Fall camp for the Indiana Hoosiers is set to commence this week on Wednesday, August 5, which comes exactly one month before the season opener against North Texas on September 5.
Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers operating at a never-before-seen level, and the momentum doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Coming off a historic season that resulted in a perfect 16-0 record to go along with a National Championship, Indiana football fans are eager to see the Cream and Crimson take the field once again.
When looking up and down Indiana's projected depth chart, there is a lot to like. Despite losing plenty of production to the NFL, the 2026-27 Hoosiers have talent, depth, and the right coach leading the way.
With practice getting underway this week, here are five bold predictions for Indiana Football fall camp.
Josh Hoover reaches that next level
Cignetti wasted no time going out and getting former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover in the portal. Cignetti loves his veteran transfer QBs, and he made sure to get one of the best on the market. Hoover comes to Bloomington with 36 career appearances and 31 collegiate starts under his belt, and he has racked up 9,629 passing yards and 71 touchdowns. However, he has struggled with turnovers, as he's thrown 33 total interceptions over the last three seasons and led the Big 12 with 12 picks last year. He also lost 9 fumbles in his 31 starts.
Can Hoover reach his full potential at Indiana? There are certainly plenty of reasons for optimism. Simply put, Hoover was asked to do too much at TCU. This past season, the Horned Frogs ranked 72nd in total defense and 100th in rushing offense. The lack of complimentary football put a lot on Hoover's shoulders. That should change this season.
Curt Cignetti doesn't need to worry about critics of Indiana's non-conference schedule
With a more balanced offensive attack and a strong defense, Hoover should be in a more manageable role. Plus, transfer QBs Kurtis Rourke and Fernando Mendoza saw plenty of success under Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan over the last two seasons. Hoover can be the next Hoosier QB to shine.
Turbo Richard and Khobie Martin create a lethal 1-2 punch at RB
Cignetti and Shanahan love their tandem running back groups. Last year, both Roman Hemby and Khobie Martin reached the 1,000-yard mark, and were among the most lethal RB combos in all of college football. Turbo Richard and Khobie Martin can be the next pair of Hoosier RBs to put up monster numbers together.
Richard comes to Indiana from Boston College, where he collected 745 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, and 9 touchdowns on the ground last season. The 5'9" 205-pound Richard can also be a weapon in the passing game, giving the Hoosier offense an even more interesting dynamic.
3 Indiana Football players flying under the radar as fall camp approaches
Martin, a redshirt sophomore, is officially on breakout watch. He racked up 505 yards on an impressive 6.5 yards per carry last season while finding the end zone 6 times. He is now primed for a larger role, and together with Richard, can create a dangerous 1-2 punch in the Hoosier backfield.
Brock Schott runs away with the TE1 job
The position group with the most question marks is undoubtedly the tight end group. Riley Nowakowski and Holden Staes are both gone, and the five TEs on the Hoosier roster this season are all extremely inexperienced.
Indiana's TE group consisting of Brock Schott, Andrew Barker, Blake Thiry, Parker Elmore, and Trevor Gibbs have just 17 combined collegiate snaps between them. Schott owns 16 of those during his redhisrt freshman season at Miami (FL), and he figures to be the frontrunner to be Indiana's TE1 this season.
Owning a 6'3" 240-pound frame, Schott was a consensus 4-star prospect out of Fort Wayne and was heralded as the No. 10 TE in the country for the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports. The hype is there, and given the fact that he has the most experience out of this young group, this could be Schott's job to lose at this point.
Tyler Morris emerges as the top kick returner
Who will be returning kicks/punts for the Hoosiers this season? That is a question that will be figured out throughout the course of fall camp. Several names come to mind, but Michigan transfer Tyler Morris would make a lot of sense for this role.
Morris has elite hands and great speed in the open field. He has also experience returning punts from his time with the Wolverines. Turbo Richard and Shazz Preston can also compete for this job, but they will both have other primary roles in the Hoosier offense. As a part of a deep WR room, it would make sense for Morris to handle the kick returning responsibilities.
EDGE room will be four deep
Tobi Osunsanmi, Chiddi Obiazor, Daniel Ndukwe, and Josh Burnham. Those are the Hoosier EDGE rushers who are loaded with potential this season. Ndukwe is the lone returner of that group, as he has appeared in 27 games for Indiana over the last two seasons and collected 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and a forced fumble last season.
Osunsanmi and Obiazor are both transfer from Kansas State, and both figure to take on big roles on the Hoosier defensive front. Osunanmi appeared in 36 games over four seasons with the Wildcats, and he racked up 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in just 6 games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Obiazor appeared in 28 games over three seasons in Manhattan, and was tabbed with Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors last season.
Serving as a rotational piece for the Fighting Irish defensive front over the last four season, Burnham comes to Bloomington with 65 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks to his name in 40 career games. This group has plenty of size, speed, and physicality, and it wouldn't be surprising to see all four players have a big impact this season.
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