season ago, he held up a national championship trophy that was yards out of reach just two seasons prior, and now he will continue to fight for more with his teammates and, most importantly, continue to believe in what Indiana football can do. For now, Smith focuses on the two things he can control: staying committed and sharpening his arsenal.

“Iron sharpens iron,” Smith said. “We go out there, we bang heads and make each other better every day. That’s all we can do.”