The Athletic's Bruce Feldman released his annual "Freaks List" a yearly ranking selecting groups of players based on attributes such as; size, physical traits, testing numbers and more. It’s also based on ‘reports' from coaches, schools, teammates, parents, NFL scouts, NFL Scouting Combine trainers and agents’, says Feldman.
The "Freaks List" is among the most entertaining articles annually in the preseason standing out amongst many rankings and listicles throughout the preseason. Feldman ranks the 101 most physically outlandish “freaks” in college football. In his words, the list aims to “spotlight the players whose athleticism blew the minds of folks inside their own college football programs.”
Making the list for the Indiana Hoosiers this season was running back Kaelon Black.
The list is stakced with some of the best players in college football, including Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith, South Carolina WR Nyck Harbor, Clemson DL Peter Woods, Tennessee LB Arion Carter, Penn State RB Nick Singleton and so many more. Of the list current top 101 players, Black was the only player listed from Indiana in 2025. Last season Indiana All-American defensive end Mikail Kamara landed on Feldman's 'Freaks List' of 2024.
Black came in as the No. 58 overall player out of 101 on the list.
"One of the former James Madison players who followed Curt Cignetti to Bloomington, the 5-10, 210-pounder rushed for 251 yards and two TDs in limited action," Feldman wrote. "Black vertical jumped 40 inches, bench pressed 415 pounds and squatted over 500 this summer.
"He's our biggest Freak for sure," said DL Mikail Kamara. "When he lifts, everything moves so fast. He's ridiculous. I've never seen him struggle (in the weight room). I saw him bench press 415 the other day, and it was butter. It touched his chest and went right back up. It looked like a warmup set. And he's hella fast."
Black a senior enters his final season at Indiana. In three seasons, Black has totaled 1,221 rushing yards on a 4.8 yard per carry average with six touchdowns. He’s added 437 receiving yards and six touchdowns as well.
Below are all of the Big Ten players named to Bruce Feldman's Freaks List:
- Jeremiah Smith (WR, Ohio State)
- A'Mauri Washington (DT, Oregon)
- Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
- Zane Durant (DT, Penn State)
- Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
- Nick Singleton (RB, Penn State)
- Kade Pieper (OG, Iowa)
- Le'Meke Brockington (WR, Minnesota)
- Tony Rojas (LB, Penn State)
- Marlin Klein (TE, Michigan)
- Jide Abasiri (DL, USC)
- Cade Yacamelli (RB, Wisconsin)
- Elliot Washington (CB, Penn State)
- Preston Ries (LB, Iowa)
- Anto Saka (DL, Northwestern)
- Kaelon Black (RB, Indiana)
- Gabe Jacas (OLB, Illinois)
- Manuel Beigel (DL, Michigan)
- Austin Brown (S, Wisconsin)
- Khalil Dinkins (TE, Penn State)