As Indiana football begins its final week of fall camp, head coach Curt Cignetti provided several roster and position battle updates during his weekly availability Monday.
Last week, a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals placed edge rushers Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt’s eligibility in question. Each was granted a fifth year of eligibility following a court injunction July 31, but last week’s ruling leaves the pair ineligible.
Cignetti confirmed the status of Daley and Wyatt on Monday, noting the pair is still practicing with the team. With further legal developments anticipated, the defensive linemen will continue to look for avenues to suit up in 2026.
“We’re gonna support them in their quest to be eligible to play,” Cignetti said Monday.
The return of Daley and Wyatt would be welcome for Cignetti and the Hoosiers. Daley ranked third nationally with 19 tackles for loss last season but missed the College Football Playoff due to a knee injury. Daley played behind Wyatt to begin 2025. However, Wyatt also sustained a knee injury against Michigan State in October, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
With uncertainty about availability at the edge rusher position, the Hoosiers will likely have to lean on newcomers. Indiana added former Kansas State University edge rushers Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor in the offseason. Additionally, the Hoosiers brought in former University of Notre Dame edge Josh Burnham via the transfer portal.
Indiana also entered fall camp without a clear No. 2 cornerback. The program lost D’Angelo Ponds, whose 92.0 Pro Football Focus grade since 2024 was the highest among all 2026 NFL Draft eligible cornerbacks.
The Hoosiers will return redshirt senior defensive back Jamari Sharpe in 2026. Sharpe, who reeled in a game-sealing interception in the national championship game, is Indiana’s unquestioned No. 1 cornerback.
Cignetti added former Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris through the transfer portal. Harris was the sixth-ranked cornerback in the 2026 transfer cycle at the time of his Indiana commitment.
But Harris has missed time during fall camp after “he tweaked his knee,” Cignetti said Monday.
“I think Sharpe has been our No. 1 guy,” Cignetti said. “You know, A.J. (Harris) missed a couple practices. He tweaked his knee, but expecting him back soon. He’s working his way back right now.”
Harris is in competition for the second cornerback spot with redshirt senior Ryland Gandy. Despite appearing in all 16 games with one start in 2025, Gandy saw the field sparingly.
“So, I would say the next seven practices will probably determine who starts at the other cornerback position,” Cignetti said. “They both have had their moments.”
Cignetti also provided an update on the backup quarterback battle Monday. Redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover is Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza’s successor as starter, but the backup position was available in the offseason.
Sixth-year senior quarterback Grant Wilson primarily operated as the teams’ No. 3 quarterback last year. Wilson transferred to Indiana from Old Dominion University prior to the start of the 2025 season. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyler Cherry appeared in one game in 2024 as a backup before medically redshirting his second collegiate season.
“I would say Grant definitely has the edge for No. 2,” Cignetti said. “He’s an experienced guy, and he’s had a good camp. And Tyler’s improved too.”
Cignetti was tasked with finding new punt and kick returners this offseason. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady served as the primary punt returner for the Hoosiers last season and was named to the All-Big Ten return specialist second team by conference coaches. Meanwhile, running back Roman Hemby received the bulk of kickoffs for the Hoosiers in 2025, returning nine kicks for 203 yards.
Fifth-year wide receiver Tyler Morris, who missed all of 2025 with a knee injury, is the favorite to open as Indiana’s punt returner, Cignetti said.
The kickoff return picture is less defined, in part because the modern college football kickoff rules have significantly reduced the number of opportunities teams have to actually return kicks.
“You know, the kickoff return game, when you look at it, you only have the opportunity to return about 10 to 15% of the kickoff nowadays,” Cignetti said. “And there’ll be times we fair catch it and take it on 25 and can kind of name our hash.”
While a definitive starter has not been named, Indiana has placed running backs Turbo Richard, Lee Beebe Jr. and Khobie Martin at kick returner throughout the spring and fall, Cignetti said.
With less than two weeks until Indiana’s season opener against the University of North Texas, the roster and depth chart is beginning to take shape. While several questions remain, particularly at edge rusher and cornerback, Cignetti has provided some clarity at key positions as Indiana moves closer to its season opener Sept. 5.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
