Bite-Sized Bison 2024 Roster Wishlist
As of December 6, what should Indiana do at each position this offseason?
We are just three days into the transfer portal period and six days into the Curt Cignetti Era. There are still lots of events left to occur, in terms of constructing the roster and program into Cignetti’s vision.
Transfer Portal Open: 12/4 - 1/2
Early Signing Period: 12/20 - 12/22
Regular Signing Period: 2/7 - 4/1
Spring Transfer Portal Period: 4/15 - 4/30
So far, there have been no announced commitments, returning or leaving, from current Indiana players who are in the portal, and most of what we’ve seen from the staff is cutting out former high school commits or extending re-offers – both of which were necessary, as Indiana should be recruiting at a higher level (current class is 64th nationally) and Cignetti’s staff cannot build an entire recruiting class in a few months. They’ve also extended offers to several portal players (lots of WRs).
There will be a lot of hard truths regarding names Indiana fans have become tied to (Jaylin Lucas, for example), and there is a plethora of resource management involved.
There is a ton that is unknown, but what I can say from prior experience in reporting on these things is that those who enter the portal after Cignetti and his staff were brought in (like Jordan Shaw, Jordan Grier, Jaylin Lucas) were probably cut loose and won’t come back, based on evaluations and what the staff either needs (scholarships for others), believes it has (currently on the roster), or can retrieve before next season. Nearly every new staffer has had recruits/portal players in mind – who were attainable or not at previous positions – who they’ll reach out to. Teams scout and build relationships with an endless number of recruits and coaches every recruiting cycle, so they’re already familiar with most of these names in the portal. On most of these offers, they’ve been scouting those guys long before this staffing change. Also, a new staff won’t make cuts to an existing roster unless the position doesn’t fit their systems, the talent just isn’t there, or they need the room on the roster, so, for example, expect some DB additions after Grier and Shaw entered the portal. Ola Adams is probably already on it.
And those who entered the portal before Cignetti was hired likely have been evaluated and assessed by the staff at this point, and there’s probably even been decisions made on whether to pursue them, based on the needs at each position. For example, Donaven McCulley is probably not coming back. Even with the $3 million NIL boost, there are a lot of guys to add to this roster, both for 2024 and beyond, and McCulley is going to get a massive bag from a program, given his Penn State offer and how badly that program needs WRs (also got an offer from former IU WR coach Anthony Tucker from Mississippi State, who made an exciting HC hire this month). With the names already in that room (Camper, Cooper, Williams) and the need for multiple slot WRs, the price is likely too high for Indiana, especially given the need at QB. I’d be surprised if McCulley was back in Bloomington in 2024. Brendan Sorsby is also likely not to return, just based on how specific an offensive system’s needs at the QB position are.
Yes, they’ve extended offers to lower-level high school prospects, notably those they recruited at JMU. Part of this is that they originally recruited those guys to this system (both on offense and defense) and another part is the time crunch to implement these systems. For a staff that took the 177th-, 138th-, 174th-, and 140th-ranked classes (2020-23) and developed them into a top-20 FBS team, I’d trust their talent evaluation as it applies to their operations. And the portal is likely the biggest priority for them at the moment.
These are the ways serious programs operate – far ahead of schedule, with a deep knowledge of talent (both necessary to their systems and not), strong relationships with players not even on their rosters, constant working of recruiting networks, and alternate visions for how their own systems can work to offer flexibility and innovation.
With that in mind, here is my (less educated) wish list for what I hope the staff does with each position, as of December 6. I’ll try to keep it short.
Some General Thoughts:
Indiana must consider the future of the program, in addition to guys who can play in 2024. There are quite a few positions that are hollowed out and unrecruited this cycle.
Some of these things could change (and probably will change) as the portal period progresses (Lucas entered the portal while I was writing this), which is why I remain a bit vague on the number of players to add at each position.
More players will be nudged into the portal before this is said and done. Some positions they could afford to do this include: TE, LB, and S.
I believe the staff will approach the portal this year to round out a messy scholarship chart Allen and his staff left behind and then focus on building from the high school level moving forward.
Some of the below notes are educated by the systems possibly (emphasis on “possibly”) carried over from JMU and some are educated by common college football practice. I can’t predict what exactly the coaching staff hopes to do in 2024 (except that it will likely be more passing on offense and a 4-3 base on defense), but I have watched the offers made and vaguely understand what they like to do. So this is what I hope they do, as it currently stands.
Quarterback
Portal QB who can start in 2024
High School QB
Tayven Jackson backs up in 2024
Running Back
Retain Trent Howland
Add a RB who can catch from the portal
Find a couple younger RBs, from HS or the portal, for depth and development.
Wide Receiver
Add multiple slot WRs
Let Camper, Williams, Cooper cook in 2024
Tight End
Add a more athletic, pass-catching TE who can start majority of snaps in 2024
Offensive Line
How the staff evaluates Kahlil Benson will have a major effect on their efforts here. I could see a reality where they see him as an interior OL (super good run-blocking OL) and slot him in to fill a hole at guard. I could also see them adding an interior OL from the portal and either putting Benson back at tackle or letting him go. I could see the staff shedding some scholarships here as well.
If Benson is to return as a guard (my hope):
Retain all 4 starting OLs in the portal
Retain Josh Sales or add a young OL (guard or tackle) from the portal for depth and development
Otherwise:
Retain 3 of the 4 starting OLs in the portal
Add an interior OL through the portal
Retain Josh Sales or add a young OL (guard or tackle) from the portal for depth and development
Defensive Line
Add at least 1 DE through portal and high school
Retain Nick James at DT
Add at least 1 DT from high school
Add 1 or 2 DTs from the portal if Cox/Lucas can’t return (number depends on Nick James)
Linebacker
Add 1 LB in the portal who can play in 2024 (Aiden Fisher?)
Add another from HS or younger from the portal for depth and development
Cornerback
Add 2 or 3 CBs from portal and HS ranks (2024 starters are probably currently on the roster) for depth and development
Safety
Retain Moore and Dunnam
Add another from the portal for depth and development
Special Teams
Add a second kicker who has some experience, if available.
Building on your article and my views
QB: McCloud and former JMU commit visiting would be ideal (maybe the plan)
RB: Need 3-4 guys through returning and portal as this room is empty. Does Josh Henderson have availability (saw somewhere where he did)
TE: Would be okay if no one added, probably not high on list?
OT: Biggest need I think, 95% losing CS?
OG: Longman/Bolticoff can maybe handle (in dire straits but need to add regardless)
C: Is Lynch or Larkins ready?
Defense:
DT: Need young depth, James/Cox/Lucas returning would help if Blidi/Burris stay
DE: Carr/Sneed? Need lots more depth and young players
LB: Seems alright if nobody really added?
CB: Seems solid but keeping Shaw would be ideal. Need HS recruit
S: Need some young depth/talent
You were not kidding when you said it was a messy chart. I think that alone is enough to see how the Allen era needed to come to an end.