Indiana's 2023 transfers, ranked
An extensive guide for some first impressions
Well, the portal has closed, and Indiana, as was anticipated, did some work, bringing in 15 transfers and an additional two JUCO transfers. I wrote in December about how the portal is primarily to target starters and high-level depth, and while the Hoosiers did just that, they also added some key young pieces in some cases, making up for some recent recruiting holes. Ideally, transfer turnover like Indiana experienced this offseason – losing 19, gaining 15 (excluding JUCOs) – wouldn't happen every year.
With that being said, the graphic in the following tweet suggests that, while Indiana did add volume to its roster, it might not have added the most productive pieces. That simply means the coaching staff has its work cut out for it.
Indiana sits at 85 scholarships (where every program must be by Week 1) but still has four players left in the transfer portal. It also has two more opportunities to add to its roster.
Regular Signing Period: 2/1-4/1
Second Transfer Portal Opening: 5/1-5/15
I wouldn’t expect big moves to be made during that second portal opening, but maybe a player or two. And Indiana will likely add a couple high school signings during the Regular Signing Period.
Looking back on the positions I said Indiana should target in the portal, it hit all but two. They brought in a QB, WR (2), OT, DE (2), LB (2), and CB (3). The only positions I missed on were center and kicker, as Indiana will likely continue with its Zach Carpenter/Mike Katic rotation. There aren’t a lot of kickers out there anymore.
As far as the suggestions I made for the Regular Signing Period (QB, RB, interior OL, edge rushing DE, and any high-level talent), I’d assume they’d go away from QB and CB at this point but would hope they’d target the other positions mentioned.
Anyway, below are the links for the live 2023 scholarship chart and the projected 2023 depth chart.
Now, let’s get to the transfer rankings.
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1. Andre Carter
Position: Defensive End
Transferred from: Western Michigan
2022 stats: 70 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT
Years of Eligibility: 1
I wrote extensively about Western Michigan defensive end transfer Andre Carter in December and was impressed. He was the best player on the roster in 2022 and will be the Week 1 starter at defensive end for Indiana in 2023. I believe he will be good.
His direct replacement will likely be of Beau Robbins, since Lanell Carr will fill in where Dasan McCullough was. This was, quite possibly, the biggest specific improvement in the portal for Indiana, as Carter boasted an 80.7 PFF Defensive grade and a 90.1 (!) pass-rushing grade in 2022. Robbins had a 57.9 Defensive grade and a 59.7 pass-rushing grade.
If you haven’t yet, read the newsletter where I wrote about Carter. He’s legit.
2. Tayven Jackson
Position: Quarterback
Transferred from: Tennessee
2022 stats: 3/4, 37 yards, 4 carries, 10 yards, 1 rushing TD (redshirt)
Years of Eligibility: 4
Tayven Jackson is undoubtedly a great talent to bring into the program, given the current situation in that room and with four years of eligibility remaining. I am confused about Indiana’s plan at that position, though, as the staff once stated it wants a dual-threat quarterback, and it would be generous to say that Jackson has the skillset to excel in that role at the Power 5 level.
Of course, bring in the most talent you can if you’re Indiana. Targeting players who are squeezed out of programs like Tennessee is what IU should be doing, but if someone would have told me this was a move the staff would make, I would’ve guessed they’d bring in a second – more experienced and more mobile – quarterback for the 2023 season, rather than sticking with a QB room that has collectively attempted 10 passes at the college level. It would allow Jackson time to grow and for Indiana to formulate an offensive philosophy that best fits his skillset, if we are to assume he is the quarterback of the future.
While I am suspicious of his recruiting rankings and of how high his ceiling really is (a conversation for a later newsletter), Jackson certainly is a fun addition, and he will be an easy guy to root for (He was always very generous with his time when I covered his recruitment). And his arm talent is a big reason why he’s No. 2 on this list. I simply don’t see, even if Bob Bostad improves this offensive line this offseason, how this addition puts the program in the best possible position to win at a higher level than it did in 2022.
I’ll happily admit to any over-suspicion if it works out, but right now, I’m just confused with the vision.
3. Marcus Burris
Position: Defensive Tackle
Transferred from: Texas A&M
2022 stats: 33 snaps, 1 tackle
Years of Eligibility: 3
The Texas A&M defensive tackle transfer is third on this list purely because of his potential. Besides his recruiting ratings (No. 132 overall in the 2021 class) and some impressive offers, Marcus Burris was recruited by Texas A&M defensive ends coach Terry Price, the same coach who recruited and coached Myles Garrett. However, a lot like Tayven Jackson, Burris was recruited over, as Texas A&M added the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation in 2022 and the No. 9 overall prospect in 2023 – both are interior defensive linemen.
He might not make an immediate impact at Indiana, but this was one of those moves mentioned above, where Indiana targeted talent being squeezed out of high-level programs. There are no stats to back this up, but I really like this addition by Indiana.
4. Lanell Carr
Position: Defensive End
Transferred from: West Virginia
2022 stats: 21 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU
Years of Eligibility: 2
If Indiana hadn’t added Andre Carter and Lenell Carr, they’d have likely been trotting out Beau Robbins and Myles Jackson as the starting defensive ends in 2023, and among the 54 Big Ten DEs to record at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, Robbins (a former four-star) graded 43rd and Jackson graded 52nd. Indiana didn’t have a defensive end higher than 43rd on that list!
Carr will likely fill the hole that Dasan McCullough left, playing the bull position at defensive end. Carr is an athletic end, even if only 6-foot-1, who has the ability to play in coverage and rush the passer. While it’s difficult to replicate what McCullough could add to the defense, Indiana gives Carr a more consistent chance to see the field and to rush the passer, which he did on 101 of his 319 snaps in 2022. Comparing PFF pass-rushing grades alone, Carr recorded an impressive 69.7 while McCullough had a 57.1 and Robbins had a 59.7. Carr’s pass-rush grade, among 40 Big 12 defensive ends with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, was 12th. He might not be a late-stage Dasan McCullough, but he might actually make up most of the ground that a true freshman Dasan McCullough left behind.
And folks, Indiana might have a pass rush in 2023.
5. Nicolas Toomer
Position: Cornerback
Transferred from: Stanford
2022 stats: 300 snaps, 7 tackles, 17 targets (8 receptions allowed), 2 PBUs, 0 INT
Years of Eligibility: 2
There will be competition at the starting cornerback positions this offseason, and Nic Toomer will be in the middle of it. Coming out of one of the worst defenses at Stanford, one would assume, since he didn’t start there, that he wouldn’t start at Indiana either, but the cornerbacks room was actually one of the few redeeming qualities of the Cardinal defense in 2022. And his numbers – as I wrote about in a previous newsletter – suggest he could play well in Bloomington, particularly his 47% reception rate. His length, at 6-foot-2, is also encouraging.
Of the three transfer CBs added, I think Toomer might have the best shot at starting in 2023.
6. Christian Turner
Position: Running Back
Transferred from: Wake Forest
2022 stats: 128 carries, 516 yards, 7 TDs, 5 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
Years of Eligibility: 1
Again, I wrote about Wake Forest running back transfer Chris Turner in a past newsletter, but his arrival at Indiana ensures that the Hoosiers will be able to run the three-headed committee in the backfield for a second straight year. He’s coming off of the best season of his career and as part of a successful Wake Forest offense.
A note from the previous newsletter, Turner typically plays better when he does not carry the ball a lot in games, so I’d anticipate either Josh Henderson starting with Turner spelling him or a 50-50 split of sorts. IU used Shaun Shivers on 19% of plays, compared to Henderson’s 14%. I think we will see more of Henderson in 2023.
Jaylin Lucas is an entirely different story when discussing his role. Hopefully, IU can find ways to get one of the two primary backs and Lucas on the field at the same time.
7. Jamier Johnson
Position: Cornerback
Transferred from: Texas
2022 stats: 176 snaps, 5 tackles, 16 targets (12 receptions allowed), 0 PBUs, 0 INT
Years of Eligibility: 2
Jamier Johnson, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is another example of a player being squeezed out of a major program – exactly what IU is looking for. Texas has brought in 5 cornerbacks since Johnson signed to play in Austin, two of them were top-100 players in the nation and two were from the transfer portal. He himself was only a top-300 prospect in 2021.
I wrote about Johnson in a previous newsletter and noted that his best game came against Alabama this year, when he played 50 snaps and recorded an average PFF Defensive Grade as a sophomore. That’s what Indiana is looking for from the portal.
Statistically, his coverage could use some work, as he allowed 12 catches on 16 targets (Toomer above allowed just 8 on 17 targets), but his tackling is tremendous. He only allowed 17 YAC this year and had a plus grade from PFF, which has followed him throughout his short career so far.
While his coverage grade was definitely below average (59.2), compared to Tiawan Mullen’s 64.8 and Jaylin Williams’ 62.8, it would’ve ranked fifth in the IU secondary last season. With a more consistent role in 2023, you’d have to assume it would improve.
8. Max Longman
Position: Offensive Tackle
Transferred from: UMass
2022 stats: 534 snaps at LT, 72.8 pass-blocking grade, 65.0 run-blocking grade, 13 QB pressures allowed (1 sack), 7 penalties
Years of Eligibility: 2
Indiana needed a third tackle, regardless of whether UMass transfer Max Longman takes the starting job from Josh Sales or not. When Longman was a high school prospect, he wasn’t even ranked inside the top-230 offensive tackles in the country, so he’s a player who’s been developed to this point already, which is encouraging for his future at IU with Bob Bostad.
He’s shown an undoubted ability to pass block as well. He posted not only good grades, but plus pass-blocking grades against Texas A&M and Tulane in 2022. He’s been doing that his entire career.
I wrote much more about him in a previous newsletter you can read here.
9. Dequece Carter
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferred from: Fordham
2022 stats: 56 receptions, 1,166 yards, 13 TDs
Years of Eligibility: 2
There aren’t too many numbers to use for Dequece Carter because he played at Fordham, but he was part of a pass-heavy offense that featured three (3) thousand-yard, double-digit-touchdown receivers in 2022. He had 1,166 yards and 13 touchdowns and averaged 20.6 yards per catch. That’s a year after leading the team with 872 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2021.
The three-time All-Conference receiver is a stellar athlete. He’s No. 3 in Fordham history for receiving yards and No. 4 for receiving touchdowns. You might have already seen my tweet thread showing some of his highlight reel catches. If not, click the tweet below and scroll through.
To me, this guy sees the field immediately.
10. Joshua Rudolph
Position: Linebacker
Transferred from: Austin Peay
2022 stats: 73 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 0 sacks, 38 stops
Years of Eligibility: 2
It’s okay to be excited about FCS transfers, guys. Joshua Rudolph posted the second-best PFF Defense grade on an Austin Peay defense that was graded 20th in the nation at the FCS level. I think he could be a legitimate contributor in the linebacker room at Indiana.
Before getting too far into the numbers, his worst two games of the 2022 season did come against Western Kentucky and Alabama, the only two FBS teams Austin Peay played last year. However, against Western Kentucky – his first collegiate start – he made 5 individual stops (offensive plays ruined due to his singular effort) and his coverage grade against Alabama was above average, even though coverage is an area he could improve.
Outside of that, he was second on the team in tackles (73) and No. 4 in tackles for loss (7.5). His PFF Defense grade was 83.5, his rush-defense grade was 85.2, and his tackling grade was 80.2. Those are all plus grades. He also committed zero penalties somehow, and he made 38 stops (defined above). His role was not as a pass-rusher, but rather a gap-filler and run-stopper, and he was the heart and soul of the Austin Peay defense.
How all of this translates in the Big Ten will depend on Tom Allen, who has done a great job of developing linebackers during his time at IU. I would expect Jacob Mangum-Farrar to start next to Aaron Casey, but if things go South with Mangum-Farrar (there’s a real chance they could), then Rudolph could be competing with Matt Holht for that spot.
11. Tyrik McDaniel
Position: Safety
Transferred from: Independence C.C.
2022 stats: 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 4 PBUs, 1 blocked kick (5 games)
Years of Eligibility: 2 (maybe 3)
There’s so little to judge JUCO transfers on, as we saw with Cam Camper in 2022, but I like Tyrik McDaniel a lot and believe he could find a way to start at safety for Indiana in 2023.
He was rated as the No. 2 JUCO safety coming out of Independence C.C. in the Class of 2023, and, in just five 2022 games, he recorded 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 4 PBUs, and a blocked kick. He also spent two seasons (one redshirt year) at Old Dominion, where he played eight games as a backup safety and logged 11 tackles in 2021. Even stretching back to his high school days, he helped Dutch Fork (South Carolina) HS to four consecutive state titles and recorded 101 tackles in his senior year.
With his speed and ball skills, he will likely lean toward free safety, but I could see him working into husky eventually too, and on the tentative 2023 depth chart, I have him starting at strong safety because of his versatility. The safeties room is filled with unknowns right now.
There is good football ahead of McDaniel, and it seems like he has the best shot of any newcomer to start at safety this year, being that we don’t know exactly how good some of those young safeties (James Monds, Bryson Bonds, Phillip Dunham, Jordan Grier). That’s just me judging based on his skillset shown in film though.
With the potential for him to have a third year added due to injury, I think this was a great pick-up for Indiana.
12. Kobee Minor
Position: Cornerback
Transferred from: Texas Tech
2022 stats: 137 snaps, 12 tackles, 13 targets (7 receptions allowed), 2 PBUs, 0 INT
Years of Eligibility: 3
A sophomore in 2022, Texas Tech cornerback transfer Kobee Minor eclipsed 100 snaps for the first time last year. He saw the field fairly little until the final two games of the season, when he played 53% of his career snaps (81). Against Iowa State, he flashed his tackling ability but allowed 4 catches on 4 targets and a passer rating of 118.8. His next game against Oklahoma, he allowed 0 catches on 2 targets for just a 39.6 passer rating.
While his recruiting profile classified him as a safety coming out of high school, he’s only played 6 snaps at safety, so I wouldn’t expect him to play there. He will compete with Johnson, Toomer, Trevell Mullen, and whoever IU returns from 2022 in that room.
13. EJ Williams
Position: Wide Receiver
Transferred from: Clemson
2022 stats: 22 targets, 7 receptions, 70 yards, 0 TDs
Years of Eligibility: 2
Sorry to rain on the parade again, but EJ Williams, the transfer wide receiver from Clemson, is not good. He has insane athletic ability and made an incredible catch in 2020 (that’s why he isn’t at the bottom of this list), but since his freshman season, he has been awful. He’s been targeted 41 times in the last two seasons and has caught 16 of those passes. This is definitely Tom Allen and his staff trying to catch lighting in a bottle, but Clemson was clearly over it.
As I stated earlier, grabbing talented guys who are squeezed out of high-level programs is good for Indiana; however, Williams was given a chance by Clemson and fumbled it, which was not the case for others on this list.
14. Jacob Mangum-Farrar
Position: Linebacker
Transferred from: Stanford
2022 stats: 44 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 0 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 forced fumble
Years of Eligibility: 1
You might notice that I have Jacob Mangum-Farrar above Josh Rudolph on the projected depth chart. That’s because Mangum-Farrar is choosing to spend his final year at Indiana, which means he will get playing time. But Mangum-Farrar was not good in 2022.
Among the nation’s linebackers with at least 200 snaps, Mangum-Farrar recorded the third-worst PFF Defensive Grade (36.9). He was also a liability in coverage, allowing 64% of passes his direction to be completed at 13.4 yards per completion, 3 touchdowns, and a 130.3 passer rating. He was on the cusp of losing his starting job all season and actually did play backup for two games.
Have his grades always been this dismal? Not exactly. His Defensive Grade was a bit higher in 2021 (55.9), but he missed tackles on 17% of his tackling opportunities. But he was playing backup Mike linebacker in 2021 before being moved to starting Will linebacker in Stanford’s three-linebacker set. This drastically changed his role, from playing 91% of his snaps in the box to playing 82% of his snaps in the box. Between seasons, his snap counts increased along the defensive line and at slot corner. Having a more solidified role as one of two linebackers might help him in 2023.
15. Jamison Kelly
Position: Safety
Transferred from: Jones College
2022 stats: 51 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, 2 PBUs, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles
Years of Eligibility: 2
Where Tyrik McDaniel was rated as the No. 2 safety coming out of JUCO in 2023, Jamison Kelly is rated as the No. 3 safety. He originally was almost a top-1000 recruit coming out of high school in Mississippi and signed with Louisiana Tech, where he worked into an extremely small role in that secondary before going to Jones College.
He is a hard-hitting safety who could spend a lot of time in the box working in the rushing defense. He might find some time at the strong safety position. On the tentative 2023 depth chart, I have him backing up at strong safety, but that’s simply because the safety position is a bit confounding to me at this point. There are a lot of unknowns.
The biggest concern for me with Kelly specifically is that he isn’t very quick (based on his film), and a safety needs to be quick to play in the Big Ten. That might be what keeps him out of a starting role and out of the husky position. But again, that’s just me speculating because of the unknowns in that safeties room and the unknowns that are JUCO transfers.
16. Philip Blidi
Position: Defensive Tackle
Transferred from: Texas Tech
2022 stats: 18 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks
Years of Eligibility: 2
When I saw the addition of two Texas Tech players, I was concerned because, typically, adding two players from the same program doesn’t result in two great situations. Usually, it’s one or neither. But the numbers show that both Minor and Blidi have roles to fill and meet some needs of the defense.
Blidi’s snap count steadily decreased as 2022 went on, and his versatility seems to be why he’s not needed to use his redshirt yet. He began as a defensive end (was rated as the No. 30 strong-side DE in his class) but has shifted to defensive tackle, so much so that he only played 4 snaps at DE in 2022. He peaked as a rotational piece within the interior defensive line at Texas Tech, which is exactly what Indiana needed this offseason. I wouldn’t expect much more from Blidi, and that’s not a knock on him.
Interestingly, he flashed a bit in pass rush at the beginning of the season against Murray State, and his PFF grade in that category finished slightly above average, but it yielded little statistical production (2.0 sacks) because he’s working from the interior of the defensive line. Indiana could use some help in interior pass rush.
17. Darryl Minor
Position: Linebacker
Transferred from: UTEP
2022 stats: 3 games in special teams, no stats
Years of Eligibility: 2
Darryl Minor’s path is a bit unclear, as Indiana’s official website says Minor was at Tyler College before UTEP, but other outlets have reported as many as four schools he’s been a part of. Regardless, Minor will likely be a special teams contributor at best.