Indiana is waiting on a few familiar faces as Week 3 approaches, but one return appears to be coming into focus.
Coach Curt Cignetti said Monday that Indiana expects starting cornerback Jamari Sharpe back soon after the injury that knocked him out of the Week 1 win over North Texas in the first quarter. Sharpe sat out against Howard, along with A.J. Harris, Trevor Gibbs and Blake Smythe, but Cignetti made it clear the Hoosiers are at least trending in the right direction at corner.
“Sometimes the best ability is availability,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said Monday. “We do expect Sharpe back. We're ready to roll.”
Cignetti did not offer an update on Harris, who left the North Texas game with a sprained ankle. In the meantime, Indiana leaned on fifth-year cornerback Ryland Gandy and second-year cornerback Jaylen Bell against Howard. Gandy logged two tackles and a pass breakup in the Week 2 win, while Bell was active against North Texas with four tackles but did not post any statistics against Howard.
Cignetti said both players have made progress early in the season.
“I thought they both took steps forward the last two weeks,” Cignetti said. “I thought Jaylen Bell has been pretty consistent, thought he played well against North Texas.
Ryland had a couple mistakes, but he's certainly improved and played a lot of football. I have a lot of confidence in both of them.”
Indiana is also still waiting for true freshman tight end Trevor Gibbs, who has not yet made his college debut after getting hurt before Week 1. Gibbs was expected to be part of the tight end rotation this season alongside second-years Brock Schott and Andrew Barker, and Cignetti said he is getting closer.
“Gibbs is getting close to ready to play,” Cignetti said. “He was doing well in camp.”
That tight end group has been a work in progress through two games. Schott and Barker have handled most of the snaps so far, with Schott starting both weeks and Barker rotating in often. Indiana did not get a reception from its tight ends against Howard.
Once Gibbs is available, the Hoosiers should have a clearer picture at the position. Cignetti said at the end of fall camp that Schott, Barker and Gibbs were IU’s top three tight ends entering the season.
“Tight ends got to be able to block. It's a big part of the run game,” Cignetti said.
“I think Barker has made some progress there... It's a position that's got to continue to develop.”
Indiana also remains without freshman defensive tackle Blake Smythe, who has missed the first two games. Cignetti did not provide an update on Smythe’s status, though he drew strong preseason praise from Cignetti and teammates as someone who could help early.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Real Opening In The Big Ten Race
Week 2 in the Big Ten brought a little more clarity and a lot more chaos, and Indiana had to like what it saw from the rest of the league. Ohio States collapse after building a strong start against Texas, Oregons second straight stumble after its earlier loss, and Michigans defense holding up against Oklahoma all fed into a race that suddenly feels less tidy than it did a week ago. USC also kept building momentum behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, another reminder that the leagues top tier may be deeper and less predictable than expected.
For Indiana, the value in that disorder is obvious. The Hoosiers do not need the Big Ten to get easy, but they do need the field above them to keep taking turns giving ground, and that is exactly what the opening stretch delivered. With the conference already showing signs of volatility and some of its biggest names still sorting out who they are, Indiana can see a path to mattering in a race that looked more crowded than competitive just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Defensive Rotation Just Put A New Spotlight On Its Depth
Indiana leaned heavily on its defensive depth in the 55-0 win over Howard, and the snap counts told the story just as much as the scoreboard did. The Hoosiers spread the workload across a long list of contributors, with Mario Landino and Chiddi Obiazor standing out among the pressure players and Rolijah Hardy turning in the kind of splash play that can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
What makes the rotation worth watching now is how many different pieces were involved, including freshmen and players still chasing more eligibility. Early in the season, that kind of distribution can be a luxury if everyone stays productive, but it can also become a real evaluation tool as Indiana learns who can hold up once the competition tightens and the game plans get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Waits On Court Fight That Could Cost Two Key Veterans
Indiana football is still waiting on the legal wrangling that could shape the rest of its season, with the eligibility case involving veterans Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ending in court Wednesday without a ruling. The two players are challenging the NCAA over its five-for-five eligibility rule, and the absence of a decision leaves the Hoosiers in a holding pattern as the week moves toward Saturdays game.
The temporary restraining order that had allowed Daley and Wyatt to keep playing has now expired, which means they are ineligible unless the judge acts before the weekend. Attorneys have until Thursday to submit final documentation, but for now Indiana is left watching the calendar as much as the depth chart, hoping the legal process catches up in time to avoid losing two experienced pieces. [Read more 🡒]