Curt Cignetti is looking to secure a big name to Indiana's 2027 recruiting class. The Hoosier head coach already has Indiana's 2027 class in solid shape, as the Hoosiers entered July with the No. 29 recruiting class in the country according to Rivals.
But Cignetti could be on the verge of changing that if he is able to seal the deal with 4-star RB Elijah Kimble, who is set to announce his commitment on Friday.
Indiana 4-star target Elijah Kimble to announce commitment decision on Friday, July 3
Kimble will announce his commitment decision on Friday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Kimble is one of the top RB prospects in the country, and adding him to Indiana's 2027 class would be a big get for Cignetti and company.
Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Kimble is ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the state of New York and the No. 23 running back in the country according to Rivals. His list of finalists is down to Indiana, Syracuse, Ohio State, and North Carolina. Heading into the holiday weekend, Hoosier football fans are hoping Kimble delivers some good news on Friday night.
The Commitment | July 3rd, Canisius HS, 6:30. #GodDid pic.twitter.com/PaaINkZtWk
— Elijah “The Ticket“ Kimble☦︎︎ (@ElijahKimble0) June 17, 2026
Indiana locked in tight recruiting battle for 4-star RB Elijah Kimble
As it stands, it's tough to point to a frontrunner in Kimble's recruitment process. The 5'10" 180-pound tailback has taken Official Visits to all of his contenders this spring, and recruiting services are torn on where he will end up.
Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes have the edge when it comes to the Rivals Industry Consensus, as OSU leads the pack with a 22.8% chance to land Kimble. However, Cignetti and the Hoosiers aren't far behind. Indiana has a 19.9% chance, with Syracuse and North Carolina trailing behind with chances of 13.5% and 8.8% respectively.
Can Cignetti bring in another 2027 4-star prospect?
Cignetti has an elite eye for talent and putting that talent in the best possible situations to succeed. Look no further than Indiana's National Championship-winning season last year with a roster full of under-the-radar and overlooked recruits.
Curt Cignetti securing a top-25 recruiting class for 2027 depends on one player
At the same time, Indiana's success under Cignetti has blue chip recruits like Kimble across the country giving the Hoosiers serious consideration. Some are even beginning to make their way to Bloomington.
Among Indiana's current 16 commits for the 2027 recruiting class, half a dozen are blue chip prospects. EDGE Myles Smith, LB Jalaythan Mayfield, OT Mason McDermott, and DL Reinaldo Lopez are all rated as 4-star prospects by Rivals, while S Brady Scott recently earned a 4th-star from ESPN and WR Branden Sharpe gained 4-star status from 247Sports. Landing recruits of that caliber could be the new normal with Cignetti leading the way.
Indiana's 2027 class currently features just one running back in the form of 3-star recruit Da'Jon Talley-Rhodes. As Kimble's decision draws nearer, Hoosier fans would be fired up to see him announce a commitment to the Hoosiers on Friday night.
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