On the day before the Indiana Hoosiers are set to start fall camp, the roster got a big addition from a familiar face.
On Tuesday evening, it was reported that EDGE rusher Stephen Daley will be returning to Indiana for one more season of college football. The move is a big boost for Indiana's defensive front, which was already in good shape heading to fall camp. Now, the ceiling of Indiana's D-line is even higher.
Stephen Daley returning to Indiana for 2026-27 season
Daley's return to Bloomington is made possible thanks to the decision from a U.S. District Court judge in Colorado last Friday. The ruling from Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction to plaintiffs challenging the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility rule.
In summary, athletes in the high school Class of 2022 who thought they had previously exhausted all of their eligibility have now gained an addition year of eligibility. Daley was among the group impacted, and now he has officially announced his plans to return to the Hoosiers.
Breaking: Indiana star defensive lineman Stephen Daley, who led the team with 19 TFLs, will return to the Hoosiers for his fifth year, sources tell @PeteThamel.
— ESPN (@espn) August 4, 2026
He’s set to be eligible for his fifth and final year in the wake of the district court ruling in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/gDXM8Tf9E2
Daley was among the best defensive linemen in the country last season. He was tied for the national lead with 19 tackles for loss before suffering a season-ending injury following Indiana's win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. In total, the 6'1" 273-pound playmaker racked up 38 tackles, 19.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles through 13 games last season.
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Daley previously spent three seasons in the MAC with Kent State before transferring to Indiana last offseason. In his collegiate career, the Winchester, VA native has accumulated 141 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles over the course of 47 games.
Indiana's defensive front has plenty of depth heading into the 2026 season
Indiana's group of EDGE rushers was already looking strong heading into fall camp, but Daley's return gives this group even more depth and potential.
Cignetti brought in a pair of Kansas State transfers in Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor, and they are both poised for significant roles. Osunsanmi racked up 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in just 6 games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Obiazor earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors last season after collecting 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks.
Daniel Ndukwe is also back after a productive season, while Notre Dame transfer Josh Burnham is also primed for a larger role. In total, Indiana's EDGE rushing group consisting of Daley, Osunsanmi, Obiazor, Ndukwe, and Burnham is a group loaded with potential.
When it comes to defensive tackle, Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino are both back after sensational seasons a year ago. At linebacker, Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones are also back in Bloomington. That group, as well as IU's well-rounded EDGE room, gives the Hoosiers a strong front-7 that features plenty of talent and experience.
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