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Indiana starting offensive line unit gets clarity heading into week one

headshotby: Alec Lasley08/29/25allasley
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Indiana offensive lineman Kahlil Benson (Indiana Athletics)

One of the more discussed position battles this offseason for Indiana football was the offensive line and it seems to have some clarity heading into the season opener on Saturday afternoon against Old Dominion at 2:30 pm.

Curt Cignetti announced on Thursday that transfer Kahlil Benson would be starting at right tackle. Benson, who had 17 starts and 25 appearances for Indiana from 2020-23, transferred to Colorado ahead of the 2024 season. This offseason, he returned to Indiana to finish his career.

“Right now, he’s the starting right tackle,” Cignetti said on his radio show.

Benson started five games at right guard in 2022 and then saw all 12 of his starts in 2023 come at right tackle during offensive line coach Bob Bostad’s first year in Bloomington.

Benson has dealt with injuries over the last year, however. He missed time in the spring after missing three games throughout the course of the 2024 season. He had four starts, in the first four weeks, and appeared in nine games with Colorado. All of his starts came at right guard.

For his career he brings in 21 starts.

Indiana’s offensive line is greatly improved in three years under Bostad, but the 2024 season showed that it had turned a corner. While there is still improvement needed, Cignetti is bullish on his offensive line group this year.

“I’m very high on the potential of our offensive line, and Bob Bostad does a good job of coaching those guys,” Cignetti said this summer. “A tough, old-school guy. I think we’ve got a chance to be good.”

With Kahlil Benson getting the nod at right tackle, he’ll be alongside Carter Smith at left tackle, Drew Evans at left guard, Pat Coogan at center and Bray Lynch at right guard. Benson was in competition with Zen Michalski, transfer from Ohio State, this fall.

“We’ve got Zen from Ohio State,” Cignetti added. “Will be backing up the guard and tackle positions going into this game.”

Indiana has 94 career starts from its starting offensive line group — including three players (Coogan, Smith, Benson) who have totaled at least 20 starts. Michalski, who has just one start in his career, has appeared in 29 career games, however.

“We’ll find out at the end of the year, you know, whoever’s grading them,” Cignetti said of how good his offensive line can be. ” .. But we’ve got a lot of veterans who’ve played a lot of football.”

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