Bryant Haines’ defense in 2024 was exceptional and was great at continuously bring pressure to the opposing team’s quarterbacks. The defensive line, coached by Defensive Tackles Coach Pat Kuntz and Defensive Ends Coach Buddha Williams, are thirsting to put quarterbacks onto the ground this upcoming season. With some notable additions and losses, Hoosier Huddle is going into spring with more position group previews.

CJ West – 42 total tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble

James Carpenter – 38 total tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 pass deflections

Lanell Carr Jr. – 38 total tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections

Jacob Mangum-Farrar – 8 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

Venson Sneed Jr. – Transfer Portal

Hosea Wheeler – Transfer from Western Kentucky

Dominique Ratcliff – Transfer from Texas State

Keishaun Calhoun – Freshman

Kyler Garcia – Freshman

Jhrevious Hall – Freshman

Triston Abram – Freshman

Tyrone Burrus Jr. – Freshman

Indiana’s defense prides itself on their ability to rush the quarterback and their effectiveness against the run. The Hoosiers relied on the guys in the trenches last year to disrupt plays and will do so this year, especially with the return of star edge rusher Mikail Kamara who is projected to be one of, if not the best at his position for the upcoming season.

Defensive End/(STUD)

Starters – Mikail Kamara – Redshirt Senior+/Mario Landino – Sophomore

The Hoosiers are blessed to see Mikail Kamara return to the fray as many expected him to leave for the NFL. Kamara is a beast and an integral part of the Hoosiers defense. In 2024, Kamara had 10 sacks, 47 tackles (15 TFL), and two forced fumbles. He steamrolled every offense he went up against and made quarterbacks and running backs fear him. Kamara is a versatile player and was rotated throughout the defensive line as an edge rusher and sometimes as a defensive tackle. This season, Kamara stated that he will be dropping some weight and will most likely fit into the STUD position but don’t be surprised if he lines up anywhere on the line. In case you don’t know, the STUD position is a hybrid of defensive end and linebacker. However, since Indiana mostly relied on a 4-2-5 defensive scheme (with some 4-3 and 3-3-5 schemes depending on what Coach Haines wanted to run), the STUD is more of an edge, but he will definitely drop back in coverage more often. He is Indiana’s key to wreaking havoc on opposing offenses.

Mario Landino got most of his snaps as a true freshman as a rotation player to keep the defensive line fresh. However, he showed a lot of promise in his first year playing collegiate football. Landino is expected to have an increased role this season and if he can show some improvement, he will most likely be one of the starting members of the Hoosiers’ 2025 D-line, but I do think he has some competition at the position.

Defensive Tackle

Starters – Hosea Wheeler – Redshirt Senior (transfer from Western Kentucky)/Dominique Ratcliff – Redshirt Senior+

Hosea Wheeler is a veteran player with 40 game appearances and 25 starts during his time at Western Kentucky. In the past two seasons, the 6’3” 300 pounder has 107 total tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. The 2024 Hoosiers were known to be one of the most dominant run defenses in the country and Wheeler is looking to continue that newly started legacy now that James Carpenter and CJ West are no longer with the team.

Dominique Ratcliff is another veteran player the Hoosiers acquired from the transfer portal. With an nearly identical build to Wheeler, Ratcliff will be integral by filling holes and creating disturbance on the front lines. Ratcliff has appeared in 38 games with four starts during his collegiate career with Texas State and Louisiana-Lafayette. In his three seasons with the Bobcats, he recorded 66 total tackles and five sacks.

Rotation – Ta’Derius Collins – Redshirt Sophomore/Tyrique Tucker – Redshirt Junior/Marcus Burris Jr. – Redshirt Senior/Daniel Ndukwe – Sophomore

Ta’Derius Collins is another member of the defensive end supporting cast. In his tape, he’s a quick footed player who will explode off the line and swarm the ball. In 2024, Collins returned an interception for 17 yards against Western Illinois. The 6’4” 250-pound redshirt sophomore will add more depth for the Hoosiers defense. He’s a three-star recruit who was rated a top 20 recruit in Louisiana per Rivals, 247Sports, and On3.

Tyrique Tucker is a great example of how you don’t have to be the starter to make a big impact. Not only did Tucker tear up offensive lines in 2024, but he was crucial in ensuring that the defensive line stayed fresh and healthy. Tucker came over from JMU with Cignetti last year with the hopes of making an impact for the Hoosiers and he did just that. He brought over that winner mentality that so many players talked about fostering at Indiana during last season. In 2024, he recorded 24 total tackles (4.5 TFL), 2.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Coach Haines is most likely planning to utilize him in the same way for the 2025 season, but there is always a chance for him to become a starter.

Along with Tucker, Marcus Burris Jr. will be another returning Hoosier that’ll be effective for the defensive line. He’s another key depth piece that you don’t want to underestimate, or else he’ll make you pay. He has made 34 total tackles since joining the Hoosiers in 2023. The 6’5” 286-pound lineman will be rotated into the lineup from time to time during the upcoming season.

Daniel Ndukwe is a sophomore from Lithonia, Georgia. He’s an explosive edge rusher who can overpower an offense if he’s called upon. Standing at 6’3” and weighing 239 pounds, the three-star recruit will provide depth at the edge position and will support Kamara and Landino in 2025. If he can bulk up a little more, he can be a real problem.

Andrew Turvy is one of the depth players who has been on the Hoosiers for a while. The Indiana native came to Bloomington in 2021. He mostly saw the field appearing on special teams, appearing in 12 games from 2022-23. In 2024, he had 4 tackles (1.5 TFL) and a sack in his 4 games played on defense. In his last year with the Hoosiers, he’ll find a way to make an impact for the team, whether it’s on defense or special teams.

J’mari Monette is a redshirt junior from Alexandria, Louisiana. After not seeing game action in ’22 and ’23, Monette appeared in three games for the Hoosiers in 2024 and made his first career tackle as a tackle for loss against Western Illinois. He has shown a lot of power in his rushes and can help collapse the pocket this year.

Tyrone Burrus Jr. is one of the new faces to the Hoosiers. Before committing to IU in November of 2024, he was previously committed to Louisville. The 6’4” 245-pound freshman from Indianapolis had early experience on varsity and has shown good productivity so far. When he is out for the quarterback, he is out for blood. The three-star prospect will have the time to develop and get used to his new surroundings while learning from Kamara this season. It is possible that Cignetti will find him handy this season and won’t redshirt him.

William Depaepe is a redshirt freshman from Moline, Illinois. The three-star recruit was rated as a top 25 recruit in Illinois according to 247Sports, Rivals, and On3. Originally committed to Georgia Tech in May of 2023 to later decommit in December of that year and then flip his commitment to the Hoosiers in mid-December of 2023. He stands at 6’6” and when the ball is in his sight, he shoots out like a missile. If he continues to utilize his size and perfect his technique, he can be a great piece for the Hoosiers’ defense.

Andrew Depaepe is the older brother of William Depaepe. He’s a redshirt sophomore with a similar physical stature as his brother, standing at 6’5” 260 lbs. He originally was at Michigan State and transferred to Indiana last season. Andrew has also shown that he can line up in different spots and has good agility. Has great speed as an edge-rusher and can make a big difference.

Robby Harrison is a redshirt junior from Greenwood, South Carolina. Previously with the Arizona State Sun Devils, in 2022, he transferred to Indiana in May of 2023. He had 3 tackles against Michigan in 2023 and recovered a fumble against Western Illinois in 2024. When Harrison sees the field, he can fill holes and stop a run from breaking big.

Kyler Garcia is an incoming freshman from Nashville, Tennessee. He’s already bigger than many weighing 293 pounds. The 6’5” defensive lineman is a three-star recruit and was tabbed a top 100 defensive lineman nationally by ESPN and On3. He’s a lot faster than you would expect and he’s strong. I wouldn’t be all too surprised if Garcia makes an impact in their first collegiate season.

Ranked the No. 6 edge in Missouri for the class of 2025, Triston Abram has the chance to show off his skills for the Hoosiers. The speedy edge rusher from St. Louis is ready to make a difference. He’s an athletic guy, can make plays, and is always hungry for the ball. He has some pretty talented freshman to compete with, yet again upperclassmen who want that edge position. The question is, who wants it more?

Jhrevious Hall is a freshman defensive tackle from Columbia, Tennessee. Hall is 270 lbs and will fight until the whistle is blown. He’s a strong d-lineman who can and will bully opposing offensive linemen.

Keishaun Calhoun, a top 45 prospect in Ohio by ESPN and On3. The three-star recruit is a true freshman who’ll likely use this year to learn from the many veterans on IU’s 2025 squad.

I believe there will be a lot of surprises when it comes to the Hoosiers’ defensive line in 2025. I saw much potential with the room for growth last season from many players. However, my biggest surprise will most likely be Mario Landino. As a freshman, Landino showed that he has the skills and the grit to compete at a high level. I’m really excited to see how he performs this season with a year of experience under his belt. He’s only a sophomore too, so there is a lot of room for him to grow. While having a lot of confidence for Mario, I feel like it will be a battle between Landino, Ndukwe, and Collins for the starting edge position.

Last season, the Hoosiers had an outstanding run defense, #1 in the nation. They swarmed the ball and made those in the offensive backfield feel very uncomfortable. This year, I can see them having the same, if not even more success. Mikail Kamara showed how talented he was last season, and I believe he will be faster, stronger, and perform even better when the 2025 season rolls around. Along with Kamara, Tucker is returning in addition to the two new big transfers, not to mention the supporting cast and freshmen brimming with potential. As you can see, there are many capable players on the defensive line making it nearly impossible for opponents to craft a game plan that’ll prevent the Hoosiers’ from causing chaos in the back field. There are too many players with the ability to make a big impact and disrupt plays. The depth is astounding and while there may be some battles determining ranks to come, I for the most part like where we’re at now. After witnessing their dominance last season, my confidence is high for when the season rolls around.