'Rolijah is going to be really good': Hardy set to step in for Jailin Walker at linebacker

In 2025, for the first time since the 2022 season, Curt Cignetti’s defense will take the field without a familiar sight anchoring the second level.

From Harrisonburg to Bloomington, the linebacker duo of Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker were the heartbeat of Cignetti’s defenses — an unshakable tandem in a system built around just two true linebackers.

They played with a near-telepathic bond, flowing in sync across the second level, anticipating each other’s every move like dancers in a perfectly choreographed routine.

But in 2025, that rhythm will change.

Walker, out of eligibility, has moved on. His departure leaves not just a statistical void but a massive leadership vacuum for Indiana — breaking up one of college football’s most productive linebacker pairings.

Yet the Hoosiers didn’t flinch. They didn’t hit the transfer portal. They simply opened the door to the next man up.

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Enter Rolijah Hardy, the sophomore from Georgia who has been quietly preparing for this moment since the day he arrived on campus.

“We didn’t have to leave Indiana to go find another linebacker,” Fisher told TheHoosier.com. “Rolijah is going to be really good. We have guys that will step up and produce. We’ll be OK, especially with Rolijah stepping up.”

Hardy may not carry the same name recognition as his predecessor — not yet — but his ceiling might be just as high.

As a true freshman last fall, Hardy flashed elite playmaking instincts in limited reps. He recorded 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions — including a pick-six against Western Illinois in just his second collegiate game — two passes defended and a pair of forced fumbles.

He was everywhere. Even as a third-stringer, Hardy made it hard to keep him off the field.

As a true freshman last fall, he flashed elite instincts in limited reps: 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions — including a pick-six against Western Illinois — two passes defended, and a pair of forced fumbles.

He was everywhere. Even as a third-stringer, Hardy made it hard to keep him off the field.

“First off, he’s just an athletic freak,” Fisher said. “Physically, he’s going to be just fine. But what stands out is how much he’s willing to dive into the playbook, the scheme and the things I’m trying to teach him.”

Cignetti didn’t hesitate to label Hardy a “top-line guy” at Big Ten Media Days, noting the staff already considered him their No. 3 linebacker by season’s end — a rare distinction for any freshman in this system.

Now, the stage is his.

Replacing a talent like Walker was never going to be as simple as plugging in another body. His presence was intuitive — a product of years of shared reps and film sessions with Fisher.

“J-Walk was awesome,” Fisher said. “He’s such a good person and such a good player.”

Their connection was special. Fisher likened it to a sixth sense — the ability to move in harmony, communicate without words, and always know where the other would be.

Now, he starts over.

“It just takes reps,” Fisher said. “This spring, [Rolijah and I] did a really good job of learning from one another. We’ve got to watch more film together, get extra reps after practice — make sure we can feel what each other are doing and stay on the same page.”

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Fisher believes that bond will be there by the time Indiana opens its season on Aug. 30 against Old Dominion.

“I think by game one, we’ll be fine,” he said confidently.

Indiana could’ve scoured the portal for a veteran to slot in next to Fisher. But in a testament to the development brewing in Bloomington, the coaching staff didn’t even blink.

They knew Hardy was ready — and they knew there was more talent waiting in the wings.

Redshirt junior Isaiah Jones is expected to serve as the No. 3 linebacker, while true freshman PJ Nelson and redshirt junior Kaiden Turner provide depth and versatility.

“[Nelson] has come a long way since the spring,” Fisher said. “Spring practice one, you could tell he was a young guy. But since then, he’s really started to grow.”

Turner, too, has turned heads.

“Kaiden Turner is an older guy,” Fisher said. “He knows the system and played great all spring — had a great spring game, too.”

Now the veteran in the room, Fisher has taken on more than just a linebacker’s role — he’s become the teacher.

“J-Walk showed me a lot. Just the way he went about things,” Fisher said. “He was serious about what he did, but he enjoyed the moment. That’s what I’m trying to pass on to these guys. Just be where your feet are.”

Depth won’t be a problem. But make no mistake — the Hardy-Fisher pairing is the engine.

So how does Hardy compare to the man he’s replacing?

“[Hardy] isn’t that far off,” Fisher said. “He might have [Walker] a little bit in the weight room, but J-Walk could just move so fluid. They’re very similar in how they move.”

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Both are elite athletes. Walker turned heads with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at Indiana’s pro day.

Hardy may not have posted those kinds of numbers — yet — but Fisher and Cignetti believe he’s in the same stratosphere. More importantly, he’s earning trust.

“He’s developing so well and growing so fast,” Fisher said. “Mentally, it’s been cool to see how quickly he picks up on things.”

The duo that dominated 2023 and 2024 under Cignetti is gone. But the next great pairing might already be forming.

Fisher, the battle-tested leader, returns to guide Indiana’s defense. Standing beside him now is Hardy — younger, less experienced, but just as hungry and maybe even more explosive than the man he’s been tasked with replacing.

The bond will take time. The reps, the trust, the rhythm — that all has to be earned. But if this offseason is any indication, the Hoosiers didn’t lose a step.

They just turned the page.

And the next chapter starts with Fisher and Hardy, writing their own story one play at a time.

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