2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana's Tiawan Mullen (3) celebrates an interception during the first half of the Indiana versus Penn State football game at Memorial Stadium on Satruday, Nov. 5, 2022. Iu Psu Fb Mullen Cele

Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season. As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. As we continue our tour through the Big Ten, today, we move onto the Indiana Hoosiers.

Overview

Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana’s Venson Sneed Jr. (55) and the Hoosier defense gives Tayven Jackson (2) a hard time after making a bad pass to a kid during Indiana football’s Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2203. Indiana Football Spring Scrimmage Sneed

2022 Results

  1. W vs. Illinois, 23-20
  2. W vs. Idaho, 35-22
  3. W vs. Western Kentucky, 33-30
  4. L @ Cincinnati, 24-45
  5. L @ Nebraska, 21-35
  6. L vs. (4) Michigan, 10-31
  7. L vs. Maryland, 33-38
  8. L @ Rutgers, 17-34
  9. L vs. (16) Penn State, 14-45
  10. L @ (2) Ohio State, 14-56
  11. W @ Michigan State, 38-31
  12. L vs. Purdue, 16-30
    Overall Record: 4-8 (2-7)

All-Big Ten Members

  • KR Jaylin Lucas (Coaches and Media First Team)

Recent Vikings Draft Picks

N/A

Every Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Draft Pick

2023 Draft Selections

N/A

2023 Schedule

  1. 9/2 vs. Ohio State
  2. 9/8 vs. Indiana State
  3. 9/16 vs. Louisville
  4. 9/23 vs. Akron
  5. 9/30 @ Maryland
  6. 10/14 @ Michigan
  7. 10/21 vs. Rutgers
  8. 10/28 @ Penn State
  9. 11/4 vs. Wisconsin
  10. 11/11 @ Illinois
  11. 11/18 vs. Michigan State
  12. 11/25 @ Purdue

Notable Additions

Indiana’s Tayven Jackson (2) throws a pass during Indiana football’s Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2203. Indiana Football Spring Scrimmage Jackson 2
  • QB Tayven Jackson (transfer portal, Tennessee)
  • RB Christian Turner (transfer portal, Wake Forest)
  • WR DeQuece Carter (transfer portal, Fordham)
  • WR E.J. Williams (transfer portal, Clemson)
  • TE Bradley Archer (transfer portal, Stanford)
  • OT Noah Boltcliff (transfer portal, TCU)
  • EDGE Anthony Jones (transfer portal, Oregon)
  • EDGE Trey Lang (transfer portal, Southern University)
  • DL Robby Harrison (transfer portal, Arizona State)
  • DL Phillip Blidi (transfer portal, Texas Tech)
  • DL Marcus Burris (transfer portal, Texas A&M)
  • DL Andre Carter (transfer portal, Western Michigan)
  • LB Joshua Rudolph (transfer portal, Austin Peay)
  • LB Jacob Mangum-Farrar (transfer portal, Stanford)
  • CB Nicolas Toomer (transfer portal, Stanford)
  • CB Jamier Johnson (transfer portal, Texas)
  • S Kobee Minor (transfer portal, Texas Tech)

*More Recruit/transfer information can be found at 24/7 Sports

Notable Losses

Indiana’s Malachi Holt-Bennett (19) catches a pass during fall camp football practice at Indiana University on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.
  • WR Malachi Holt-Bennett (transfer portal, UAB)
  • WR Emery Simmons (transfer portal, Utah)
  • TE AJ Barner (transfer portal, Michigan)
  • EDGE Richard Thomas (transfer portal, FAU)
  • LB Dasan McCullough (transfer portal, Oklahoma)
  • CB Christopher Keys (transfer portal, Mississippi State)
  • CB Trevell Mullins (transfer portal, James Madison)
  • CB Lem Watley-Neely (transfer portal, Kent State)

Keys to 2023

Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen instructs his team during Indiana football’s Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2203. Indiana Football Spring Scrimmage Tom Allen 2

Can Tayven Jackson Turn Around the Offense?

The Indiana Hoosiers have struggled mightily in the Big Ten over the past few years, going 0-9 in the conference during 2021 and 2-7 in 2022. A major reason for that is the fact that they have sputtered out on the offensive side of the ball, scoring just 23.2 points per game last season, being held under 20 points on five separate occasions.

The hope is that Tennessee transfer QB Tayven Jackson can rejuvenate the group back to its 2019 and 2020 form when they were a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten. He gets some help as well with RB Christopher Turner and WR De’Quece Carter, each of whom were graded as top-35 transfers at their positions by 24/7.

Impressive Transfer Class on the Defensive Line

Not only did the Hoosiers make big moves on the offensive side of the ball, but they brought in some terrific talent in the trenches on defense. Andre Carter, who put together 7 sacks in 2022 for Western Michigan, should help improve Indiana’s pass-rush that totaled just 37 sacks last year.

In addition, Marcus Burris was considered the 21st best transfer on the defensive line in all of college football, and his presence should bolster a defense that PFF graded as the second-worst in the Big Ten a season ago.

It could be a long road to the top, though. Even with these transfers, questions remain in the secondary as it will largely be redshirt freshmen and transfers battling for starting/rotational spots at corner and safety. Keep an eye on Texas transfer Jamier Johnson, who was the 25th-ranked cornerback in the Class of 2021 as a recruit.

Biggest Tests Come Early

We’ll know just how different these Indiana Hoosiers are very early in the season. In their first six games, they will face off with both Ohio State and Michigan, with their battle against the Buckeyes being the opening game on their 2023 schedule. These teams are widely expected to once again be the cream of the crop in the Big Ten, and Indiana gets their biggest tests of the season in the first two months of their schedule.

Then, they get dates with Penn State and Wisconsin in back-to-back weeks later in the season. This is certainly no easy slate for the Hoosiers to maneuver.

Prediction

  1. L vs. Ohio State
  2. W vs. Indiana State
  3. W vs. Louisville
  4. W vs. Akron
  5. W @ Maryland
  6. L @ Michigan
  7. L vs. Rutgers
  8. L @ Penn State
  9. L vs. Wisconsin
  10. L @ Illinois
  11. W vs. Michigan State
  12. L @ Purdue
    Overall Record: 5-7 (2-7)

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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