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Indiana running back Kaelon Black lands on College Football's 'Freaks List'

headshotby: Alec Lasley08/04/25allasley
Syndication: The Herald-Times
Indiana's Kaelon Black (8) evades Lincoln Murff (45) during the Indiana football spring game at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Kaelon Black, the lone returning running back in the Indiana backfield, looks to have a breakout 2025 campaign and it started with some national recognition on Monday as he was named to Bruce Feldman’s ‘College Football Freaks List’.

The ‘Freaks List’ is a group comprised of the top athletes in college football based on numerous factors such as size, strength, testing numbers and more. It’s also based on ‘intel from coaches, schools, teammates, parents, NFL scouts, NFL Scouting Combine trainers and agents’, says Feldman.

Black was listed No. 58 overall on the list out of 101 players.

“One of the former James Madison players who followed Curt Cignetti to Bloomington, the 5-10, 210-pounder rushed for 251 yards and two TDs in limited action,” Feldman wrote. “Black vertical jumped 40 inches, bench pressed 415 pounds and squatted over 500 this summer.

“He’s our biggest Freak for sure,” said DL Mikail Kamara. “When he lifts, everything moves so fast. He’s ridiculous. I’ve never seen him struggle (in the weight room). I saw him bench press 415 the other day, and it was butter. It touched his chest and went right back up. It looked like a warmup set. And he’s hella fast.”

Black enters his final season at Indiana, and in college, looking to see a drastic increase in his production. Across three seasons, Black has totaled 1,221 rushing yards on a 4.8 yard per carry average with six touchdowns. He’s added 437 receiving yards and six touchdowns as well.

Last year was Black’s lowest output year, dealing with some nagging injuries and playing behind Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton — one of the top running back duo’s in the Big Ten, and the country. He had just 257 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.

This year will likely be much different, however, as Black will be one of the featured backs for Indiana. In Indiana’s Spring Game he had 74 yards on eight carries and showed a great ability to create extra yardage in open space.

“Yeah, high-energy guy. He’s always started camp real well early in the year. Just staying healthy has kind of been his deal,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said this spring. “He’s got good speed. He’s got a lot of juice. He’s been with us a long time.”

Kaelon Black is the second Hoosier to be named on the ‘Freaks List’ in the Curt Cignetti era — joining Mikail Kamara who was among the selections in 2024.

Indiana begins its 2025 season on August 30 at home against Old Dominion.

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