2023 Position Preview: This Could be Indiana's Deepest Defensive Line in Years

Andre Carter and Paul Randolph share a moment a practice Image: Indiana Athletics

Written by: Ethan Roberts (@usaEthanRoberts)

The defensive line is responsible for rushing the passer to prevent explosive plays through the air as well as stopping the run on short-yardage situations. The trenches are an important factor in big third down play that can be the difference between allowing points and getting your quarterback back onto the field. The Hoosiers had a lackluster pass rush in the 2022 campaign. Sack leaders Dasan McCullough and Alfred Bryant both tallied 4 sacks. Bryant has utilized his eligibility and is no longer with the team and McCullough transferred to Oklahoma following the end of the 2022 season. New transfer EDGE Andre Carter (Western Michigan) dominated the MAC with double digits tackles for losses and seven sacks. Defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri will have a handful this season after losing star pass rusher McCullough but obtaining good depth pieces from the portal.

The Starters – Defensive End

Andre Carter – Redshirt Senior/Transfer from Western Michigan

Carter spent 2022 racking up impressive statistics in the MAC. He tallied 68 tackles and 13.5 tackles for losses with 7 sacks. On paper, he boasts numbers that suggest he could be a rotational start for a Big Ten team, or a star player if developed correctly. 247 sports claims that he is a four-star defensive lineman transfer, ranking third in the portal class, albeit behind his predecessor Dasan McCullough. Defensive linemen coach Paul Randolph will hope to capitalize off Carter’s impressive 46 appearances to instill fear coming off the edge.

The Starters – Nose Tackle

Patrick Lucas JR. – Redshirt Senior/Transfer from Ole Miss

Patrick Jr. spent 2022 with the Hoosiers appearing in all twelve games as a key rotational player. His most impressive feat of the season was his 7-tackle performance against the Michigan State Spartans. He is a smart athlete that is a three-time member of the Athletic Director’s honor roll. He is projected to make his first start at nose tackle for the Hoosiers. He stands in at 6’3” and weighs 315 pounds.

The Starters – Defensive Tackle (3-Technique)

Philip Blidi – Redshirt Senior/Transfer from Texas Tech

Blidi is one of two projected starters that have made their way to Bloomington after playing the 2022 season with a different jersey on their backs. He tallied 18 tackles and 2 sacks with Texas Tech and transferred to IU in hopes of starting for the Hoosiers. Blidi has commented recently about the defensive line room and claimed that they were “confident in what they were doing” and that they were going to perform well this fall. Blidi stands in at 6’3” and weighs 295 pounds.

Next Men Up

Trey Laing – Defensive End– Redshirt Senior/Transfer from Southern University

Laing has used up a lot of the odometer to get to Bloomington for his final year of eligibility. In his freshman season at South Florida, he saw his lone appearance in their bowl game against Marshall, where he didn’t post any stats and was counted as a redshirt season. He then posted 6 tackles and one for a loss in three games in his official freshman season with the team. He then transferred to East Mississippi State Community College where he dominated with 53 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks and an interception. He spent last season at Southern University where he tallied 38 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and five sacks. The good trend to see in his eventful career is that he is performing in every spot that he lands. There is cautious optimism heading into the 2023 season that he can provide as a key rotational lineman for the Hoosiers.

LeDarrius Cox – Nose Tackle – Redshirt Senior/Transfer from Ole Miss

Cox was moved to offensive line in the 2021 season at Ole Miss before transferring to Bloomington following the end of the 2021 season. In 2022 he appeared in all twelve games for the Hoosiers as a depth piece and hopes to find more playing time as a longer tenured player at IU. He stands in at 6’4” and weighs 305 pounds. He is a former top-40 rated defensive tackle in the country and has the potential to have a positive impact in the new look Hoosiers defense.

Marcus Burris Jr. – Defensive Tackle – Redshirt Sophomore/Transfer from Texas A&M

Burris Jr. was part of arguably the most disappointing team in the country last season. After missing the 2021 season with an Achillies injury, he appeared in eight games. While the production isn’t there yet for Burris, he is a former four-star defensive lineman ranked top-20 in the country at his position and maintained the ranking as a transfer student according to 247Sports. There are plenty of signs that suggest Burris Jr. can be an impactful start in 2024. He stands in at 6’4” and weighs 290 pounds.

Venson Sneed Jr. – Defensive End – Redshirt Freshman

Sneed Jr. is a good bet to get a massive increase in playing time in the 2023 season and has already been praised by defensive line coach Paul Randolph for his recent camp performances. He is a former three-star prospect out of Winter Park, Florida and was also involved in the high school basketball and weightlifting team. The former multi-sport athlete spent 2022 on the bench but tallied a defensive scout team player of the week against Michigan. He possesses insane strength and muscle mass despite being considered underweight on the scale, which won’t be an issue as he develops. He stands in at 6’4” and weighs 265 pounds. He is a long bet to get starts in the 2023 season but remains hopeful that 2024 will give him a fair shot to start.

Depth Pieces

Robby Harrison – Nose Tackle – Redshirt Freshman/Transfer from Arizona State

Harrison is a former three-star prospect that committed to Arizona State and appeared in three games last season before transferring to Bloomington following the end of the 2022 season. He stands in at 6’3” and weighs 330 pounds. He will hope to use the experience of the nose tackles ahead of him to continue to learn the game from both a physical and mental perspective before getting an opportunity at solid playing time in the back half of the season or spring camp of 2024.

Nick James – Defensive Tackle – Redshirt Freshman

James is a former three-star defensive lineman out of the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida. Last season as a freshman he appeared in three games and recorded 2 tackles. Although he is considered a depth piece for now, the talent gap between the starters and depth pieces in this position group isn’t as wide as it was in previous years. He is hopeful to see the field more in 2023 and challenge for a starting spot in his redshirt sophomore season in 2024.

Aden Cannon – Defensive End– Redshirt Freshman

Cannon joined the program as walk-on prior to the 2022 season. He isn’t expected to get playing time this season but is expected to provide crucial value to the scout team each week. Cannon is the first player on this list that has a good chance of transferring should he not get adequate playing time and opportunities in the next eight months. He stands at a massive 6’6” and weighs 253 pounds.

Race Stewart – Nose Tackle – Redshirt Sophomore

Stewart is a former unranked recruit that spent last season on the bench for the Hoosiers and was named defensive scout player of the week against Illinois and Maryland. He is not expected to see the field much and could transfer following the end of the season to find a spot for more adequate playing time.

Carl Biddings IV –Defensive Tackle– Redshirt Sophomore/Transfer from Louisville

Biddings is a former unranked prospect out of Center Grove, Indiana and transferred from the Cardinals following the end of the 2022 season. He isn’t expected to get playing time this season but will hope to learn behind seasoned veteran Philip Blidi.

Julian Kameristy – Defensive End – Redshirt Sophomore

Kameristy is a former unranked prospect that attended IMG Academy. He isn’t expected to get any playing time this season and could possibly look to transfer at the end of the season if his playing time standards aren’t adequate.

J’Mari Monette – Nose Tackle – Redshirt Freshman

Monette is a former three-star defensive lineman that ranked in the top-100 at his position in the country. He isn’t expected to get any playing time this season but has time to develop under a heavily experienced starting group.

Final Assessment

The biggest difference between the last two position groups for the Hoosiers is the experience and togetherness of the group, which bodes well for the unit. The biggest challenge that they will face is replacing the production and focus of Dasan McCullough, which possibly could be built in the aggregate in Carter and Lucas Jr. There is a good shot that the rebuilt defensive line is improved in the 2023 season, but it will face a murderer’s row of offensive lines in Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and more. Defensive line coach Paul Randolph has been fired up to unleash the new-look unit and has its first test to open the season against Ohio State.