Linebacker Aiden Fisher Ready To Prove He Belongs at IU

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by: TJ Inman

The hiring of Curt Cignetti from James Madison had Indiana consistently mentioned by the college football media as one of the “winners” of the coaching carousel cycle. Often, Cignetti’s exciting offense is cited as a major reason for the optimism. Mike Shanahan and his offense are certainly reasons for IU to be fired up but Curt Cignetti also brought much of his defensive staff from James Madison and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ unit was among the nation’s most disruptive defenses in 2023 and deserves the spotlight as well.

The Hoosiers needed an infusion of talent everywhere on the roster but linebacker was particularly bare after Aaron Casey exhausted his eligibility. It was only natural that Cignetti and Haines turned to their former squad and brought in the top two linebackers and tacklers from the Dukes’ 2023 team: Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker. Both were pursued and eventually committed to Indiana over other options and the pair will play significant roles in Haines’ 2024 defense. Fisher led JMU with 108 tackles while Walker was second with 61 stops. Fisher, entering his junior year, spoke to the media about Bryant Haines’ defense and what has made it so successful.

“It’s a really explosive defense,” Fisher said on Thursday. “I think we (James Madison) led the country in tackles for loss. We also had one of the nation’s top sack leaders. It allows players to play fast and to play free. I think that’s what attracts so many players to play the system and allows us to be so successful. Being able to play fast and play off each other.”

The tackles for loss are a huge deal and will hopefully resemble units coached by Kane Wommack that IU fans remember fondly. James Madison had 114 tackles for loss in 2023. For comparison’s sake, the Indiana Hoosiers 2023 defense had a total of 72. Four of the top six TFL leaders from that James Madison defense (Mikail Kamara, James Carpenter, Fisher and Walker) are now wearing the Cream and Crimson and Fisher is excited to try and translate their production to the Big Ten.

“It’s definitely a bigger scale, you know, the Big Ten compared to other conferences. I look at it more as a kind of opportunity to prove myself and keep on that journey to prove myself and show I belong here,” Fisher said. “I think a lot of the guys that transferred in want to show we belong on the biggest stage and are excited for it.”

Aiden Fisher started alongside the athletic Jailin Walker last season and continuing that partnership was one of the things that attracted him to Bloomington. 

“I think it’s great,” Fisher said of senior Jailin Walker. “He’s a really explosive and dynamic player and he’s great to play alongside. I know we’re both really excited to play with everybody in this group that we have. Got to be able to play off each other and keep this chemistry that we’ve got going right now.”

The linebacker group Fisher is referencing is an interesting one that includes returning players that IU hopes mesh well with the newcomers. Veteran linebacker Jayden McDonald transferred in from Troy after leading the Trojans in tackles in 2023. Those three transfers are joined by Joshu Rudolph, a player that showed a lot of promise as a side-to-side linebacker at the end of the 2023 season. Those four figure to be the top players in the rotation with Kaiden Turner hoping to begin to crack the rotation. Turner is a redshirt sophomore from Arkansas that looks the part and the new system could benefit him substantially. Isaiah Jones is another redshirt sophomore looking for a clean start in the new system and Darryl Minor Jr. is a super senior from Texas. 

As spring practice continues, Fisher leads the linebacker group as they try to get to know each other and adapt to their new surroundings under the bright lights of the Big Ten.