IUFB Recruiting and Transfer Portal Updates

[tyappleg]

7 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

I had thought Mendoza was sacked a ton too nut the chart suggests Hoover gets sacked more if I am reading correctly 

The higher the number, the better I assume (so the higher the number, the less sacks taken).  So according to this chart Hoover did turn it over more and got sacked less comparing Hoover in 2025 to Mendoza in 2024.  (I could be wrong though)

[WhiteyMcSpeed]

Hoover was sacked less, not more. Mendoza was sacked 41 times his last year at Cal, Hoover only 18 times last year at TCU.

[skhoosier2]

55 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

We have what, 6 TEs?  All Soph/Freshman.  Still surprised at this position.  Must like our talent scout/Practice

This is what I’ve been wondering about. Nowakowski is a huge piece of our offense and loss. His leadership and willingness to do it all cannot be understated. Will be very interesting to see if we bring in anyone else from the portal. 

[DChoosier]

10 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Seems like Lynch is primed for that spot. Imma put my money on Lynch.  Brunner is interesting as he could fit a few spots.  
 

Seems like we’ve done enough to merit a preseason top 5 ranking.  
 

Awesome. Let Cig Work. 

I don’t know what we are going to do at the center position but do know I’m blown away with the our OL foundation for next year. 
Lynch, Carter, Evans, Brunner, Ajani…..Yes please and thank you !!!

[moyemayhem]

1 hour ago, skhoosier2 said:

This is what I’ve been wondering about. Nowakowski is a huge piece of our offense and loss. His leadership and willingness to do it all cannot be understated. Will be very interesting to see if we bring in anyone else from the portal. 

If we don’t bring in an experienced TE from the portal (and at this point the cupboard is looking pretty bare) I have to assume that is because Cig has high confidence in someone on the current roster.

The top 3 TEs, Nowakowski, Staes, and Bomba are gone.  Schott is a nice prospect, but I’d be surprised if Cig is already pencilling him in as a starter with virtually no college experience and no time working with our coaches.  The only other TEs that we are bringing back from the current roster are Thiry (who may have some upside) and Barker (who looks like more of a block first type).  Could there be someone else who they are in the process of converting to TE? I guess the only logical conclusion is that either Thiry or Barker has really impressed the coaches.

In Cig we trust.

[Stuhoo]

7 hours ago, moyemayhem said:

If we don’t bring in an experienced TE from the portal (and at this point the cupboard is looking pretty bare) I have to assume that is because Cig has high confidence in someone on the current roster.

The top 3 TEs, Nowakowski, Staes, and Bomba are gone.  Schott is a nice prospect, but I’d be surprised if Cig is already pencilling him in as a starter with virtually no college experience and no time working with our coaches.  The only other TEs that we are bringing back from the current roster are Thiry (who may have some upside) and Barker (who looks like more of a block first type).  Could there be someone else who they are in the process of converting to TE? I guess the only logical conclusion is that either Thiry or Barker has really impressed the coaches.

In Cig we trust.

 

Barker and Schott are also incredible athletes.

Staff has something up their sleeves with one of them.

[68Hoosier]

9 hours ago, DChoosier said:

I don’t know what we are going to do at the center position but do know I’m blown away with the our OL foundation for next year. 
Lynch, Carter, Evans, Brunner, Ajani…..Yes please and thank you !!!

Love the solid group returning.  

[IU5355]

9 hours ago, DChoosier said:

I don’t know what we are going to do at the center position but do know I’m blown away with the our OL foundation for next year. 
Lynch, Carter, Evans, Brunner, Ajani…..Yes please and thank you !!!

That is an awesome foundation!

Hopefully some of the younger guys on the roster have developed and will be able to step in for depth. 

[Pagoda]

The other rumor floating around was Will Stein at Kensucky was trying to throw a bag at Charlie B.

[TucsonHoosier]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

 

Barker and Schott are also incredible athletes.

Staff has something up their sleeves with one of them.

I’m really big on Thiry. I don’t have any insider knowledge or anything like that to support it, more of a hunch. He also won state in wrestling. Played a bunch of positions in football too.
 

He just seems to fit that profile that could thrive in Cignetti’s system.

Edited January 26 by TucsonHoosier

[Brass Cannon]

Just read thru a GT message board.  They knew he was transferring on the 18th.  At least an insider knew but didn’t outright say it. I appreciate that. Could have caused unwanted noise.  
 

A few of them are worried that this is more of a tryout with the plan to potentially return to Indiana.  

[AZ Hoosier]

9 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Just read thru a GT message board.  They knew he was transferring on the 18th.  At least an insider knew but didn’t outright say it. I appreciate that. Could have caused unwanted noise.  
 

A few of them are worried that this is more of a tryout with the plan to potentially return to Indiana.  

Sorry if I missed it… who are you talking about?

[Demo]

3 minutes ago, AZ Hoosier said:

Sorry if I missed it… who are you talking about?

Alberto

[skhoosier2]

26 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Just read thru a GT message board.  They knew he was transferring on the 18th.  At least an insider knew but didn’t outright say it. I appreciate that. Could have caused unwanted noise.  
 

A few of them are worried that this is more of a tryout with the plan to potentially return to Indiana.  

That's what a lot of people seem to be saying about the situation but it all could be talk from fans that hope he comes back.

[Hurryin' Hoosiers]

On 1/24/2026 at 7:49 PM, IU5355 said:

He had an offer from hometown Vanderbilt out of high school and still came here. 

Can you blame him?  I wouldn't want to play with Pavia either.

[Hovadipo]

10 minutes ago, skhoosier2 said:

That's what a lot of people seem to be saying about the situation but it all could be talk from fans that hope he comes back.

Yeah, this tryout narrative is incredibly unlikely. Best of luck to Alberto, I’ll be rooting for him, but we didn’t send him off to another P4 program hoping he’d develop like some NBA draft and stash setup. 

[Hurryin' Hoosiers]

On 1/25/2026 at 8:47 AM, Demo said:

So that kid’s 17, huh? 

Too young for IU :)

[Lebowski]

14 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Carter is 6’5 too, but the concern with him is length and lateral quickness. No idea how Brunner profiles as a tackle. Just doing some draft research and trying to piece things together. I could also be overthinking it.

My scenario definitely leaves an odd man out if Brunner isn’t the replacement (between Lynch and Evans), but one thing that would solve is providing a depth OL piece with experience that I don’t feel we currently have. 

You're not the only one thinking about this because I am too. I will not be the least bit surprised if Smith is calling the huddle this fall. 

Now that I've been able to come down a little from this euphoric cloud nine ride of our beloved 16-0 National Champion IUFB Hoosiers, I do have a concern with our OL depth. We added depth in similar fashion last year at this time as well. There's definitely a plan bringing in Brunner. And honestly, I'd prefer we bring in at least one more OL, but that's just my worry whiskers in me. 

This conversation is so much more fun knowing IUFB finally has a coaching staff.  

[jermhoosierfan]

Looks like he is declaring.

[Home Jersey]

1 minute ago, jermhoosierfan said:

Looks like he is declaring.

Definitely possible he is declaring and staying in. He may have submitted the paperwork keeping in mind the deadline to drop out is February 7 IIRC. So, until he makes an announcement IMO, I think he's getting feedback / maybe trying to get a promise from a team that "if you're still there in round 2/3, we'll pick you" and weighing that against a probably very nice NIL offer here. Maybe I just don't want to give up hope yet. Wouldn't blame him one bit for going to the league.