Indiana University athletics has produced world-class athletes for decades. From NBA champion Isiah Thomas to NFL running back Anthony Thompson, and more recently, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers have never lacked star power.
But while those names show up in the record books and highlight reels, plenty of Hoosiers have delivered remarkable careers at Indiana without the same recognition on campus or nationally. Here’s a look at some of the most underrated Hoosier athletes — the competitors whose impact deserves a second look.
Will Sheehey
Will Sheehey is the definition of a glue guy. Sheehey played basketball at Indiana from 2010–14 during Indiana basketball’s resurgence under former head coach Tom Crean.
Center Cody Zeller and guard Victor Oladipo rightfully commanded much of the attention of those teams, but Sheehey’s value went beyond the box score. He brought energy off the bench early in his career, embraced the dirty work and developed into a dependable senior leader. Whether guarding the opponent’s best wing, slashing toward the rim or delivering timely scoring, Sheehey consistently did what the team needed.
Those teams couldn’t win Big Ten championships or climb to No. 1 in the national rankings without a player like Sheehey. During his time playing with the Hoosiers, he helped them to the Sweet Sixteen twice. While he never reached the professional success of some of his counterparts, he played overseas in Portugal and is now assistant coaching for a Danish professional basketball club.
Antwaan Randle El
Long before Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, Indiana football had another electrifying quarterback in Antwaan Randle El.
From 1998-2001, Randle El did things that simply weren’t normal for a college quarterback of the time. He finished his career as the only player in NCAA history at the time to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards. In an era before dual-threat quarterbacks became normal, he was redefining what the position could look like, turning broken plays into highlights and forcing defenses to account for every inch of the field.
The only thing stopping Randle El from being mentioned with the legends is the lack of sustained team success around him. The Hoosiers never made a bowl game with Randle El at quarterback, finishing with records like 4-7 twice and 3-8.
Lilly King
Hear me out on this one. In the world of Olympic swimming, Lilly King is anything but underrated. She’s an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant swimmers of this generation.
But in the broader landscape of college athletics where football and basketball are king, even a multi-time Olympic champion can feel underrated. King dominated at Indiana, won NCAA titles and set multiple world records, yet swimmers rarely receive the same everyday attention as the big two.
Her impact on Indiana swimming and diving is massive. She raised expectations for what Hoosier swimming could look like on the world stage. If we measure “underrated” by how often someone’s name comes up in casual sports debates compared to their accomplishments, King fits the definition.
“Underrated” is a tricky word. It doesn’t mean unaccomplished. It means the recognition did not always match the impact. Players like Sheehey did the work that held great teams together, Randle El redefined what his position could be, and King brought world class dominance to Bloomington. Underrated does not mean lesser. It means the spotlight did not always shine quite bright enough.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's spring 2026 Source Campus Visitor's Guide.
