The start of the new college football season is right around the corner. The 2026 Big Ten Media Days are in full swing, and the start of fall camp is quickly approaching. In Bloomington, the Indiana Hoosiers are looking to continue taking the college football world by storm under Curt Cignetti.
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The Hoosiers lost plenty of production to the NFL, but Cignetti has re-stocked IU's roster with a great portal class while also having a strong group of returning players. However, Indiana was dealt a surprising blow on Wednesday when a former recruit announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.
Indiana redshirt freshman Triston Abram enters transfer portal
On Wednesday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Indiana redshirt freshman EDGE Triston Abram has decided to enter the transfer portal. In a statement posted to his X (formerly Twitter) account, Abram stated that he is thankful for the opportunity at Indiana and that he enjoyed his time in Bloomington.
#lordleadtheway pic.twitter.com/zqPREcNXDZ
— Triston Abram (@AbramTriston) July 29, 2026
Abram is a former 3-star recruit out of Missouri and was ranked as the No. 64 EDGE in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Playing at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Abram was also heralded as the No. 8 overall player in the state of Missouri.
Abram was a key piece of Indiana's 2025 recruiting class, as his Rivals ranking of 87.71 was the 4th-best in the class. He spent just one season with the Hoosiers and did not appear in any games during Indiana's National Championship-winning season. Now, he is looking for a new opportunity. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
Indiana's EDGE depth is still in a good place heading into the 2026 season
The timing of Abram's decision is certainly peculiar, as the start of fall camp is right around the corner. It's pretty rare to see player departures at this point in the calendar. It will be interesting to see where he ends up next, and Hoosier fans wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Even with Abram leaving, Indiana still boasts plenty of depth at EDGE heading into the new season. In the spring, Cignetti stated that Indiana had 18 defensive linemen. That group is led by returners Tyriq Tucker and Mario Blandino, as well as a pair of Kansas State transfers in the form of Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi. Returners Jhrevious Hall and Daniel Ndukwe could be in line for increased roles, while Notre Dame transfer Josh Burnham and Tulsa transfer Joe Hjelle also figure to work into the rotation.
Along with a strong linebacker core that features Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, Indiana's front-7 appears to be in great shape heading into fall camp. It will be interesting to see how the rotations come together between now and the season opener on Saturday, September 5 against North Texas.
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