Darian DeVries is still building Indiana’s recruiting footprint the hard way: with a mix of portal work, high school targets, and a clear push to land the kind of elite prospect that changes the conversation. He’s already pieced together several encouraging wins, but that signature high school commitment has not arrived yet.
The Hoosiers’ 2026 class has plenty of promise after Vaughn Karvala, Prince Alexander-Moody, and Trevor Manhertz all turned heads at the FISU American Games this summer. Indiana also has an early foothold in the 2027 cycle with 4-star guard Chase Branham, who Rivals Industry Rankings lists as the No. 28 overall player and No. 5 shooting guard in the country.
There’s more big-game recruiting on the horizon, too. Indiana already has an official visit set for 5-star center Darius Wabbington on September 5. The 6'11" 245-pound prospect is ranked by Rivals as the No. 2 center and No. 14 overall player in the nation for 2027, and Indiana is in the mix with Arizona, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, and Texas.
Now the Hoosiers have added another major name to the calendar. According to 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London, Indiana will host 5-star point guard Brady Pettigrew for an official visit from September 18-20.
Pettigrew, a 6'3" 170-pound guard from Bolingbrook, IL, put up over 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game as a sophomore at Bolingbrook High School. He also played travel ball for Bradley Beal Elite on the Nike EYBL Circuit, where his 24.4 points per game ranked second among all players in the 2028 class.
By 247Sports’ evaluation, Pettigrew is the No. 1 player in Illinois, the No. 2 point guard, and the No. 14 overall player in the country. That kind of profile draws a crowd, and Indiana will be one of the many schools trying to make its pitch.
This won’t be Pettigrew’s first trip to Bloomington. He took an unofficial visit to Indiana in the spring, and this return visit in the fall gives DeVries another chance to keep momentum moving in the right direction.
The challenge is obvious. Indiana is one of nine schools Pettigrew plans to see officially this fall, with Michigan on September 12, Florida on September 25, Illinois on October 2, North Carolina on October 9, Kentucky on October 23, BYU on October 30, and Ohio State on November 6 also on his schedule.
That crowded calendar means the Hoosiers will have to stand out fast. Pettigrew is expected to spend the fall comparing those programs before trimming his list, and DeVries is surely hoping Indiana can become the first place he locks in as his first 5-star commit in Bloomington.
In Other News...
Indiana Fans Just Got A Telling NFL Reality Check At Quarterback
Fernando Mendozas path to the NFL has already turned into a reminder that even top-end draft capital does not guarantee an immediate starting job. The former Indiana quarterback was taken No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, but he is set to open the season behind Kirk Cousins, a familiar reality for young passers trying to adjust to the pro game while waiting for their turn.
Around the league, another quarterback with Indiana ties is also navigating a crowded depth chart. The San Francisco 49ers have kept Kurtis Rourke as their third quarterback and released Adrian Martinez, a sign that Rourkes preseason work mattered even as he recovers from broken ribs. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season, but for now the Hoosiers are seeing both of their recent quarterback stories shaped by patience more than instant opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Fernando Mendozas NFL Timeline Just Hit A Reality Indiana Fans Feared
The Raiders quarterback plan is already taking shape, and it points to a familiar early-career path for Fernando Mendoza. According to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, Las Vegas is expected to open the season with Kirk Cousins as its Week 1 starter, while Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, is on the roster and positioned to begin as the backup. For Indiana fans who watched Mendoza rise into a franchise-changing prospect, it is the kind of first-step reality that comes with a short wait before the spotlight fully shifts.
Even so, this is not a case of the Raiders backing away from their long view. The organization still sees Mendoza as its quarterback of the future, and head coach Klint Kubiak has already voiced confidence in what he can become. That makes the early depth-chart arrangement more of a timeline than a judgment, but it also leaves the most interesting part of the story unresolved: how quickly the Raiders decide the future is ready to become the present. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Morris Could Give Indiana's Offense A Needed Spark Fast
Tyler Morris arrived in Bloomington with the kind of background that can make a transfer useful right away and more dangerous a year later. After sitting out last season because of a knee injury, the former Michigan receiver has spent that time learning Indianas offense and getting himself ready for the 2025 season, with the Hoosiers expecting him to step into the slot and help stabilize the passing game.
Morris has also been busy building timing with new quarterback Josh Hoover, a detail that could matter quickly if Indiana is looking for a receiver who already knows where to be. He has been active in spring scrimmages and fall camp, and the additional role as punt returner only adds to the sense that Indiana wants him involved as soon as possible. [Read more 🡒]