INDIANA - Howard Postgame LIVE

IndianaVOCFB — Indiana vs. Howard Postgame LIVE Hosts: Alec Keezer & Bradley Loomis Presented by FanDuel Intro & overall takeaways (0:32–3:00) Alec and Brad open on a quiet Sunday after Indiana handled Howard. Both treat it as a non-conference/preseason-style game with limited information on the 2026 Hoosiers. Brad: “I learned absolutely nothing” about what this team will be this season. They look like a top-tier contender that happens to be playing Howard. Biggest observation is that this is a different team than last year — offense now appears to be the strength, with defense complementary (inverse of 2025). Defense is still working through life after D’Angelo Pons and figuring things out with Brian Haynes. Alec agrees the useful lens is the twos: who got snaps, who showed well, and what the roster could look like beyond this year. Defense was also missing two starting corners. Corners (3:30–8:20) Bell and Gandy starting was good for room health. Long-term: Sharp, Gandy, Harris, and Bell now have starting experience. Harris and Bell have eligibility next year. Carson Williams looked solid on the back end. Former walk-on Lincoln Murph (Ben Davis HS, local kid, fourth-year) flew around and may need to be added to the depth chart. He played ahead of Zachary Smith and Kashmir Hicks. Five-year clock discussion: if those younger guys were ready they’d be out there; redshirts aren’t being protected the same way. Murph’s story (walk-on carving a role, potential NIL) is a Cignetti-era development win. Similar to Jeff Utzinger’s opportunity. Safeties (8:22–10:35) Anthony Chung (walk-on, Cignetti-era guy) and Clay Conner got in. Standout: Jamar Owens with the twos. He has a corner/rover build (Devon Boykin, Byron Baldwin, Jaquan Sanks type) rather than a bigger safety. Crisp in the spring game; significant that he was with the second unit given Cignetti’s depth concerns at the position. Reese and Stewart not prominently seen. Owens, Chung, and Tims mixed in. Linebackers (10:36–13:00) Jacob Savage jumped off the page with a sack. Possible highest-impact true freshman this year. Could compete for LB3 if Turner/Utzinger missed tackles hold. Gatorade Kentucky POY, former QB, elite athlete; high-school running back background like Olinger. Olinger also on special teams (cowboy collar). Both Savage and Olinger played right away — “not if, when.” Jaden Williams’ timeline is a bit further out. Defensive line (13:02–16:45) Very deep — two full waves plus NASCAR package. First wave: Toby, Daly, Tucker Landino. Then Ndukwe, Yelly, Obiezer, Burnham. McKinney getting inside snaps (Obiezer more outside). Keyshawn Calhoun produced and got the sideline fired up (Kyler Garcia reaction noted). Burris also mixed in. Many current producers are true seniors/fifth-years who will be gone. Calhoun, Burris, and McKinney (IMG blue-chip, already playing meaningful snaps) are the future. McKinney could step into a starting nose role next year. Cignetti pattern: freshmen who play early tend to stay on the field (Pons, Mario Landino, Elijah Hardy examples). Offensive line (16:48–19:05) Second-unit O-line got extended work. LT: Kenton Mondew (true freshman, 6-7, Maine/Wisconsin, already trusted at LT2 over spring guys). RG: Sam Simpson (true freshman, Wisconsin). C: Austin Liebfried (O-line 6, versatile). LG: Evan Parker. Versatility is non-negotiable under Bob Bostad — they rotate spots in install. Simpson played RG after working LG in the spring game. Tight ends / receivers (19:06–22:40) Brock Schott played into the fourth (they want him as many reps as possible; viewed as TE1). Skill players stayed in late. Thierry mixed in; no Parker Elmore (notable). Jackson Wasserstrom appears to be WR6 above LeBron Bond. Core six this year: Marsh, Becker, Morris, Preston, Chandler, Wasserstrom. Hard room to crack. Cignetti postgame “slip”: three of the four top receivers were still in during the fourth (Preston, Chandler, Marsh). Implies Becker, Marsh, Preston, Chandler as the top four — Preston and Chandler have jumped Morris. He walked it back, but the hierarchy is clearer. Long-term: Marsh, Becker, Chandler are underclassmen with multiple years left. Running backs (22:50–24:05) Jerrion Campbell looked better than Cuono in what both treated as a tryout. Shot out of a cannon, explosive, ran through contact (~7+ YPC). Looks like this year’s Kobe Martin / RB3. Compared to Kalon Black’s hole-hitting style. Martin’s absence noted — he would have eaten in this game. Quarterbacks (24:05–28:45) Limited look at Tyler Cherry (a few late pa