Indiana’s defense and offense both got a boost in the preseason spotlight Thursday, with linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones landing on the Butkus Award Watch List and five Hoosiers showing up on ESPN’s preseason All-American teams.
Hardy and Jones give Indiana one of the nation’s most impressive linebacker pairings heading into the year. Hardy piled up 102 tackles in 2025, adding 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks on the way to second-team All-Big Ten honors. Jones was right behind him with 78 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, good for third-team All-Big Ten recognition.
The Butkus Award Watch List includes 51 players and is tied to Dick Butkus’ No. 51 jersey, honoring the toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness and football character that defined him. Hardy and Jones are two of 12 Big Ten linebackers included.
The next milestones for the 2026 Butkus Award are set: semifinalists will be announced Oct. 28, finalists on Nov. 20, and the winner will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7.
Indiana also made noise on ESPN’s preseason All-American teams, with offensive tackle Carter Smith staying on the first team after finishing 2025 as a first team All-American. ESPN Research said Smith allowed only nine pressures in 2025, the fewest among full-time left tackles nationally.
Smith was one of five Hoosiers recognized by ESPN. Wide receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, Hardy and safety Amare Ferrell were all placed on the second team.
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