Todd Mefford

Indiana Football — Top 30 Returning Players and Newcomers (2026 Preview)- Opinion Article Thread 🧵 By: @CandidHoosier When Curt Cignetti took over as Indiana’s head football coach, he asked the previous staff to rank the top 50 players on the current roster to help him assess roster retention. I have decided it would be fun to do a top player analysis as a preview going into next season, as the Hoosiers reload to defend their first-ever National Championship.  1. Carter Smith, OL – Team Captain, Anchor of the offensive line, projected 2nd round pick in ‘26. QB can’t do his job if there is not a formidable OL in front of him. Huge announcement to have Smith back. 2. Josh Hoover, QB- Gunslinger. He releases the ball quickly and has a high IQ when it comes to reading coverages. He throws a pretty deep ball and places the ball well based on the defender's placement. Will need to bring down his INT’s, which is not something IU’s staff is foreign to with QB development.  3. Isaiah “Bones” Jones, LB- New “Green Dot” for Bryant Haines’s defense. Playmaker. High tackle and sack production. 2nd on the team in sacks last season (7). 4. Rolijah Hardy, LB-  “Naval Academy”. The team leader in tackles and sacks last season returns. He has relentless pursuit and is a magnet to the football. 5. Tyrique Tucker, DT- Anchor of the front line on defense. Run game disruptor and QB hunter. Tucker’s ability to navigate gaps in a stunt and slant through a double team creates issues for opposing teams. 3rd on the team in sacks last season (6). 6. Jamari Sharpe, CB– Veteran coverage piece opposite Ponds. Really improved as the season went on last season. Who can forget the national championship game sealing INT? Ponds got all of the coverage attention and rightly so. However, Sharpe had 6 PD, 1 INT. He led the team with 4 forced fumbles last season.  7. Nick Marsh, WR- Production is immense (100 receptions, 1311 yds, 9 TDs in 2 seasons). He can line up in all spots on the field, similar to Cooper Jr. Most overall talented WR on the roster based on his ability to play inside and out. He has athleticism and immense size at 6’3. 8. Joe Brunner, OL- Brunner comes to IU from Wisconsin, where he was a 2 time All Big selection and a 2025 Pre-season All-American. He allowed four pressures and one sack over 316 snaps in pass protection and was only penalized once this season for the Badgers, according to ESPN Research. 9. Charlie Becker, WR– Breakout receiver with big-play ability. Will take over the X spot that Sarratt held the past two seasons. If the ball is in the area, Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee, is coming down with it. Not many others had bigger moments in the big games this season than Becker.  10. Amare Ferrell, S- New leader of the back end of the defense now with Ponds leaving for the draft. Ferrell has averaged 4 int a year in 2 seasons starting for IU. This season, he added 6 PBUs. 11. Mario Landino, DT- Super Mario is back and teams up with Tucker to be arguably the best DT tandem in the BIG. He was fifth on the team in sacks (5) and had an impressive 4 pass deflections last season.  12. Bray Lynch, OL– Key interior lineman returning. My belief is he will kick inside to take over the center position and lead the communication for the OL for run fits and pass protection.  13. Drew Evans, OL– Multiyear starter on the OL at guard, lined up next to Smith. Road grater in the run game. Stout in pass protection. When Evans was injured the past two seasons, you could feel his absence, which is a testament to his abilities.  14. Tobi Osunsanmi, Edge- Versatile edge who came into college as an LB. He played in only 6 games due to injury. In those 6 games, he accounted for 20 tackles, 4 sacks, 6 TFL, and 13 QB pressures. Great production. 15. Daniel Ndukwe, Edge– Ndukwe came onto the scene after the injury of Stephen Daley, and he took advantage of the opportunity. In the CFP, he had 7 tackles, 2 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, and a Punt Block

Announcing our 2023 scholarship recipients! @WWSWEF awarded $77,850 in scholarships & awards, providing a great opportunity for @WWSWHS graduates to pursue education or be recognized for their efforts. Congratulations to all graduates! “Once A Rock, Always A Rock!" 🎓☘️ #wwswef