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Breaking: Indiana Hoosiers Hit Big with Two Transfer DEs Commit to Hoosiers

Nero Scoffield
April 22, 2025
13 Min Read
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Welcome to the 2025 Indiana Football Transfer Portal Tracker. Here you can find live updates on IU transfer news and decisions as they happen in real-time.

Welcome to the 2025 Indiana Football Transfer Portal Tracker – your go-to hub for real-time updates on all things IU transfer-related. This includes players joining or leaving via the transfer portal and current scholarship players announcing their return for the upcoming season. You’ll also find a regularly updated breakdown of Indiana’s 2025 roster by position.

For an in-depth look at scholarship distribution and eligibility by position, you can click here. You can also get a snapshot of Indiana’s 2025 roster status by clicking here.

As of now, Indiana has 80 scholarship spots filled. The Hoosiers are expected to bring in over a dozen transfers this offseason—and possibly more—depending on attrition and unexpected departures.

Head coach Curt Cignetti had great success with last year’s transfer class, bringing in five current starters on offense and six on defense via the portal. IU is expected to remain highly active again this offseason, potentially targeting an even higher caliber of transfers.

Below is a live tracker showing:

  • Which IU players have entered the portal and where they’ve landed

  • Which players are returning for 2025

  • Which transfers have committed to Indiana and their previous schools

2025 INDIANA ROSTER BREAKDOWN

Players marked with ** are incoming transfers. This is not a depth chart, just a class-based listing.

QUARTERBACK (4)

  • **Grant Wilson (R-Sr)

  • **Fernando Mendoza (R-Jr)

  • Alberto Mendoza (R-Fr)

  • Jacob Bell (Fr)**

RUNNING BACK (6)

  • Solomon Vanhorse (R-Sr+)

  • Kaelon Black (R-Sr+)

  • **Roman Hemby (R-Sr)

  • **Lee Beebe Jr. (R-Jr)

  • Khobie Martin (R-Fr)

  • Sean Cuono (Fr)**

WIDE RECEIVER (9)

  • E.J. Williams (R-Sr+)

  • **Tyler Morris (Sr)

  • **Makai Jackson (Sr)

  • Elijah Sarratt (Sr)

  • Omar Cooper (R-Jr)

  • Charlie Becker (So)

  • LeBron Bond (Fr)

  • Davion Chandler (Fr)

  • Myles Kendrick (Fr)**

TIGHT END (5)

  • **Riley Nowakowski (R-Sr+)

  • James Bomba (R-Sr)

  • **Holden Staes (Sr)

  • Andrew Barker (Fr)

  • Blake Thiry (Fr)**

OFFENSIVE LINE (13)

  • **Kahlil Benson (G/T) (R-Sr+)

  • **Pat Coogan (C) (R-Sr)

  • **Zen Michalski (G/T) (R-Sr)

  • Drew Evans (G/C) (R-Jr)

  • Bray Lynch (C/G) (R-Jr)

  • Carter Smith (T) (R-Jr)

  • Adedamola Ajani (G) (R-Fr)

  • Evan Lawrence (T) (R-Fr)

  • Austin Leibfried (T) (R-Fr)

  • Mitch Verstegen (G/C) (R-Fr)

  • Matt Marek (G/C) (Fr)

  • Evan Parker (G) (Fr)

  • Baylor Wilkin (G) (Fr)**

DEFENSIVE LINE (7)

  • **Dominique Ratcliff (R-Sr+)

  • **Hosea Wheeler (R-Sr)

  • J’mari Monette (R-Jr)

  • Tyrique Tucker (R-Jr)

  • Keishaun Calhoun (Fr)

  • Kyler Garcia (Fr)

  • Jhrevious Hall (Fr)**

EDGE (9)

  • Mikail Kamara (R-Sr+)

  • **Stephen Daley (Sr)

  • **Kellan Wyatt (Sr)

  • TaDerius Collins (R-So)

  • Daniel Ndukwe (So)

  • William Depaepe (R-Fr)

  • Mario Landino (So)

  • Triston Abram (Fr)

  • Tyrone Burrus (Fr)**

LINEBACKER (8)

  • Aiden Fisher (Sr)

  • Isaiah Jones (R-Jr)

  • Kaiden Turner (R-Jr)

  • Rolijah Hardy (So)

  • Quentin Clark (R-Fr)

  • Jamari Farmer (Fr)

  • Paul “PJ” Nelson (Fr)

  • Amari Kamara (Fr)**

CORNERBACK (8)

  • **Ryland Gandy (R-Jr)

  • **Amariyun Knighten (R-Jr)

  • Jamari Sharpe (R-Jr)

  • D’Angelo Ponds (Jr)

  • Dontrae Henderson (R-Fr)

  • Zacharey Smith (Fr)

  • Seaonta Stewart (Fr)

  • Jaylen Bell (Fr)**

SAFETY (7)

  • **Louis Moore (R-Sr+)

  • **Devan Boykin (R-Sr+)

  • Bryson Bonds (R-Sr+)

  • Amare Ferrell (Jr)

  • Jah Jah Boyd (R-Fr)

  • Byron Baldwin (Fr)

  • Garrett Reese (Fr)**

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)

  • **Brendan Franke (K) (R-Sr+)

  • Mark Langston (LS) (R-Sr+)

  • **Mitch McCarthy (P) (Sr)

  • Nicolas Radicic (K) (R-So)**

Total Scholarships Currently Filled: 80

Indiana is well on its way to assembling a competitive 2025 roster with a strong mix of returning talent and impact transfers. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the offseason.

INCOMING TRANSFERS (21)

DE Kellan Wyatt (from Maryland, April 22) – Indiana has welcomed its second transfer defensive end in just three days, Kellan Wyatt. Previously a three-star linebacker at Maryland, Wyatt is set to play defensive end for the Hoosiers. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 252 pounds, he recorded 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks during his junior season in 2024. Wyatt has one year of eligibility left.

DE Stephen Daley (from Kent State, April 20) – The Hoosiers secured their first defensive transfer of the offseason with Stephen Daley, a 6-foot-1, 260-pounder ranked as the No. 79 transfer EDGE. In the 2024 season, Daley accumulated 51 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. He also has one year of eligibility remaining.

IOL Pat Coogan (from Notre Dame, Jan. 31) – One of Indiana’s most significant transfer signings, Pat Coogan, is coming to Bloomington from Notre Dame. Coogan, who started all 13 games in the last two seasons, including a National Championship run, will provide immediate leadership and experience to the offensive line. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

S Devan Boykin (from NC State, Jan. 14) – Late in the winter portal season, Devan Boykin joined Indiana, bringing needed experience to the safety position. Although he missed the 2024 season due to injury, Boykin has played in 45 games with 19 starts at NC State, accumulating 117 tackles, seven break-ups, five tackles for loss, five QB hurries, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. He also has one year of eligibility left.

TE Holden Staes (from Tennessee, Jan. 9) – Holden Staes, a top transfer tight end at 6 feet 4 inches and 248 pounds, is also set to join the Hoosiers. He participated in all 13 games last season, making 15 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown. Known for his blocking skills, Staes began his collegiate career at Notre Dame and has one year of eligibility remaining, plus a redshirt year.

CB Ryland Gandy (from Pittsburgh, Jan. 6) – Indiana bolstered its cornerback lineup with the addition of former Pitt starter Ryland Gandy. Over 13 starts last fall, Gandy recorded 40 tackles, one pass break-up, and half a tackle for loss. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he played in 12 games and made seven tackles. He will join a competitive cornerback group and has two years of eligibility left.

WR Tyler Morris (from Michigan, Jan. 5) – The Hoosiers added Michigan wide receiver Tyler Morris, who recorded 39 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons. He had a standout 2024 season with 23 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns, and he will help fill the roles of departed players Myles Price and Ke’Shawn Williams. Morris has one year of eligibility remaining, plus a redshirt year.

OL Kahlil Benson (from Colorado, Jan. 4) – Former IU offensive lineman Kahlil Benson is making a return to Bloomington after transferring to Colorado. Last season, he played in nine games with four starts at right guard and gained valuable experience at both left guard and right tackle. Benson provides immediate support for Indiana’s offensive line and has one year of eligibility left.

OL Zen Michalski (from Ohio State, Jan. 3) – Zen Michalski is returning to Indiana for his final college season after spending four years at Ohio State. The 6-foot-6 former four-star recruit appeared in 34 games with one start and has the potential to take over the starting right tackle position after Trey Wedig’s graduation. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

QB Grant Wilson (from Old Dominion, Jan. 3) – To strengthen their quarterback depth, Indiana added experienced Grant Wilson from Old Dominion. He started the 2024 season with three games before injuries impacted his play. In 2023, Wilson was impressive, playing 12 games with 11 starts and completing 57% of his passes for 2,149 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

S Louis Moore (from Ole Miss, Dec. 28) – After a season at Ole Miss, former Hoosier safety Louis Moore is back for his final year. Moore was a key player in Indiana’s secondary in 2022 and 2023 but saw less production at Ole Miss after switching to nickel. His return adds crucial experience to a young safety group in 2025. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

QB Fernando Mendoza (from Cal, Dec. 24) – Indiana made a notable addition in quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Cal, who is seen as the successor to Kurtis Rourke. In 2024, he threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing nearly 69% of his passes. Mendoza’s performance in 2023 also stood out with 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WR Makai Jackson (from Appalachian State, Dec. 24) – The Hoosiers have signed their first transfer receiver, Makai Jackson, who earned All-Sun Belt Third Team honors after recording 46 receptions for 745 yards and five touchdowns last season. Jackson, who transfers from St. Francis to Appalachian State, brings valuable experience to a receiving corps that is losing three top performers. He has one year of eligibility remaining, plus a redshirt year.

RB Roman Hemby (from Maryland, Dec. 23) – Former All-Big Ten running back Roman Hemby from Maryland is Indiana’s second running back transfer. In 41 games, Hemby rushed for 2,347 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 112 passes for 921 yards and five touchdowns. His addition strengthens a robust IU backfield alongside Kaelon Black and Lee Beebe Jr. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

TE Riley Nowakowski (from Wisconsin, Dec. 18) – Riley Nowakowski from Wisconsin is the first transfer tight end for Indiana. He played all 12 games last season, registering 11 catches for 74 yards. Over five seasons, Nowakowski participated in 40 games with 18 receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown, making him a valuable addition to fill the gap left by graduating starter Zach Horton. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DL Dominique Ratcliff (from Texas State, Dec. 17) – Indiana’s defense has received a boost with the signing of Dominique Ratcliff, who was recognized as an All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention at Texas State after tallying 22 tackles, five QB hurries, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks last season. He will aid in replacing departing defensive linemen CJ West and James Carpenter. Ratcliff has one year of eligibility remaining.

DL Hosea Wheeler (from Western Kentucky, Dec. 16) – Indiana secured Hosea Wheeler, a top target on the defensive line, from Western Kentucky. Over three seasons, he made significant contributions with 117 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and multiple forced fumbles. In 2024, he was named First Team All-Conference USA for an outstanding performance. Wheeler has one year of eligibility remaining.

Kicker Brendan Franke (from Texas State, Dec. 15) – The Hoosiers have recruited kick-off specialist Brendan Franke from Texas State, who averaged 64 yards per kick and achieved 64 touchbacks during his season with the Bobcats. Franke’s varied experience includes stints at Georgia Southern, Nebraska, and Morningside College. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

DB Amariyun Knighten (from Northern Illinois, Dec. 15) – Indiana bolstered its cornerback depth with the arrival of Amariyun Knighten from Northern Illinois. At NIU, the 6-foot, 174-pound corner played in 25 games with 14 starts, making 45 tackles, seven pass break-ups, and one interception. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Punter Mitch McCarthy (from Central Florida, Dec. 15) – To replace departing punter James Evans, Indiana signed Australian Mitch McCarthy, who punted 115 times at UCF for an average of 43 yards per punt, including 39 punts inside the 20. McCarthy has one year of eligibility remaining.

RB Lee Beebe Jr. (from UAB, Dec. 13) – Indiana’s first commitment from the transfer portal was running back Lee Beebe Jr. from UAB, where he had a standout season with 885 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, earning third-team All-AAC honors. He joins the IU backfield in 2025 alongside Kaelon Black, Khobie Martin, and Sean Cuono, with two years of eligibility left.

OUTGOING TRANSFERS (19)

DT Marcus Burris Jr. (April 18) – Indiana has seen another defensive tackle exit as Marcus Burris Jr., who was expected to contribute, has entered the transfer portal. A former four-star talent who started his career at Texas A&M, Burris struggled to establish himself during his two years with the Hoosiers. He fell down the depth chart during spring practices and did not see a path to consistent playing time. Burris has one year of eligibility left.

TE Sam West (April 16) – The Hoosiers have lost their third tight end this offseason with Sam West’s decision to leave the program after participating in spring camp. West was an intriguing pass-catching prospect when he arrived at IU, but he saw limited action over two seasons, mostly on special teams and during late-game blowouts. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

OL Austin Barrett (April 16) – Once considered a potential future starter, Austin Barrett has opted to transfer as opportunities for him appeared limited with the current offensive line’s depth. He had received praise as a promising underclassman from both past and current coaching staffs. Barrett has three years of eligibility remaining.

DB Josh Philostin (April 16) – Transferring from James Madison to Indiana last year, Philostin suffered an ACL injury that sidelined him for his entire freshman year. He has four years of eligibility remaining.

DT Robby Harrison (April 16) – Robby Harrison played a limited role during his two-year stint at Indiana. He recorded no stats in the 2024 season and had just three tackles in 2023. Harrison has two years of eligibility left.

OL Vinny Fiacable (Feb. 24) – Fiacable spent his entire tenure at IU as a backup offensive lineman and missed the entire 2024 season due to injury. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

TE Brody Foley (Jan. 13) – Another tight end leaving IU is Brody Foley. A former four-star recruit, Foley struggled with injuries that hindered his development and playing time. With the recent arrivals of Riley Nowakowski and Holden Staes, Foley was not expected to make a significant impact in 2025. He has committed to Tulsa.

CB JoJo Johnson (Dec. 28) – JoJo Johnson became the first cornerback to leave Indiana’s program, having served as a backup over the last two years. He played in 15 games, recording 13 tackles and one pass breakup. Johnson is heading to Bowling Green.

DE Venson Sneed (Dec. 28) – A backup defensive lineman for three years, Venson Sneed has entered the portal. Standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 266 pounds, he played in 17 games, racking up nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Sneed will transfer to Western Kentucky.

TE Brody Kosin (Dec. 27) – Highly regarded as a recruit, Brody Kosin committed to Indiana’s previous coaching staff and remained with the program after the arrival of Curt Cignetti. However, he did not see game action during his freshman season. Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Kosin had offers from several prominent programs and has committed to Miami (Ohio).

CB Jamier Johnson (Dec. 21) – Jamier Johnson, who started many games in 2023 and 2024, is looking to finish his college career elsewhere. A former Top247 recruit and Texas transfer, he was a standout player for the Hoosiers defense. Johnson has committed to UCLA.

QB Tayven Jackson (Dec. 21) – Once seen as Indiana’s future quarterback after transferring in 2023, Tayven Jackson struggled to secure a starting role and served as a backup in 2024 behind Kurtis Rourke. With Indiana poised to bring in a proven quarterback for 2025, Jackson’s chances for the starting position appeared slim. He completed 61.2% of his passes for 1,263 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions in two seasons at IU. Jackson is heading to Central Florida.

RB Elijah Green (Dec. 10) – In his lone season at Indiana after transferring from North Carolina, Elijah Green played in seven games, recording 29 carries for 201 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He was mainly used in a backup role and primarily appeared in games after the outcome was decided. Green has committed to Sam Houston State.

LB Joshua Rudolph (Dec. 9) – Joshua Rudolph transferred to IU before the 2023 season after two years at Austin Peay. He played all of last season but did not see any game action this fall. Rudolph has committed to UTEP.

OL Noah Bolticoff (Oct. 4) – Noah Bolticoff exited the IU program after spring football and did not participate in the 2024 season. He was a TCU transfer and did not see any game action during his year at IU. Bolticoff has committed to North Alabama.

WR Donaven McCulley (Oct. 4) – Midseason, Donaven McCulley left the program to preserve his redshirt year after playing in four games. Injuries affected his early season performance, resulting in just two catches for 21 yards and one touchdown. McCulley is transferring to Michigan.

LB Nahji Logan (Oct. 4) – Nahji Logan departed midseason to keep his redshirt year intact. A backup linebacker, he didn’t see much action behind standout players Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker, playing four games without any recorded stats. Logan has committed to Nevada.

DB Tyrik McDaniel (Oct. 4) – Tyrik McDaniel also left the IU program midseason to preserve his redshirt year, serving as a backup safety and special teams player. He played in four games, making one tackle. After two seasons at IU and a total of 15 games played, McDaniel is headed to The Citadel.

DB DJ Warnell Jr. (Oct. 3) – DJ Warnell, who joined IU last offseason from Arizona, transferred out midseason to maintain his redshirt year. He played four games, recording four tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup. Warnell has committed to North Texas.

RETURNING PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENTS (3)

DE Mikail Kamara (Dec. 25) – Indiana received an excellent holiday gift when All-American defensive end Mikail Kamara announced he would return for the 2025 season. His decision was significant for the Hoosier’s roster, ensuring that their defense remains one of the top units in the country, with Kamara joining fellow standouts Aiden Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, and Bryant Haines. Kamara has one year of eligibility left.

LB Aiden Fisher (Dec. 22) – Aiden Fisher, the leader of Indiana’s defense, will return for his final season, confirming on social media, “More work to be done.” An All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection, Fisher ranked among the top tacklers in the Big Ten and contributed significantly to one of the nation’s top defenses. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

WR EJ Williams (Dec. 13) – EJ Williams left the IU program midseason to preserve his redshirt year after playing the maximum of four games. The former Clemson transfer has faced injury challenges during his time with the Hoosiers, totaling 25 receptions for 330 yards without scoring. In 2024, he recorded two catches for 49 yards. His return is crucial for Indiana’s receiving team, which will lose Myles Price, Ke’Shawn Williams, and Miles Cross to graduation. Williams has one year of eligibility remaining.

Last Update: April 22, 2025

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