Indiana received news on Tuesday that multiple seniors would be retuning for the 2021 season, starting with defensive lineman Michael Ziemba, defensive back Raheem Layne, 'husky' Marelino Ball and offensive lineman Mackenzie Nworah. Grad transfer TE Kham Taylor also announced he will be back. All announced they will be returning to IU and utilize the extra year of eligibility offered by the NCAA.
Ziemba has appeared in 43 games with 10 starts, totaling 54 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. He was also named the 2020 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner.
Layne missed the entire 2020 season due to an injury. In 2019 he appeared in all 13 games, making five starts, and had 30 tackles. For his career, he has made 13 total starts, totaling 82 tackles and six pass breakups. He was named the IU Special Teams Player of the Year last year.
Ball was a fixture in Indiana's defensive lineup as he has appeared in 41 games (38 starts) with 201 tackles, 41 solo. He also added 4.5 sacks, 15.5 stops for loss, three interceptions, 13 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He missed the entire 2020 season with a torn ACL.
Earlier this offseason, Ball was selected to the Reese's Senior Bowl, the nation's most prestigious college all-star game, as it annually serves as the first step of the NFL draft process for senior athletes.
Nworah has 15 starts in 27 total games for his career. This past season he appeared in all eight games and had six starts.
Knam Taylor was a grad transfer from South Alabama who did not see action in 2020. He totaled 14 starts in 24 contests for the Jaguars. He caught five passes for 67 yards in 2018, and added three kickoff returns for 23 yards.
Announcing he will be back Wednesday was kickoff specialist Jared Smolar.
Offensive lineman Dylan Powell announced Thursday on Twitter he would be returning to Indiana for the 2021 season.
In a tweet, Powell said, "I can't wait to get back to Bloomington and get back to work with my guys. Not the way we wanted to end this season, but I promise the work will be done this offseason to ensure that we continue to progress and not feel that feeling again next year! #LEO."
The NCAA announced earlier this fall that all fall athletes would be granted another year of eligibility and the option of returning for the 2021 season, due to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana finished the 2020 season with a 6-2 record and a 26-20 loss in the Outback Bowl. The Hoosiers reached a top-10 ranking in the AP Poll for the first time since 1969 and have been ranked in the top-25 for nine straight weeks, tying a program-record.
Indiana is still waiting on decisions from a handful of players and Tom Allen commented on the situation following IU's bowl loss.
“A lot of those seniors are going to make a decision, give them an opportunity to come back,” Allen said. “Some will, some won’t. We’ll know for sure here in the next couple weeks. Either way we’re going to love and support them, whatever they feel is best for them and their future, we’ll talk that through with them.”
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