Ranking each position group on the Indiana offense

Indiana‘s offense should have talent all over the field in 2025, but you might be wondering: which position is the Hoosiers biggest strength?

I’ll be ranking each Indiana football position group on offense here, and I’ll give a few reasons why I have each position at its given ranking. For this, I obviously put an emphasis on the starters at each position, but depth and young talent will also be considered.

If I have a position group toward the bottom, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I think it’s a weakness, but with the talented roster Indiana is slated to have in 2025, even the weakest positions could still be very solid.

So, without further ado, here’s my ranking of each of Indiana football’s offensive position groups ahead of the 2025 season.

1. Offensive line

The offensive line is my highest-ranking position group on the offense, with it not only being possibly the most important unit on the field, but also extremely talented across the board.

While there are expected to be three transfer starters when the Hoosiers take the field in Week 1, IU has a ton of experience across the line. Pat Coogan (C), Zen Michalski (T) and Kahlil Benson (G) make up the three transfers who are projected to start, while Carter Smith (T) and Bray Lynch (G) make up the two returners who will be a part of the first unit for IU.

Drew Evans (G) is coming off a season-ending injury and is expected to return to action during the 2025 season, but his status for Week 1 is still up in the air. With him entering the fold, IU will have six capable linemen, all of whom have years of starting experience.

The offensive line is never a flashy position, but it’s expected to be one of Indiana’s best position groups in 2025.

2. Running backs

Up next is a position that heavily relies on the offensive line, as I think Indiana’s running backs will be a very productive unit this fall.

While the Hoosiers lost their two main options from a year ago, they replaced them with two impact transfers in Roman Hemby and Lee Beebe Jr. These two should be a great one-two punch for Indiana, as they complement each other well and both excel in different areas of the running game.

Kaelon Black will also be a key contributor, giving IU three running backs at its disposal. If these three can form a tandem-style rotation, the opposing defense should always be on its heels. This could open up so many possibilities for the Indiana offense while making sure that each back is 100% when he’s on the field.

With so much talent and depth, it’s clear why IU’s running backs are one of the best units on the team.

3. Quarterbacks

Coming in at No. 3 is the quarterback position, with Fernando Mendoza leading the charge for IU’s signal-callers.

QB is obviously a very starter-focused position, and IU has certainly got a good one in Mendoza, as he threw for more than 3,000 yards last season for Cal. With an impressive frame, the redshirt junior can really throw the ball and will be one of the key pieces that determines Indiana’s success.

I may have underrated Mendoza a bit here, as he’s just middle of the pack in these position rankings, but that’s simply because there’s talent all over the field, and some position groups have multiple elite players compared to just one.

Behind the Hoosiers’ QB1, Alberto Mendoza and Grant Wilson will act as backups, with the two battling for the QB2 spot ahead of the season. Neither one of these two is particularly impressive, but they should be respectable as reserve options.

While I think Mendoza will be a top starter in the Big Ten and was a huge addition for the Indiana offense, due to the solo nature of the position I feel like the middle of these rankings is the correct spot for Indiana’s QBs.

4. Wide receivers

Next is Indiana’s wide receiver group, as the Hoosiers have a very solid amount of depth, but there are a few question marks surrounding the position.

Elijah Sarratt is a bona fide star and will surely be IU’s top receiving threat, but other receivers will also have to step up to make Indiana’s receiving corps a productive one.

Omar Cooper Jr. is expected to be the No. 2 option behind Sarratt, and he was successful a year ago, but it still remains to be seen if he can produce at a high level for an entirety of a season. Jonathan Brady, E.J. Williams Jr., Makai Jackson and Charlie Becker are all options as well, but they’ll all be fighting for snaps, and it’s unsure how often each of them will get regular playing time.

Lebron Bond, Myles Kendrick and Davion Chandler are all talented freshmen and could potentially compete for a role, but it’ll certainly be an uphill battle with several experienced players ahead in the depth chart.

Indiana has a lot of options at wide receiver, and this group could definitely be successful this season, but I like the positions ahead of them just a little bit more.

5. Tight ends

Finishing off the list are Indiana’s tight ends, as the Hoosiers have a trio of players expected to see snaps, although none of them really jump off the page.

Holden Staes is expected to be the starter, and he has the most pass-catching upside, but he’s been very up and down in his career during stops at Notre Dame and Tennessee. He’s not extremely proven as a dependable player, but the talent is there, so IU fans should be optimistic.

Riley Nowakowski is a transfer from Wisconsin who could end up being the starter, but he’s less of a catching threat. His blocking speaks for itself, but if Indiana wants some offense out of tight end, he may not be the choice. James Bomba is in a similar situation as an IU veteran, but again, there’s nothing really extraordinary about Indiana’s tight ends.

That brings this list to a close, as Indiana’s TE room rounds out my rankings of the Hoosiers’ offensive position groups. Each position brings something to the table in what should be a very effective and well-rounded Indiana offense in 2025.