2024 Position Preview: Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker Lead the Linebackers

Written by: TJ Inman

It is not revelatory news to write that Indiana’s football program has struggled for a long while. With a few spikes of good play mixed in, IU’s record has been as poor as any major conference team in the country for the past several decades. Throughout the time, and particularly in recent memory, IU has actually has had some darn good linebackers come through Bloomington: Aaron Casey (leading tackler in 2023 and 2022), Micah McFadden (leading tackler in 2021, 2020 and 2019), Tegray Scales, Marcus Oliver, David Cooper and Matt Mayberry. The lineage at that position is strong and it is through that lens that we preview the 2024 linebacker room under defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.

-Aiden Fisher – Junior – 6’1”/233 pounds (transfer from James Madison)

If you were placing the bets on who will lead the team in tackles for the 2024 season, Aiden Fisher would be the wise choice (and the heavy odds favorite). Fisher is an instinctive and athletic tackling machine that transferred to Indiana from James Madison. He led the Dukes in tackles as a sophomore in 2023 with 108 stops including 51 solo. Fisher played in ten games for JMU as a freshman in 2022 after a successful high school career in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was not a decorated recruit but as soon as he was given a chance to feature in James Madison’s lineup, he took off and earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors. Fisher has taken on a leadership role and even has regular conversations with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines about the evolving defensive scheme. “I think it’s just a lot of continuity,” Fisher told the media. “Me and him last year would just bounce off ideas and I think that continued into the offseason even more. I think it’s just special to have a relationship like that.” Fisher is going to start for the Hoosiers and he’ll likely be paired with his previous JMU running mate and the next man on our list.

-Jailin Walker – Senior – 6’1”/218 pounds (transfer from James Madison)

There is a real chance Jailin Walker is the most athletic player on IU’s roster. He played his first three seasons at James Madison and was second on the team in tackles in 2023. His athletic exploits earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s annual “freaks” list with Aiden Fisher telling Feldman, “he (Walker) consistently hits 21-22 miles per hour every day. He can jump out of the gym. In all of his explosive efforts that we do, he comes in at number one in all of them.” The Hoosiers are banking on both Fisher and Walker to man the middle of the defense and play, as Walker put it, “fast, physical and relentless. Coach Haines’ defense revolves around speed and blitzes. He says that freedom equals discipline.” 

The battle for rotation spots begins right after the two James Madison transfers. 

-Kaiden Turner – Redshirt Sophomore – 6’0”/228 pounds 

One of the failures of the latter years of the Tom Allen era was the unwillingness to give snaps and development playtime to younger players. Kaiden Turner is entering his third year with the program and he’s barely seen the field on defense, appearing in 10 games total and really only getting time on special teams. He was a well-regarded prospect from Arkansas and his sideline-to-sideline ability as a tackler reminded IU fans on message boards (and on this site!) of Micah McFadden in high school. Turner has yet to make an impact in Bloomington and this coaching change represented a chance to standout to the new staff.

-Joshua Rudolph – Senior – 6’0”/223 pounds

Joshua Rudolph began his collegiate career at Austin Peay and was second on the team in tackles as a sophomore in 2022. He transferred to IU prior to the 2023 season and appeared in all 12 games for the Hoosiers. The FCS transfer flashed in the second-half of the season when he was given defensive snaps and he showed some coverage ability as a quick linebacker. He had four tackles against Wisconsin, three against Michigan State and one stop against Purdue. Rudolph enters his senior season as a veteran depth piece.

-Nahji Logan – Redshirt Senior – 6’3”/226 pounds (transfer from UMass)

Speaking of veteran linebackers, UMass transfer Nahji Logan joins the Hoosiers after appearing in 39 games for the Minutemen. He was a tackling machine in 2023 and earned second-team All-Independent from College Football Network. Against the better opposition UMass faced a season ago, Logan had nine tackles against UConn, six against Liberty and Toledo and eight tackles against Penn State. His biggest asset is his ability to tackle and according to Pro Football Focus, Nahji Logan tied for the fewest missed tackles among all linebackers in the FBS. That is an impressive stat and it speaks to his ability to finish a play if he has a chance. 

-Isaiah Jones – Redshirt Sophomore – 6’2”/230 pounds 

Isaiah Jones and Kaiden Turner are linked. The two came to Indiana in the same recruiting class and both have struggled to find the field during their first two seasons in Bloomington. Jones reportedly impressed the IU coaches in the spring but there has not been really any buzz (good or bad) about IU’s linebacker room beyond the top two. 

-Quentin Clark – Freshman – 6’1”/212 pounds

Quentin Clark comes to Bloomington from Dexter, Georgia. He is a true freshman that was a near four-star recruit and hanging on to his commitment was an important win for Curt Cignetti and his staff. Clark is a terrific athlete, lettering in basketball, track and field and weightlifting in addition to football for West Laurens High School. Clark is very quick and appears to be a strong tackler. He projects to be a perfect fit for the spot currently occupied by Jailin Walker and could see contend for a starting spot at that position as early as 2025. He is expected to play in four games and keep his redshirt this season.

Walk-Ons

Clayton Allen, Carter Imes, Kaden McConnell, Jeff Utzinger, Rolijah Hardy

Projected Depth Chart

The top two at linebacker can be written in permanent marker for the 2024 season. Indiana’s base defense features two starting linebackers along with the Rover position that was covered in the “Secondary” preview. The rotation options behind Fisher and Walker are a battle royale and how that turns out is anyone’s guess. It would be fair to say that keeping Walker and Fisher healthy is critical for the defense’s success.

Starters: Fisher and Walker

Backups (in projected order): Logan, Turner, Rudolph, Jones, Clark (redshirting)

Hoosier Huddle’s preseason coverage rolls on daily!