Head coach Curt Cignetti has done a great job filling in the holes left on the 2024 Indiana team with players from the transfer portal and incoming recruits. He could make a real splash, though, if he can land a top-notch transfer right in his own state.
After the National Championship, players from both Notre Dame and Ohio State had five days after the game to make their decision on whether or not they wanted to enter the transfer portal. As expected, some, many did, one being Notre Dame offensive lineman Rocco Spindler.
Spindler is dead set on joining the Big Ten as the three teams named finalists to land Spindler out of the transfer portal are Nebraska, Michigan, and Indiana.
Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska are battling for Notre Dame transfer OL Rocco Spindler, sources tell @SWiltfong_ and me.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) January 28, 2025
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The former 4-star offensive lineman is a target of three teams that are in need of more protection for their quarterbacks. Nebraska needs more time for young quarterback Dylan Raiola to throw the ball down the field, Michigan will have a new quarterback who is yet to be named in the backfield, and Indiana will most likely have Fernando Mendoza running around in the backfield, and they certainly want protection for him.
Cignetti has brought in two offensive linemen from the portal already, and if he can keep Spindler in the state of Indiana, that would mark three. The Hoosiers are going to be without two, maybe three, depending on the injury to Drew Evans, offensive lineman in 2025 and Spindler could be a game changer for Indiana.
Spindler has already made his visit to Indiana, and they actually have a visit from another Notre Dame offensive lineman, center Pat Coogan, this Friday. Both players filled in for injured players in 2024 and retained their spots on the line the rest of the way. Both players have just one year of eligibility left.
The Notre Dame offensive line finished the season ranked No. 19 in the country, averaging over 200 rushing yards a game. Some of that comes from the lethal rushing attack from the Irish, but with the Hoosiers also having new running backs this season, having a veteran line working for them could be really big for Indiana.