Indiana Hoosiers Defensive Players To Watch Vs. Ohio State
The Indiana Hoosiers defense will have its work cut out against the Ohio State Buckeyes in their week 1 opener.
Ohio State's offense was one of the best in the country last season, ranking ninth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense and second in points per game.
The Buckeyes will head to Bloomington, Indiana, without C.J. Stroud under center, as both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown will have a bevy of weapons to throw to with arguably the deepest wide receiver room in the country. The last time a new starting quarterback was under center in a road conference game, the Buckeyes escaped Minnesota with a 45-31 win.
The Hoosiers will look to get a good pass rush and hope they hit on a few defensive transfers when they play the Buckeyes Sept. 2.
LB Aaron Casey
Indiana linebacker Dasan McCullough, the Hoosiers' highest-rated recruit ever according to 247Sports, transferred to Oklahoma this offseason. He had 49 tackles and 6.5 for loss, while tying for the team high with four sacks in 2022.
Though the Hoosiers are not returning most of its best tacklers, linebacker Aaron Casey, who led them with 86 tackles last season, will be back for 2023.
His 10.5 tackles for loss were tied for the 11th most in the Big Ten last season.
DE Andre Carter
While Indiana was gutted by the transfer portal, it was active in getting some returns with quality, experienced players.
The top player the Hoosiers are bringing in from the portal is defensive end Andre Carter from Western Michigan who garnered buzz in spring ball.
Carter hit his stride in his redshirt junior year in 2022. He logged a career-high 68 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and seven sacks — the latter two of which ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference — intercepting one pass, defending three passes and forcing two fumbles.
He finished his five-year career with the Broncos, racking up 132 tackles, 28 for loss and 12.5 sacks.
A good pass rush would be a good start in preventing McCord and Brown from getting into a rhythm in the season opener.
CB Jamier Johnson
Another potential impact transfer, former Texas cornerback Jamier Johnson, will look to come to Bloomington and start from day one.
Indiana lost both of its starting cornerbacks in Tiawan Mullen and Jaylin Williams to the NFL in the offseason, but Johnson is one of two corners head coach Tom Allen brought in for 2023.
The former four-star top-25 cornerback in the class of 2021 didn't get much playing time on defense in Austin, TX., recording seven tackles and one pass breakup in 17 games across the last two seasons.
The Hoosiers will need a physical No. 1 cornerback to be a part of their double team to try and slow down Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
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