Indiana Football: Predicting the Next Wave of Breakout Players for 2025
Curt Cignetti and his staff worked wonders in 2024, rapidly reviving Indiana football through exceptional player development. Players like Omar Cooper Jr., Bray Lynch, Drew Evans, and Amare Ferrell made significant strides, stepping into starting roles, while lower-level transfers seamlessly adapted to the Big Ten. These breakouts fueled Indiana’s success last season.
However, with significant roster turnover this offseason and heavy reliance on the transfer portal to fill gaps, the Hoosiers are banking on another group of emerging talents to make an impact in 2025. Whether as starters, key backups, or players earning more snaps, Indiana’s homegrown talent must develop quickly to keep the momentum going.
Last season, breakout stars solidified their spots atop the depth chart. So, who’s next for 2025? Peegs.com identifies one potential breakout player at each position, focusing solely on returning players (not transfers). Selections are based on playing experience, past production, future potential, projected roles, and coaching staff insights.
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QB: Alberto Mendoza
Indiana’s quarterback room will feature a brotherly duo in 2025, with Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza locked in as the starter. However, with Tayven Jackson’s departure and Tyler Cherry’s knee injury, the backup role falls to Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, a redshirt freshman.
Cignetti named Alberto the top backup during spring camp, though fall camp will finalize roles. With just one career pass attempt (in a blowout win over Western Illinois), Alberto lacks Big Ten experience, making his readiness a question mark if called upon. A healthy Fernando would allow Alberto to develop behind the scenes, gaining critical experience for his future. A strong spring performance, including leading the second-team offense in the Spring Game, signals his potential for a breakout year.
RB: Kaelon Black
Kaelon Black’s breakout potential may surprise some, given his success at James Madison, but his full capabilities remain untapped at the Big Ten level. Injuries and a crowded backfield behind Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton limited Black to RB3 duties in 2024. This season, with a clear path to significant snaps, Black is poised for a leap.
A standout in spring camp, Black’s quickness, shiftiness, patience, and pass-catching ability fit perfectly in Mike Shanahan’s offensive system. Improved pass-blocking and consistency could see him challenge Maryland transferencia Roman Hemby for the top running back spot. With added depth from UAB’s Lee Beebe Jr., Black should stay fresh and make the most of his opportunities.
TE: Holden Staes
Indiana’s top tight ends—Holden Staes, Riley Nowakowski, and James Bomba—are established veterans, making a breakout label tricky. However, Staes stands out for his untapped potential as a pass-catcher. A former Top247 recruit, Staes has yet to eclipse 15 catches or 176 yards in a season across three years at Notre Dame and Tennessee. His transfer to Indiana suggests a desire to showcase his playmaking ability beyond blocking.
Staes’ unique talent could elevate Indiana’s offense, complementing its talented receivers. A breakout season from him would add a dangerous dimension to the Hoosiers’ attack.
WR: Charlie Becker
Cignetti’s willingness to play freshmen paid off for Charlie Becker in 2024, as the true freshman appeared in 12 games, primarily on special teams. In 2025, the 6-foot-4, 204-pound receiver is ready for a bigger role. A spring camp standout, Becker worked with both the first- and second-team offenses, showing promise as a boundary receiver with red-zone potential.
Becker’s speed and size make him a matchup nightmare, though he needs to refine his route-running and blocking. With Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., and E.J. Williams crowding the receiver room, Becker’s breakout may be modest in 2025, but increased snaps signal a bright future.
OL: Adedamola Ajani
Adedamola Ajani is unlikely to start in 2025, with Bray Lynch, Pat Coogan, Kahlil Benson, and Drew Evans (pending injury recovery) anchoring the interior offensive line. However, the redshirt freshman’s role as a key reserve is critical for Indiana’s depth. Spring camp provided Ajani valuable first-team reps against IU’s top defensive line, accelerating his development.
While immediate playing time isn’t guaranteed, Ajani’s experience this spring sets the stage for future contributions, making him a breakout candidate for depth and readiness.
DL: Tyrique Tucker
Tyrique Tucker quietly impressed in 2024, recording 24 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and a pass breakup despite limited snaps as a rotational defensive lineman. With CJ West and James Carpenter now in the NFL, the 6-foot, 298-pound redshirt junior is primed for a larger role.
A JMU transfer familiar with coaches Pat Kuntz and Bryant Haines, Tucker’s physicality and scheme fit position him for a significant impact in 2025. Expect his production to soar with increased opportunities.
LB: Rolijah Hardy
Rolijah Hardy is the clear breakout favorite for 2025. With Jailin Walker off to the NFL, the true sophomore steps into a starting linebacker role alongside Aiden Fisher. Hardy’s 2024 stats as a true freshman—22 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and a pick-six—showcased his playmaking ability.
An unranked recruit from Lakeland, Fla., Hardy’s meteoric rise reflects Indiana’s scouting prowess. Teammate Aiden Fisher praised Hardy’s knack for finding the ball, predicting a skyrocketing development trajectory by the season opener.
CB: Jamari Sharpe
Jamari Sharpe’s unique journey makes him a compelling breakout candidate. A starter as a redshirt freshman in 2023 under Tom Allen, Sharpe saw limited action in 2024 behind All-American D’Angelo Ponds and Jamier Johnson. Choosing to stay rather than transfer, Sharpe’s patience paid off, as he earned first-team reps opposite Ponds in the Spring Game.
With competition from transfers Ryland Gandy and Amariyun Knighten, Sharpe must maintain his spring momentum through fall camp. His resilience and development signal a potential return to a starting role.
S: Byron Baldwin Jr.
With Amare Ferrell established and transfers Louis Moore and Devan Boykin projected to start, true freshman Byron Baldwin emerges as the top breakout candidate at safety. The No. 21-ranked safety in the 2025 class, Baldwin’s recruiting saga saw him commit to Indiana, briefly flip to Colorado, and ultimately sign with the Hoosiers, fending off Power Four suitors.
Baldwin’s maturity and instincts should earn him early playing time, even in a crowded safety room. His freshman season will lay the foundation for a starring role in the future.
Specialists: LeBron Bond
True freshman LeBron Bond, a spring enrollee, is a versatile talent poised to contribute as a slot receiver, gadget player, and return specialist. At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Bond’s electric speed and playmaking ability shone in spring camp, where he earned reps with the first- and second-team offenses.
While still raw, Bond’s potential as a dynamic weapon is undeniable. Indiana may burn his redshirt to get him on the field in 2025, setting the stage for a breakout campaign.
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