Boom!!!
@olympian97 I am pretty certain the kickoff vs OR was intentionally short to encourage a return. I was watching Franke in warmups and thought he was missing kickoffs short and left, and thought maybe his injury had hurt his distance, but then watching the kickoff, it was in the exact same spot. I think they baited them into a return and it did put the ball at the 20 vs the 25.
A couple of our punts, he got them spinning backwards and when the ball landed at their 5, it did actually spin back and Becker downed it. Don't think I've ever notice a punt with backspin.
This is huge. Go Hoosiers!
I wrote the Joe Brunner commitment piece a week or so ago with hopes that IU would land him. Texas really wanted Brunner and this is a big "win" for the Hoosiers, particularly given the scarcity of quality offensive linemen available. Brunner has really only played left guard so it will be interesting to watch how the lineup plays out during spring ball. My guess: LT - Carter Smith if he returns, Evan Lawrence if he goes pro/LG - Brunner/Center - Lynch unless someone beats him out/RG - Drew Evans/RT - Adedamola Ajani.
All we can know for sure, Joe Brunner has been a good player in the Big Ten and he looks like the most Wisconsin offensive lineman there ever was. Seems like a cool character that should fit in really well in the locker room, as well.
@tjinman1987 - Getting AJ Harris and this guy were the two I wanted the most. Sure, Hoover must be vital based on the fact that Cig went after him, but those two pieces felt like we needed high-end experienced caliber players. The train keeps moving boys!
@yothn Harris is interesting...he was, to put it kindly, not a good player in 2025. The physical profile is certainly there and he was among the better CBs in the Big Ten in 2024 under Tom Allen's tutelage and system. It seems like Harris would be better in zone and you have to give the benefit of the doubt to IU's staff and defensive system to get the most out of Harris' tools and return him to his 2024 form.
I actually feel really good about the transfer corner from Montana State...his film/tape looked really good, I think Montana State is really well-coached and he seems like a great fit for the IU system. Sharpe plus those two transfers plus Jaylen Bell and Gandy returning and the Hoosiers should be stout at corner again (there's just no replacing the brilliance of Ponds but it should still be a really good group).
@tjinman1987 - I have read that in some places. I can only speak from what I saw the few times I watched Penn State. That guy was an absolute pest against IU. I don't know if he did but it felt like he led them in tackles because every time someone at Penn State made a great play, it was #4. He played decent his freshman year at Georgia and I believe he was all B1G his soph year at PSU? I think. Either way, the kid 100% has the talent. I think Haines will have him as one of the best in the B1G next year. I certainly could be wrong though. 
Did Brunner - like many other flips from Wisconsin - work with Bostad at all? He has been bringing over his favorite guys for years now.
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