State of the Room - IUFB Tight Ends

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Missy Minear/Indiana Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The tight end room was one of the few bright spots for the Hoosiers offense in 2021 as Peyton Hendershot put together an All-Big Ten campaign and A.J. Barner started to show what he could do. Walt Bell’s offense will use the tight end in many different positions and even in an H-back formation. It will be different, but Hoosier fans were screaming for different things all season. 

Hendershot is off to the NFL and IU coaches are awaiting the decision of Matt Bjorson, but the tight end room looks to be in good hands no matter what happens with Bjorson.

Departures

The biggest departure is of Peyton Hendershot to the NFL. He finished his Hoosier career as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards for a tight end and just one touchdown short of the top spot for that category as well. Kham Taylor also leaves, but he was a ghost at IU. The Hoosiers are still awaiting the decision of Matt Bjorson who has played 45 career games with IU and has 21 career catches.

Returnees

The Hoosiers return a young, but exciting group of tight ends in 2022 (still waiting for Matt Bjorson to decide if he’s coming back). Leading the way will be A.J. Barner who flashed what he brings to the passing game in 2021. After playing in 8 games as a true freshman in 2020, Barner played an even bigger role in 2021 as he played in all 12 games, including one start. He made 14 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. The hope is that Walt Bell uses Barner’s skill set better than the previous offensive coordinator.

Behind Barner is freshman Aaron Steinfeldt, who played in one game last year. Steinfeldt is another big target for the offense to look for at six-foot-five. He’s also an excellent athlete who can make plays down field. At 245 pounds, Steinfeldt can also become a force in the run game as a blocker.

The Hoosiers also have several walk-on tight ends who could be a stop-gap to let the two incoming freshmen develop. James Bomba came in last season from Miami (OH) and is six-foot-six and 255 pounds, Sam Daugstrup walked on prior to the 2020 season after being a three-star recruit. Ryan Barnes is a redshirt junior who has experience playing in seven games and could be back if he chooses, as could Trey Walker who played in two games last season. 

Newcomers

The Hoosiers will add two freshmen signees to the tight end room in 2022. A four-star signee in Brody Foley out of Ohio, who flipped his commitment from Tennessee about a week before the early signing period and Ryan Miller, a six-foot-six Ohio native who was rated as the 23rd best tight end prospect in the country, but missed some of his senior season with an injury.

Both players bring length and skill to the position. Miller can be used in close to the line as well as split out wide, while Foley brings a linebacker mentality to the position and could be an ideal H-back in Bell’s system.

Final Group Projections for 2022

Five Scholarship Tight Ends

  • Matt Bjorson - RS Senior (Awaiting Decision)

  • A.J. Barner - Junior

  • Aaron Steinfeldt - Sophomore

  • Ryan Miller - Incoming Freshman (in for spring)

  • Brody Foley - Incoming Freshman

Walk-ons with Experience

  • Ryan Barnes - RS Senior

  • Trey Walker - RS Junior

  • James Bomba - RS Freshman

  • Sam Daugstrap - RS Sophomore