Updated Tuesday, March 19 at 9:40 a.m. ET
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The college football transfer portal is in full swing, and Indiana has experienced significant roster changes after firing Tom Allen and hiring Curt Cignetti.
Below is a list of all of the outgoing and incoming transfers in the Indiana football program. It’s important to note that players can enter the portal and still return to Indiana. Entering the portal gives players the opportunity to talk with other schools, as well as the new staff at Indiana, and decide from there.
The first transfer portal window is open until Jan. 2, 2024, and the second transfer portal window stretches from April 16 to April 30. These windows are strictly in regards to when players are allowed to enter the portal. There is no deadline to decide on a new school.
Incoming transfers
Jayden McDonald, linebacker: A 6-foot, 227-pound linebacker, McDonald led Troy with 75 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2023. Injuries limited his production in 2022 and 2021, but he was second on the team with 67 tackles in 2020. McDonald spent a redshirt year at Iowa in 2018 before transferring to Troy. He joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility.
Elijah Sarratt, wide receiver: The 6-foot-2 Sarratt transfers from James Madison to Indiana with two years of eligibility. He earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2023, hauling in 82 receptions for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns. Among wide receivers, Sarratt received the fourth-highest offensive grade in the nation by Pro Football Focus (PFF), one spot ahead of Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr.
Terry Jones, safety: Jones transfers to Indiana after five years at Old Dominion. The 6-foot-1 safety made 107 tackles last season and received an All-Sun Belt honorable mention. He has one year of eligibility.
Shawn Asbury II, safety: Pro Football Focus gave Asbury a 82.6 defensive grade, which ranked 19th in the nation among safeties. In 2023, he made 93 tackles, six tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. Asbury joins the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility after two seasons at Old Dominion and one at Boston College.
Elijah Green, running back: Green played four seasons at North Carolina before transferring to Indiana. The bulk of his production came during 14 games in the 2022 season, when he totaled 131 rushes for 558 yards, 4.3 yards per carry and eight touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Stephens, offensive lineman: Stephens transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 37 games since 2020. As a junior in 2023, he made the All-Sun Belt second team and played left guard, left tackle and right tackle. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Stephens joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility.
Kaelon Black, running back: Black transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 27 games since 2020. As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, he ran the ball 142 times for 637 yards and one touchdown, while also catching 27 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns. At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Black joins the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility.
Jailin Walker, linebacker: Walker transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 31 games since 2021. As a junior in 2023, he made 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. At 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, Walker earned an All-Sun Belt honorable mention and joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility.
James Carpenter, defensive lineman: Carpenter transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 40 games since 2019. As a redshirt junior in 2023, he made 53 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. At 6-foot-2 and 282 pounds, Carpenter made the All-Sun Belt second team in 2023 and joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility.
Zach Horton, tight end: Horton transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 32 games since 2021. As a junior in 2023, he made 27 receptions for 275 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, Fisher made the All-Sun Belt first team in 2023 and joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility.
Aiden Fisher, linebacker: Fisher transfers from James Madison to Indiana after playing 23 games since 2022. As a sophomore in 2023, he made 108 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. At 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, Fisher made the All-Sun Belt second team and joins the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility.
Nick Kidwell, offensive line: Kidwell transfers from James Madison to Indiana after 52 games since 2018 playing right tackle and right guard. As a redshirt senior in 2023, Kidwell made the preseason All-Sun Belt first team and Outland Trophy Watch List. At 6-foot-5 and 316 pounds, he has one year of eligibility.
Derek McCormick, kicker: McCormick transfers to Indiana after kicking for Louisiana Monroe and Ave Maria University. As a junior in 2023, he made 10-of-12 field goals, and his long was from 50 yards. He also went 16-for-17 on extra-point attempts.
Mark Langston, long snapper: Langston transfers to Indiana after long snapping for Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State. He joins the Hoosiers with two years of remaining eligibility.
Ty Son Lawton, running back: Lawton transfers to Indiana after one season at James Madison and four years at Stony Brook. In 2023, the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Lawton ran the ball 126 times for 568 yards, good for 4.5 yards per carry and five touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2021 when he rushed for 1,088 yards, 5.0 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns at Stony Brook. He has one year of eligibility.
Mikail Kamara, defensive lineman: Kamara was an All-Sun Belt second-team selection in 2023, making 17.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-1 and 265 pounds, Kamara has experience playing various positions, from end to tackle. He joins the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility.
Ke’Shawn Williams, wide receiver: Across four seasons at Wake Forest, Williams finished with 1,385 receiving yards and five touchdowns. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Williams played primarily slot receiver and has one year of remaining eligibility.
Myles Price, wide receiver: Price is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound receiver from Texas Tech who totaled 1,751 yards and 10 touchdowns across four seasons. He played primarily in the slot and has one year of remaining eligibility.
Miles Cross, wide receiver: Cross played three seasons at Ohio where he caught passes from quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who’s also transferring to Indiana. Cross totaled 105 receptions for 1,301 yards and eight touchdowns across three years. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
Trey Wedig, offensive lineman: Wedig spent four seasons at Wisconsin, where he played both guard and tackle. He committed to Wisconsin as the 83rd-ranked player in the nation in the class of 2020 out of Kettle Moraine High School in Wisconsin. He has one year of eligibility.
Kurtis Rourke, quarterback: Rourke started 35 games across five seasons at Ohio, completing 638-of-963 passes (66.3%) for 50 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was named 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2023. He has one year of eligibility.
Justice Ellison, running back: Across four seasons at Wake Forest, Ellison rushed for 1,909 yards, 15 touchdowns and 4.5 yards per carry. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2022, rushing for a career-high 707 yards. He has one year of eligibility.
Entered transfer portal
Philip Blidi, defensive tackle: Blidi announced his decision to leave Indiana less than a week before the start of spring football practice. At 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Blidi started 11 games and played in all 12 in 2023, making 30 total tackles and four tackles for loss. Blidi transferred to Indiana before the 2023 season, following three years at Texas Tech.
Phillip Dunnam, safety: Dunnam is transferring to Florida Atlantic. He made an immediate impact at Indiana, playing in all 24 games since he joined the team before the 2022 season. As a true sophomore in 2023, he made 53 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions as a starting safety. Dunnam was a four-star recruit out of Miami, Fla. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Jordan Grier, defensive back: Grier is transferring to Memphis. He made 18 tackles in 10 games for the Hoosiers in 2023. He also appeared in 18 games during the 2022 and 2021 seasons. Grier joined the Hoosiers as a three-star recruit out of Ellenwood, Ga.
Anthony Jones, outside linebacker: Jones transferred to Indiana before the 2023 season after one year at Oregon. At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, Jones made 12 tackles and played all 12 games for the Hoosiers in 2023.
Cam Camper, wide receiver: Camper is transferring to Boise State. He transferred to Indiana before the 2022 season after beginning his career at Trinity Valley Community College. He led the Hoosiers with 569 receiving yards in 2022, despite tearing his ACL in his seventh game. Camper logged 285 receiving yards across six games in 2023 before undergoing another knee surgery.
Jaylin Lucas, running back/return specialist: Lucas is transferring to Florida State. He was a first-team AP All-American return specialist as a true freshman in 2022, when he led the FBS with two kick-return touchdowns. In 2023, Lucas returned kicks and punts, while also playing running back and slot receiver. He totaled 275 rushing yards, 247 receiving yards and five total touchdowns as a sophomore.
Jordan Shaw, defensive back: Shaw is transferring to Arizona. Shaw played in four games as a true freshman in 2023. He made nine tackles and broke up one pass during Indiana’s win over Wisconsin. Shaw was Indiana’s top-ranked recruit in the class of 2022, and he played in the All-American Bowl. He was originally committed to Colorado out of St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in California.
Louis Moore, safety: Moore is transferring to Ole Miss. Moore received the highest PFF defensive grade of any Hoosier in 2023 at 75.7. He totaled 83 tackles, three interceptions, one pick-six and three forced fumbles. Moore transferred to Indiana from Navarro Community College before the 2022 season.
Josh Sales, offensive line: Sales is transferring to Purdue. He played six games for Indiana in 2023, but was unable to win a starting job. After redshirting the 2021 season, he played in 10 games with four starts in 2022. Sales joined Indiana as a three-star recruit from Brownsburg High School in Indiana.
Jaquez Smith, wide receiver: Smith never saw any game action in three seasons with the Hoosiers. Out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, Ga., Smith was the second-highest ranked recruit in Indiana’s 2021 class, behind Donaven McCulley. 247 Sports ranked Smith as a four-star recruit and the No. 275 player in the nation. He had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and several other Power 5 schools.
Julian Kameristy, defensive line: Kameristy joined Indiana as a walk-on before the 2021 season, and he did not see any game action across three seasons with the program. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman attended IMG Academy in Florida and is originally from Chicago, Ill.
Matthew Bedford, offensive lineman: Bedford is transferring to Oregon. Bedford has been a consistent force on Indiana’s offensive line, playing 41 games since 2019. He was named Indiana’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2019 and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
Kahlil Benson, right tackle: Benson is transferring to Colorado. Benson played all 12 games for Indiana at right tackle in 2023 and appeared in 12 games with five starts in 2022. Benson tore his ACL before the 2020 season and did not play in 2021. At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, he committed to Indiana as a three-star recruit out of Southaven, Miss. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Aaron Steinfeldt, tight end: Steinfeldt is transferring to Albany. caught seven passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in three seasons with the Hoosiers. He committed to Indiana out of Bloomington North High School, where he was named an Indiana Football Coaches Association Mr. Football position award winner. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Zach Carpenter, center: Carpenter is transferring to Miami. He transferred from Michigan to Indiana before the 2021 season. He played three games at right guard in 2021, then started 22 games at center during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
Nick James, defensive lineman: James is transferring to Pittsburgh. He appeared in 16 games across two seasons for Indiana. He was a four-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Florida, picking Indiana over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and others. He has three years of remaining eligibility.
Chris Freeman, kicker: Freeman is transferring to UConn. He won the kicking competition over highly-touted freshman Nico Radicic during fall camp. He made 29-of-30 extra-point attempts and 10-of-14 field goals, the longest coming from 50 yards. Freeman has two years of remaining eligibility.
James Monds III, cornerback: Monds is transferring to Middle Tennessee. He appeared in 12 total games in two years, including a redshirt year in 20222. He committed to Indiana as a three-star recruit, ranked No. 635 in the nation and picked Indiana over several Big Ten schools and other Power 5 offers. Monds has three years of remaining eligibility.
Jared Casey, linebacker: Casey made three tackles all year, each of which came in the season finale against Purdue. In the class of 2019, Casey originally committed to Kentucky as a four-star recruit, ranked No. 322 in the nation. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
LeDarrius Cox, defensive lineman: Cox is transferring to UAB. He made 19 total tackles in his two-year Indiana career after transferring from Ole Miss. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
Patrick Lucas Jr., defensive lineman: Lucas is transferring to Memphis. He made 31 total tackles for Indiana during the 2022 and 2023 seasons after beginning his career at Ole Miss. He he has one year of remaining eligibility.
Myles Jackson, outside linebacker: Jackson is transferring to Tulsa. Playing 12 games in the 2023 season at Indiana’s “Bull” position, he made 25 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. Jackson began his career at UCLA and has one year of remaining eligibility.
Dexter Williams II, quarterback: Williams is transferring to Georgia Southern. He didn’t play in the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in the 2022 season finale against Purdue, though he was not listed on the injury report for the final five games of the season. Williams’ most notable performance as a Hoosier came in a double-overtime win at Michigan State in 2022. He has two years of eligibility remaining, with potential for a third if he can get a medical waiver.
Brendan Sorsby, quarterback: Sorsby is transferring to Cincinnati. As a redshirt freshman, Sorsby was Indiana’s starter for the final six games of the 2023 season. He finished the season with a 57.2 completion percentage on 135-of-236 passing for 1,587 yards, 15 passing touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran the ball 114 times for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Sorsby has three years of remaining eligibility.
Withdrawing from transfer portal or NFL Draft, returning to Indiana
Mike Katic, offensive line: Katic decided to return to Indiana for his sixth season after originally declaring for the NFL Draft. He has started all 24 games for the Hoosiers since 2022, primarily at left guard. Katic was named Indiana’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2020.
Trent Howland, running back: Howland first committed to Minnesota, then decided to come back to Indiana shortly after. Howland was Indiana’s leading rusher in 2023, running the ball 76 times for 354 yards and two touchdowns after logging just eight carries in his first two years. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Donaven McCulley, wide receiver: McCulley began his career as the highest-ranked quarterback recruit in Indiana history, but he switched positions to wide receiver entering his sophomore year. As a 6-foot-5 junior, he led Indiana with 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns. He has one year of remaining eligibility.
Carter Smith, offensive lineman: Smith played all 12 games at left tackle for Indiana in 2023 as a redshirt freshman. He received the second-highest offensive grade among Indiana offensive linemen in 2023, per PFF. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Smith was a four-star recruit and ranked No. 207 in the nation out of Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio.
NFL Draft entrants
- Josh Henderson, running back: Henderson rushed for 735 yards and six touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 399 yards and five touchdowns across two seasons with the Hoosiers. He began his career at North Carolina, totaling 219 yards in three seasons.
- DeQuece Carter, wide receiver: Carter was Indiana’s second-leading receiver in 2023, totaling 395 yards and three touchdowns. He transferred to Indiana before the 2023 season after four years at Fordham, where he had 3,035 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
