Author: Seth Tow

Donaven McCulley has looked different this spring. After spending the last year switching from quarterback to wide receiver and getting used to playing a new position, he’s a lot more comfortable now. But even physically, McCulley is different. The junior spent the offseason slimming down, wanting to get quicker. He lost around eight pounds, and went from 10 percent body fat to around seven or eight percent. The Indianapolis native chalked up the weight loss to an improved diet. “Just talked to coach (Aaron) Wellman and the staff, and our nutritionist, Isaac (Hicks III), just making sure I’m eating the…

Grace Berger has made it two years in a row for IU women’s basketball in the WNBA Draft. The Louisville native was selected by Indiana Fever with the No. 7 overall pick on Monday in New York City. She’s the first Hoosier to ever be selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft. “I knew it would be amazing, but I think I was really grateful, full of emotion when I heard my name called,” Berger said. “Especially being there with my dad, who had been taking me to Indiana Fever games since I was six, seven, eight years…

Grace Berger is already among the greatest players in Indiana women’s basketball history. But she’s set to join one of the program’s most exclusive clubs on Monday: players drafted into the WNBA. The 2023 WNBA Draft is Monday night in New York City, and Berger is one of a select group of players who will be in attendance, as an expected high draft pick. She’ll become just the fifth WNBA Draft selection in IU women’s basketball history. https://twitter.com/IndianaWBB/status/1644347270459183104 She’ll join Ali Patberg (2022 third-round pick), Jori Davis (2011 third-round pick), Jill Chapman (2002 second round), and Quacy Barnes (1998 third…

Four games into his lone season at Independence Community College, Tyrik McDaniel begged to play just one more. Months before his transfer to Indiana football, McDaniel went in for a tackle against Iowa Western. And his right thumb didn’t bend at all, when it was supposed to. At first, he thought he’d only jammed it, wrapped it up, took some pain medication, and played on. But that night, his hand swelled so much he couldn’t move it. The safety went in for X-rays the next day, which showed his hand was broken in two places and needed surgery. He’d miss…

Below is a complete position-by-position look at the IU football roster after a wave of transfer portal activity along with the typical offseason happenings involving eligibility and new freshman. Indiana opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Ohio State. College football will have another open transfer portal period in late April. This page will be pinned to the IU football menu for future updates and reference. QUARTERBACKS Leaving: Jack Tuttle (transfer — Michigan), Connor Bazelak (transfer — Bowling Green), Grant Gremel (transfer — Saint Francis) Key Returning: Dexter Williams II (junior), Brendan Sorsby (redshirt freshman) Incoming: Broc Lowry (3-star, Canfield, Ohio), Tayven Jackson (transfer — Tennessee) WIDE RECEIVERS Leaving: D.J. Matthews Jr. (out of…

When it comes to Indiana football’s special teams, things will mostly remain the same, with one big question still looming. Let’s start with the constants. Jaylin Lucas was named an All-American for his kick returning prowess, and he’ll be back in that role this season. He took two kickoffs all the way back for touchdowns last season, and ranked fourth in the nation with 28.14 yards per return. His 53.7 kick return yards per game ranked sixth in the country. Lucas has also been working on punt returns this spring, so he may be the one to step into D.J.…

Indiana football’s defensive back room may have lost more experience this offseason than any other position group. IU saw four veteran starters graduate and leave the program in Tiawan Mullen, Jaylin Williams, Devon Matthews, and Bryant Fitzgerald. The group still struggled last season despite that experience, with one of the worst pass defenses in the country. So Indiana’s secondary, now, will be a mix of returning faces in bigger roles and transfer adds. The exception to that is redshirt fifth-year senior Noah Pierre, who started seven games for IU last year at husky. He’ll take over the leadership role in…

Indiana football’s quarterback competition is ongoing. Head coach Tom Allen talked about his passers after IU’s 10th spring practice on Tuesday, and he said redshirt freshmen Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson have both competed hard for the job. He said each has had good days and good stretches where they nudge ahead of the other, but he’s not close to calling the race. “I think it’s back and forth,” Allen said. “They’re both obviously young, both learning, they’re both making plays. It’s a process you go through, without question. Not really ready to say who’s in the lead at this…

Note: We combined linebackers with outside linebackers for this piece. In terms of who’s coming and who’s going, Indiana’s linebackers are one of the more interesting position groups on the team. There aren’t a particularly high number of guys leaving. But the four who are leaving were all major pieces of IU’s defense in 2022. Cam Jones was the centerpiece of the defense when he was healthy, a true leader in the middle, but he’s out of eligibility. Lance Bryant tied for the team lead in sacks and finished second in tackles for loss, and he’s also out of eligibility.…

No position group on Indiana football’s roster may have seen more notable turnover this offseason than defensive line. With James Head Jr., Demarcus Elliott, JH Tevis, Sio Nofoagatoto’a and Beau Robbins all gone, IU lost its five primary linemen. So new faces will step into those spots this year. Of Indiana’s nine returning defensive linemen, only four recorded a tackle in 2022. The Hoosiers clearly set out to address this position group in the transfer portal by bringing in three players in senior Philip Blidi, redshirt sophomore Marcus Burris, and fifth-year senior Andre Carter. Carter was a second-team All-MAC selection…