Indiana football recruiting: 2023 and 2024 prospects the Hoosiers should target
With four three-star commitments from the 2023 class already, Indiana football is still on the look for their first four-star or better commitment from the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes.
According to 247Sports, the Hoosiers have had a commitment from a four-star or better recruit in every season since 2018, which had some of the best Indiana football players (Michael Penix Jr., James Head Jr., Cam Jones, Stevie Scott III, and current New York Giants LB Micah McFadden) since Tom Allen became the head coach in 2016. While IU has had success with some of these three-star recruits, the streak of adding a four-star or better recruit is in jeopardy as 2023 recruits continue to make decisions.
With commitments from 3-star prospects, Amare Ferrell (S), Sam West (TE), Broc Lowry (QB), Travon West (CB), among others that are not ranked in the top 1,000 nationally, we take a look at the top remaining unsigned prospects and targets for the Hoosiers from the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes.
Top 2023 Indiana football targets
Wilky Denaud – DL – 4-Star – 6’4″ 245lbs
John Carroll High School – Fort Pierce, FL
With offers from 22 schools across the country, Denaud cut his list of schools down to four and included Indiana (along with Auburn, Florida State, and Tennessee), thanks to Coach Randolph (Defensive Line Coach) and the Hoosiers’ ties to Florida. Three of the four schools have yet to add a commitment from a defensive lineman, but all three of the schools, besides the Hoosiers, have higher ranked DL prospects as targets from the 2023 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound lineman ranks 47th in the country among defensive lineman, 8th among defensive lineman in Florida, and 337th nationally among all players in the 2023 class. Although competing in a sub-par Class 2A in Florida, Denaud was a clear standout and looked the part in each game he played in, blowing past lineman with his 4.7 40-yard dash speed. If he were to compete in the Big Ten, adding muscle and bulk will be a must.
Check out his junior season highlight tape HERE.
Most experts believe that Denaud is headed to Tallahassee to join the Seminoles, but the hope is still alive and well that the streak of 4-star recruits can continue for the Hoosiers and Tom Allen’s roots in Florida could be the deciding factor.
TaDerius Collins – Edge/DL – 3-Star – 6’4″ 240lbs
Northwood High School – Shreveport, LA
https://twitter.com/TCollins_4/status/1538928157813837831
The Hoosiers are still looking to prioritize the defensive side of things with the potential addition of TaDerius Collins to the defensive core with five-year seniors Cam Jones (LB), who was third in tackles (63) last season, and James Head Jr. (DL). The three-star edge rusher from Shreveport has 20 offers on the table from Power 6 Conference schools like Baylor, Indiana, TCU, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Missouri, while he has only visited Baylor and Indiana thus far.
Collins is ranked second among edge rushers/defensive lineman in Louisiana, 20th overall of players in Louisiana, and 446th nationally ranked among all players in the 2023 class. When watching film on the 6-foot-4 240-pound lineman, one thing you notice immediately is his relentless pursuit of the ball and the football IQ, as he makes the correct reads on option plays and seems to rarely miss tackles in the open field. Hoosier fans can count on a guy that is going to make the smart play and not force anything for the coming years if Tom Allen, Paul Randolph, and the rest of the recruiting staff can bring Collins to Bloomington.
Check out his junior season highlight tape HERE.
Other 2023 unsigned Indiana football targets:
Tyler Jeffries – OT – 3-Star – 6’5″ 298lbs
Alcoa High School – Alcoa, TN
Austin Barrett – OT – 3-Star – 6’7″ 275lbs
St. Charles East High School – Saint Charles, IL
AJ Thomas – EDGE – 3-Star – 6’3″ 220lbs
Cedar Creek High School – Ruston, LA
Top 2024 Indiana football targets
Bryce West – ATH/CB – 4-Star – 5’11” 177lbs
Glenville High School – Cleveland, OH
This is one kid that is moving his way up to becoming a five-star recruit after his junior season this upcoming fall at Glenville High School. West is listed as an overall athlete with the focus for him being the cornerback position as he gains offers from the likes of Alabama, Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. West, after receiving multiple offers since June 15, took to his Twitter page to comment (below).
https://twitter.com/bryvonny/status/1545082363415334912
West, who’s ranked first in Ohio, sixth among his position and 33rd nationally in the 2024 class according to 247Sports Composite ranking, has unreal play-making abilities, from returning kicks/punts, tackling in open field and reading plays as a DB. If the Hoosiers can beat out some of the best football schools in the nation for West, the defense seems to be in a great spot looking ahead to the future.
Check out his sophomore season highlight tape HERE.
Aidan Steinfeldt – TE – 3-Star – 6’5″ 235lbs
Bloomington North High School – Bloomington, IN
Steinfeldt finished his sophomore campaign on Varsity at Bloomington North with 30 catches, 456 yards, and 5 touchdowns in 10 games. He’s a big body with tons to learn athletically, but his hands as a sophomore in high school are in rare form. The hometown kid has three offers on the table at this point (Indiana, Minnesota, and Western Michigan) and has had plenty of visits and workouts since June 15, but what possibly gives IU the leg up on Steinfeldt is his brother, Aaron, a 6-foot-5 243-pound redshirt Freshman at Indiana this upcoming season. Now could you imagine a two-tight end set with Steinfeldt kids coming at you from both sides? Sounds like a blast to me!
https://twitter.com/AidanSteinfeldt/status/1508560200592207873
Steinfeldt currently ranks 437th nationally, 21st among tight ends, and ranks as the sixth best player in the state of Indiana in the 2024 class. Could one or both of the Steinfeldt brothers be the next Peyton Hendershot in the making or will the consistency drop off drastically in the coming years?
Check out his sophomore season highlight tape HERE.