Hoosiers Spring Football Preview: Noah Pierre's Return Anchors the Husky Position

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The “Husky” position is not unique to Indiana’s football program but it is a type of player that not every defense plays. The “Husky” is a hybrid role that really redefines the traditional nickel cornerback position. The ideal Husky needs to be part safety, part cornerback and part linebacker and finding a player with the right physical skillset and mental makeup is not easy. The Hoosiers lost Bryant Fitzgerald, a player with a ton of game experience and some time spent playing Husky, but got terrific news with the return of Noah Pierre. Heading into spring football, Noah Pierre is the only sure thing on the roster for this important position.

The Starter – Noah Pierre

Noah Pierre is a 5’11” and 180 pound super senior that has played a lot of really good football for Indiana University. Shortly after the 2022 season, Pierre announced he was returning to IU for one more season and his return is a massive one for the Hoosiers. He’s a veteran leader, a physical tackler and he instantly adds some stability to a secondary that will definitely need it. Originally from Florida, Pierre first played for Indiana in 2018, redshirting that season but appearing in one game. He played in ten games, primarily on special teams, in 2019 and then all eight games in 2020. Pierre made his breakthrough in 2021, starting six games and playing in all 12. He had 36 tackles with one interception and four pass breakups. The Indiana coaches praised Pierre’s play and he again appeared in all 12 games, this time starting seven times in 2022. He can play all over the place but IU needs him most at Husky. In total, Pierre enters the 2023 spring having played 43 games for Indiana and barring a major surprise this spring or fall, he’ll be the starting Husky for the opener.

Returning Depth – Jordan Grier and Louis Moore

There are legitimate questions about who is going to emerge behind Noah Pierre at the Husky position. The two primary returning candidates are Jordan Grier and Louis Moore.

Jordan Grier is a 6’0”, 202-pound junior originally from Georgia. He played in six games as a freshman in 2021 and all 12 games in 2022. Grier’s best game came against Penn State this past season, recording four tackles against the #16 Nittany Lions. He came to the Hoosiers as a safety and his coverage skills are the question mark. This spring will be important for him to improve in pass coverage and show the coaches he can be relied on.

The other returning player that could factor in the rotation is Louis Moore. Hailing from Texas, Moore played at Navarro College as a wide receiver and safety at the junior college in Corsicana, Texas. Moore committed to the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility remaining and played the 2022 season, appearing in all 12 games on the defensive side of the ball. He recorded four tackles against Michigan and had a sack with a forced fumble that was picked up for an Indiana touchdown. Moore is another player that primarily has experience as a safety and his pass coverage is a question. This is a big spring for him to show the coaches he belongs in the rotation for consistent snaps.

Newcomer – Tyrik McDaniel

Originally from a suburb of Columbia, South Carolina, Tyrik McDaniel was a three-star signee to Old Dominion before transferring to Independence Community College in Kansas. He has three years of eligibility remaining and was a very nice get for the Hoosiers staff as a late addition to the recruiting class. McDaniel is 6’1” and nearly 190 pounds and he was the number one JUCO safety prospect according to 247Sports. Despite appearing in just five of nine games this past season, McDaniel was named second-team all-conference with 25 tackles and two sacks plus four passes broken up and a blocked punt. McDaniel’s athleticism jumps off the screen when you watch his highlights. If he can show the right level of physicality to the staff this spring, he could have the inside track on the primary backup Husky spot.

The Indiana Hoosiers likely have four players that will begin the 2023 spring practice sessions at the Husky position. That is a good number for the position but no one besides Noah Pierre has any real game experience at Husky. This is an important spring for the group to find quality and reliable depth and an important spring for Pierre to establish himself as a leader in the rebuilt secondary.