The Hoosiers Welcome in Another Impressive Transfer Class in Cignetti's Second Year

Written By: Nick Gonzales (@nrgonzales_)

After an exciting season under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Indiana Hoosiers are striving for more success for the upcoming 2025 season. The Hoosiers have had yet another successful recruitment period – bringing in 19 new transfers into the program while also retaining a lot of key players.

“We like who we got. They checked the boxes in terms of character (and) athletic ability. Almost all of them were starters where they came from. I think we had one guy that had started and played significant minutes but wasn't a full-time starter. So they fit what we're looking for and they fit our positions of need,” Curt Cignetti said during his press conference on Wednesday about his success of bringing transfers into the program.

In 2024, the Hoosiers were ranked 10th in the transfer portal according to On3. They had 31 incoming transfers that made an impact almost immediately, but with Coach Cignetti’s arrival, they lost 38 players to the portal. Even with their success in the transfer portal, the Hoosiers were projected to finish 17th in the Big Ten, but instead they finished the season tied for second, with an appearance in the College Football Playoffs. With Indiana’s success in 2024, they were able to attract more sought-after recruits while also bringing some old Hoosiers back into the mix.

“I thought the one telling thing about what we've accomplished in a short time we've been here is we had two starters from the year before that had gone to the portal and left -- one went to Ole Miss (Louis Moore) and one went to Colorado (Kahlil Benson) -- and wanted to return after they saw what was going on here at Indiana.” Cignetti said during his Wednesday press conference.

While it was sad to see these players go in the first place, it is amazing to have them back. Kahlil Benson (6’6”, 305lbs) is an interior offensive lineman who played in nine games for Colorado last season and helped their explosive offensive to their first bowl appearance since 2020. Before his time at Colorado, he spent four seasons with the Hoosiers and played in 24 straight games starting in 2022 (he suffered an ACL injury in fall camp in 2020 and didn’t see any game action in 2021). Benson started in all 12 games at right tackle in 2023 and only gave up one sack with 424 pass attempts.

There is also the return of defensive back Louis Moore (5’11”, 200lbs). Before playing for Ole Miss in 2024, Moore appeared in all 24 games during his time at Indiana with ten starts in 2023. In Moore’s 2023 season with the Hoosiers, he recorded 83 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions, one of which being a pick 6. In 2024, he played 11 games for the Rebels, starting in two of them. Not only did Cignetti bring in two previous Hoosiers, but he also successfully brought back E.J. Williams (a wide receiver who started for the Hoosiers in 2023) who entered the transfer portal during the 2024 season.

“E.J. wanted to redshirt after his fourth game. And like I said to him, I decide who redshirts. If you can help the team, then that's what everybody is here to do. And he had dreams of playing in the league. It was his last year. So his only recourse was to go into the portal. About mid-December we got together. We wanted him back; he wanted to come back. So that was another win for us as well, another guy that had started in '23, the year before I got here. So I think it says a lot about what went on last year that guys who had left on the front end and then returned,” Cignetti emphasized during his press conference.

Last season, the Hoosiers had a stacked wide receiver room that consisted of Elijah Sarratt, Myles Price, Miles Cross, Ke’Shawn Williams, Omar Cooper Jr. and others. This season is no different. Along with the returning receivers like Sarratt, E.J. & Omar Cooper, they will now be accompanied by Michigan transfer Tyler Morris (5’11”, 185lbs) and App State transfer Makai Jackson (6’0”, 200 lbs). It isn’t Jackson and Sarratt’s first time playing together though. They were both teammates at Saint Francis Pennsylvania in 2022. Along with them are two tight end transfers, Holden Staes (6’4”, 248lbs), a transfer from Tennessee who began his career at Notre Dame, and Riley Nowakowski (6’1”, 243), a transfer from Wisconsin.

“(Riley) Nowakowski went to Wisconsin as a walk-on, a wrestler also. Played fullback. Coaching change, moved to tight end, excellent blocker, good hands, really a hardworking guy. And Holden Staes has good movement skills. So we'll see what he can give us both in the run game and the pass game. But I'm glad we got those two guys because it was a position of need,” Cignetti replied on how they addressed their need of a tight end through the portal.

With Zach Horton’s departure from collegiate sports, the Hoosiers needed to fill the position with someone who gives as much heart and soul to the game of football as Horton did. Staes and Nowakowski are two power four tight ends with great blocking skills and seem to be a perfect fit for the Hoosiers.

Not only did the Hoosiers lose Horton, but they also lost their two veteran running backs, Justice Ellison & Ty Son Lawton. With that in mind, Cignetti addressed the running back position by adding Maryland transfer Roman Hemby (6’0”, 208lbs) and UAB transfer Lee Beebe Jr. (5’10”, 220lbs). Hemby has been with the Terrapins since 2021. After redshirting his initial collegiate year, he started in all 38 games since 2022, recording 2,276 rush yards (4.9 yds/att), 920 receiving yards (111 receptions), and 25 total touchdowns in his three years as a starter. Not only can Hemby pound the rock, but he is also a pass catching threat. With all these acquisitions, the Hoosiers offense seems almost completely different, not to mention the highly acclaimed quarterback transfer from Cal, Fernando Mendoza (6’5”, 225lbs).

“Well, obviously been aware of him for a while because we got Alberto, the younger brother, here. Two-year starter at Cal, did a lot of really good things on tape. Was under duress quite a bit. I mean, the protection wasn't great out there. Not only did he show the ability to make all the throws from the pocket, but to extend plays and be able to make plays on the move with his arm and his legs. He's an extremely intelligent guy, and he's got two years. He was a target. And that was a good day when he decided to come.” Coach Cignetti replied when asked about what attracted him to Mendoza.

The Hoosiers have some mighty shoes to fill with Kurtis Rourke entering the NFL Draft, However, they are doing just that with Fernando Mendoza. In 2024, Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards (68.7 CMP%), 16 TD, and 6 interceptions, plus he has two years of eligibility remaining. He is also a top three quarterback transfer too.

Cignetti and the Hoosiers have been recruiting day in and day out since their disappointing loss in the College Football Playoffs. Some of these other transfers include Pat Coogan [6’5”, 310lbs, OL, RS-JR, Notre Dame], Ryland Gandy [6’0”, 180lbs, DB, RS-SO, Pitt], Devan Boykin [5’10”, 195lbs, DB, SR, NC State], Zen Michalski [6’6”, 319lbs, OL, SR, Ohio State], Grant Wilson [6’3”, 217lbs, QB, SR, Old Dominion], Dominique Ratcliff [6’3”, 285lbs, DL, RS-JR, Texas State], Hosea Wheeler [6’3”, 300lbs, DL, RS-JR, Western Kentucky], Amariyun Knighten [6’0”, 174lbs, DB, RS-SO, Northern Illinois], Mitch McCarthy [6’5”, 214lbs, Punter, JR, UCF], Brendan Franke [6’3”, 225lbs, Kicker, RS-JR, Texas State], and Sam Lindsey [6’0” 186lbs, Long Snapper, RS-FR, Georgia State].

Many are restlessly waiting to see how the Hoosiers will stack up in the Big Ten in Cignetti’s second year. With more than half a year until the season starts, fans are just going to have to wait and see. Until then, make sure to keep up with IU Football by continuing to check out Hoosier Huddle.