With the start of the 2026 Indiana men’s soccer regular season on the horizon, the Hoosiers have already begun collecting preseason honors.
Junior defender Josh Maher, senior forward Collins Oduro and junior forward Stephane Njike were named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men’s Players to Watch list throughout the past two weeks.
The lists are compiled and released by the Division I All-America committees, and players can also be eligible if they are United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region honorees from 2025 who are scheduled to return for the 2026 season.
Maher’s inclusion on the list was announced Aug. 3, along with 19 other defenders. Maher returns to Bloomington after starting in 15 matches last season. The 6-foot-3 defender recorded two goals and one assist, while helping Indiana keep four clean sheets when he was on the pitch.
Maher was also productive during his freshman season in 2024, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. His first collegiate goal didn’t come until a game-tying header from a corner kick in the 14th minute during the Hoosiers’ 4-1 victory over Penn State.
Even though Oduro is listed as a forward, the Ghanaian national was included on the midfielders watch list Aug. 7.
Mostly playing as a winger last season, Oduro recorded four goals and six assists in 19 games last season — 18 of which were starts. The 5-foot-7 Oduro earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region first team.
Throughout his three seasons with Indiana, Oduro has been a trustworthy player under head coach Todd Yeagley. The forward has played in 63 games in his collegiate career, scoring 12 goals on 140 shots and assisting 13 teammates.
While Maher and Oduro return for another season in Bloomington, Njike joins Indiana from Big Ten foe Maryland. Njike was named to the forwards watch list Monday, along with two other players from the Big Ten.
The 5-foot-11 Njike totaled seven goals and seven assists last season, ranking second on the Terrapins in both categories. His production in 18 appearances helped lead to Njike’s selection in the third round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United.
Njike also joined the Hoosiers after earning first-team All-Big Ten and the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region first-team honors at Maryland last season.
Indiana competes against Loyola University Chicago at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the team’s final exhibition match. The Hoosiers’ regular season commences on Aug. 20 at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
Follow reporters Noah Boudouris (@noahboudouris and nboudour@iu.edu) and Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer offseason.
