Indiana’s offense is getting another major transfer addition, and this one comes with a track record of production from the Big Ten.
Donaven Marsh is heading to Bloomington after two seasons at Michigan State, making Indiana the second Big Ten stop of his college career. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver arrived in East Lansing as a four-star prospect in the Spartans’ 2024 signing class, the first class to play for Jonathan Smith, and he wasted little time making an impact.
As a freshman in 2024, Marsh was an immediate factor for Michigan State’s passing game. He finished with 41 catches for 649 yards and three touchdowns, and he topped 100 receiving yards in wins over Maryland and Iowa.
His numbers shifted in 2025, but the production held up in a different way. Marsh’s biggest games weren’t as explosive, yet he was more steady from week to week, catching 59 passes for 662 yards and three touchdowns. That performance earned him All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after the regular season.
Michigan State’s coaching change opened the door for Marsh to move on. The Spartans parted ways with Smith after two seasons and hired Pat Fitzgerald, and Marsh was part of a large group of players who left the program in January.
Marsh joins a growing list of portal additions expected to play key roles for Indiana on offense. Curt Cignetti has built a reputation for identifying the right pieces in the transfer market, and in his first two portal cycles at Indiana he landed eventual 3,000-yard passers, including 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
The Hoosiers replaced Mendoza with former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who piled up 9,629 passing yards in four seasons with the Horned Frogs. That total ranks third in TCU history behind Trevone Boykin and Andy Dalton.
Indiana also turned to the portal at running back, bringing in Boston College transfer Turbo Richard. In two seasons with the Eagles, Richard ran for 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns on 200 carries.
The offensive line got its own reinforcement as well. Indiana added Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner to fill a need at guard, and he spent three seasons with the Badgers while starting every game in both 2024 and 2025.
In Other News...
Indiana Backfield Suddenly Faces An Early Concern Fans Didn't Expect
Indianas season opener against North Texas did not even make it through the first quarter before the backfield picture got a lot murkier. Khobie Martin, who was expected to be a key part of the Hoosiers running back rotation this fall, left with an upper body injury and did not return, an abrupt development for a player the staff likely counted on to help steady the run game.
Martin never got a carry before exiting, which only adds to the concern because Indiana was looking for early signs of how its rotation would come together. When a projected contributor is forced out that quickly, it puts immediate pressure on the rest of the depth chart and leaves the Hoosiers waiting for a clearer update on how long they may have to manage without him. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Cornerback Battle Just Took A Brutal Week 1 Turn
A.J. Harris first start at cornerback for Indiana did not last long Saturday against North Texas. Harris exited late in the first quarter with a knee injury, and Rylan Gandy took his place on the field as the Hoosiers tried to settle in on the back end.
The timing only adds to the concern for Indiana, which had already seen Harris miss part of fall camp with a knee issue. He was later spotted limping after leaving the game, leaving the Hoosiers with an early test in a position battle that suddenly looks a lot more precarious than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Landed A Huge Recruiting Chance In The Paint
Indianas frontcourt recruiting board got a major boost with the news that five-star center Darius Wabbington is set for an official visit to Assembly Hall. The top-ranked big man in the 2027 class brings the kind of profile that turns a visit into a statement: size, shooting touch and defensive presence all rolled into one, exactly the sort of blend high-major programs spend years trying to find.
For Indiana, the timing makes this more than a routine stop on the recruiting trail. Wabbingtons visit gives the Hoosiers a real chance to sell both their vision and their fit in the paint, even as other major programs continue to push for his attention. In a crowded race for an elite center, simply getting him on campus is a meaningful step, and one Indiana will be eager to turn into more. [Read more 🡒]