2024 Indiana Football Defensive Depth Chart – Version 1.0

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Nov 18, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans defensive back Jaden Mangham (1) evades tackle from Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (20) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Written by: TJ Inman

Hoosier Huddle is getting ready for the 2024 football season and with a new coaching staff and a totally revamped roster, Indiana Hoosier fans are going to need a roster handy to track all of the new faces. Much attention has been paid to the major revamp on offense under coordinator Mike Shanahan and Tino Sunseri, including our very owner initial depth chart projection just last week. However, the defense needs to be completely rebuilt as well. Once a calling card for Tom Allen’s teams, the IU defense was a sieve for much of the past few seasons. In 2023, Indiana allowed an average of 29.9 points per game including an opposing passer rating of 143.62 and 4.19 yards per rush. There were a few bright spots here and there but the unit was a major disappointment that needs fixed. 

Enter new head coach Curt Cignetti and coordinator Bryant Haines. Haines is now the highest-paid coordinator in Indiana football history after leading the James Madison defense and allowing only 19.5 points per game. James Madison was one of the best teams in the country against the run (only 2.62 yards per carry allowed) and pressured the quarterback as much as any team in the nation. The defensive staff is completely different with new position coaches joining Haines to rebuild the IU defense.

Interior Defensive Line 

  1. James Carpenter and Philip Blidi

  2. Robby Harrison and Marcus Burris

  3. J’mari Monette and Mario Landino

We’ll start in the middle of the defensive line with the nose guard and defensive tackle positions. Indiana figures to be utilize a 4-3 base defense and that will mean two interior linemen on the field in most cases. As of right now, this does not project as a strength for the IU defense. In fact, it is probably my largest area of concern as the team heads into the spring and it is a spot I expect IU to address during the spring portal window with one or two more large “space-eaters” that can play right away. Enough of what the Hoosiers don’t currently have, let’s focus on what IU does have at the position. 

James Carpenter is a transfer addition from James Madison after an All-Sun Belt season in 2023. Carpenter played 40 games for JMU and had 141 tackles as an anchor on one of the best rushing defenses in the country. Carpenter is north of 280 pounds but he’s not a 300-pound monster that you see regularly at this position in the Big Ten. He figures to partner with Philid Blidi as the starting duo on the interior. Blidi was rock solid in 2023 and he’ll be one of the leaders for this IU defense in 2024. Behind those two, Marcus Burris is the last of the proven pieces. He has 20 tackles in 2023 and is probably the most physically gifted of IU’s defensive linemen. After those three, grab Elsa and Olaf because we dive “into the unknown” (Girl Dads…or young children dads in general…know the reference there).

As of now, Indiana is relying on the development of Arizona State transfer Robby Harrison and third-year player J’mari Monette. Harrison played sparingly last season as a redshirt freshman after joining the program late and he does have the size to make a big impact. At 330 pounds, he’s IU largest defensive lineman. Monette is now in his third year at IU and has yet to be a part of the rotation. Currently, the only other interior defensive lineman on the roster is true freshman Mario Landino. He enrolled at IU for the spring and that helps but he’s undersized and ideally would redshirt the 2024 season. Again, this is a spot IU will be looking for more big bodies, something Curt Cignetti publicly acknowledged in an interview with Don Fischer. 

Defensive End

Bryant Haines’ defensive scheme uses two defensive end positions with one being labeled a “stud” that is a more of a hybrid edge rusher and linebacker position. Focusing on the more traditional defensive end spot first, the Hoosiers some good options.

  1. Mikail Kamara

  2. Venson Sneed

  3. Ta’Derius Collins

Kamara is a 265-pound transfer from James Madison where he played in 23 games and had 26.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Mikail Kamara needs to transfer his production to the Big Ten but he is a perfect fit for this defense, knows the scheme and the coaches and has proven he can provide the havoc in the opposing backfield the defense demands. Venson Sneed and Ta’Derius Collins are two high-potential players that could really benefit from the change in coaching staff and scheme. Defensive line coach Pat Kuntz has gotten the most from players like this. Guys with good length and quick-twitch that need their skills refined. 

Stud 

  1. Lanell Carr

  2. Jacob Mangum-Farrar

  3. Ta’Derius Collins

The other edge position in this defensive scheme is called the Stud and the player needs to be able to play with their on the ground or standing up. It requires a skillset of both an edge rusher and a linebacker with occasional coverage responsibilities. Lanell Carr was a standout in the IU defense in 2023 and his return is a major boon for the Hoosiers. Another player that chose to return and should benefit from a scheme change is former linebacker Jacob Mangum-Farrar. He was at his best later in the season when he was allowed to rush the passer and get into the opposing backfield and playing Stud allows him to do that more often. Carr and Mangum-Farrar are a good tandem at this position. Collins has the body to play either edge position. 

In total, the defensive line does not appear to be have quite the size you’d like to have and it definitely is a bit thin on depth in the interior. There are some quality pieces for Pat Kuntz to mold but more depth is needed.

Linebacker

  1. Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker

  2. Jayden McDonald and Joshua Rudolph

  3. Kaiden Turner and Quentin Clark

With the departure of Aaron Casey, the Hoosiers needed assistance at linebacker and Curt Cignetti and Bryant Haines turned to some familiar faces to fill the void. The former starting linebackers and leading tacklers for the James Madison Dukes, Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker, will now be starting for the Hoosiers. Fisher was on the All-Sun Belt team as a sophomore after a 2023 campaign that saw him accumulate 108 tackles and eight pass breakups. Jailin Walker was the primary starter at WILL linebacker for JMU in 2023 and he should reprise that role for IU in 2024. Fisher and Walker know each other well and they know the coaches and system. Neither are likely to replicate the production of Aaron Casey but they are a quality duo to start with. Another newcomer headlines the second-stringers as Jayden McDonald joins from Troy. McDonald began his career at Iowa before transferring to Troy and finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (9.5). McDonald is a sure tackler that is strong against the run. Pass coverage is the primary concern with both McDonald and Fisher. Joshua Rudolph played late in the season in 2023 for the Hoosiers and he should have a more prominent role in 2024. The third-string group includes Kaiden Turner (primarily played special teams thus far in his career) and incoming freshman Quentin Clark. The recruit from Georgia is not on campus for the spring and that could hold him back from contributing much in 2024 but I really like his potential as a side-to-side linebacker and I think he’ll play some later in the season. 

Rover

Rover is a special position in this defense and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines called it “one of the premier positions in both the NFL and college now”. The Rover needs to have ball skills like a slot corner, physicality like a safety and offer run support like a linebacker. Players with those skills are a rare breed and IU probably does not have the perfect Rover on this roster. They do have lots of good options in the secondary for both safety positions and the Rover spot.

  1. Shawn Asbury II

  2. Amare Ferrell

  3. Jah Jah Boyd

Curt Cignetti and his staff are clearly very confident in the skill level of players coming from the Sun Belt. They added several James Madison players and then dipped into the portal pool to grab a pair of Old Dominion safeties and a Troy linebacker. Shawn Asbury II is a 5’9” nearly 200-pound senior that had 93 tackles and earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2023. He gets the nod as the starting Rover because of his experience. The player with the best physical profile to play Rover is probably Amare Ferrell. He might eventually move to outside linebacker, especially if he gets much bigger, but for now the sophomore is 210 pounds and his length makes him a very intriguing player at this position.

The biggest concern would be his pass coverage in the slot but Ferrell is talented and could really make an impact with a good scheme. Jah Jah Boyd is one of the top incoming recruits for Indiana in the 2024 class. He was committed to James Madison as the school’s highest rated prospect in history before flipping to IU with Curt Cignetti and his staff. Boyd is an electric athlete that is only 170 pounds but he’s not really a true cornerback. I’m sticking at Rover but his 2024 impact likely comes on special teams in the return game. Boyd has a bright future on defense, whatever position he settles in.

Cornerback 

  1. Jamari Johnson and Kobee Minor

  2. Jamier Sharpe and JoJo Johnson

  3. Josh Philostin and Dontrae Henderson

Indiana’s cornerbacks room was completely rebuilt prior to the 2023 season after a disappointing pair of seasons in 2021 and 2022. Last season was better but still left a lot to be desired from a pass coverage standpoint. The Hoosiers lost a couple of cornerbacks to the transfer portal but they return a good group as well. Jamier Johnson was supposed to be IU’s best defensive back last season after transferring from Texas. He was injured for most of the season and comes back in 2024, hopefully ready to assume the CB1 role and show why he was a highly-touted prospect in the first place. Johnson will pair with Kobee Minor to form a veteran duo as the starters. Minor started nine of the last ten games for Indiana and played mostly solid football. The second-stringers are JoJo Johnson and sophomore Jamari Sharpe. Sharpe has the physical tools and measurables every school is looking for in cornerbacks. He is 6’1” with great length and athleticism and new defensive backs coach Ola Adams is tasked with harnessing his potential and turning it into consistent production. If Sharpe can breakthrough under Adams, he’ll be a starter and probably IU’s best corner. JoJo Johnson transferred in from Iowa Western and played in all 12 games. He should have a similar role this coming season. Josh Philostin and Dontrae Henderson are incoming freshman. Philostin is the highest-ranked defensive prospect in the 2024 class with the Hoosiers holding off a late charge from Syracuse to keep him signed. He is with the team for spring and definitely has the talent to help right away. Henderson was originally committed to James Madison and a redshirt seems ideal for him in 2024.

Safety

  1. Nicolas Toomer and Terry Jones Jr.

  2. Josh Sanguinetti and Bryson Bonds

  3. Tyrik McDaniel

Nicolas Toomer transferred to Indiana from Stanford prior to the 2023 season and offers a versatile and experienced player to the IU secondary. Toomer started seven games at cornerback last season but I think his best position, and IU’s larger need, is at safety. As previously mentioned, IU landed a pair of safety transfers from Old Dominion. One was listed with the Rover position and the other is All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention safety Terry Jones Jr. He is a very good tackler (107 tackles) and will provide strong run support and tackling support as a counter to Toomer’s pass coverage as a safety.

Josh Sanguinetti and Bryson Bonds are a pair of solid veterans that provide competent depth at the position. Sanguinetti, in particular, has a knack for making plays on the ball in pass coverage (four career interceptions). Tyrik McDaniel played on special teams in 2023 after transferring to Indiana from Independence Community College. The depth at safety might be a bit of a concern and IU might look to add a player here after the spring.

Hoosier Huddle will have multiple versions of this depth chart prior to the 2024 season.