Indiana’s third week of fall camp offered a pretty clear snapshot of where things stand as the 2026 season creeps closer: the tempo is high, the attention is locked in, and several battles still feel very much alive.
By Friday, the urgency was easy to see. Practice moved fast, with players spending only about five minutes on a concept before shifting to the next station.
The operation stayed sharp from start to finish, and the tone never really loosened. There were no casual moments, no joking around, no side conversations.
When Indiana is on the field, it’s all business.
A few of the most interesting questions are still centered on the young tight ends. That competition has been one of the main stories of camp, and it sounds like it may continue into the season because of how inexperienced the group is.
Andrew Barker and Brock Schott both look the part physically, and first-year Trevor Gibbs isn’t far behind them. The bigger issue is less about size and more about who can handle assignments cleanly and execute at the highest level.
Indiana also spent time working on blocking with that group, and that area may end up deciding the job. Whoever proves to be the most physical and impactful there is likely to earn the staff’s trust.
The secondary is also starting to take shape. Safety depth wasn’t exactly settled when camp opened, but Byron Baldwin and Quan Sanks have flashed enough this month to give Indiana real comfort on the back end and in the rover role. Add in veterans Amare Ferrell and Preston Zachman, and the Hoosiers look to have a solid four players for three spots, with more promising youth behind them.
At cornerback, two names that deserve more attention are Carson Williams and Jaylen Bell. Williams came over from the FCS level and has the body type to fit in right away.
He looks like a player who could be ready for bigger things down the line, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he has some kind of role this fall. Bell’s development is also notable.
He looked very undersized as a freshman last year, but he has added good weight and his athleticism jumps out now. There’s real upside there.
Linebacker P.J. Nelson also seems to be moving in the right direction.
Behind Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy, the snaps figure to be limited, but Nelson may still find some chances. He’ll have to fend off a strong group of freshmen, which makes that room worth watching.
Lebron Bond keeps standing out at receiver. His speed has always been obvious, but he’s also showing he can finish difficult catches, including several one-handed grabs. He was able to separate as a true freshman, and that should give him a chance to create some big plays in his second season.
Indiana also has a few former walk-ons who are hanging around the depth chart and should matter on special teams at the very least. Jeff Utzinger, Anthony Chung, Jackson Wasserstrom and Clay Conner all fit that description. Utzinger has already been awarded a scholarship, and there may be others in that group as well.
Another notable detail from the eight practices attended this month: the NFL has been everywhere. Indiana said representatives from all 32 NFL teams have been at practice, with 76 total individuals from across the league showing up over the month.
On the injury front, nothing major has popped up. There are players sitting out here and there, but at this point there aren’t any obvious red flags.
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