The core four
Justice Ellison – Senior+, 5’9 210 pounds
If anyone has stood out from the rest, maybe it’s Justice Ellison? Only three members of the team attended Big Ten Media Days with Curt Cignetti last month, and Ellison made it. Maybe that’s a sign of what’s to come, or maybe it’s all circumstantial. Only time will tell.
Ellison, now a transfer from Wake Forest, started 10 of 11 games last year and has 43 games of career experience. He finished the season second on the team in rushing yards (548) and attempts (120). He has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, adding 10 pass catches for 61 yards last year, but that isn’t the main part of his game. He was a solid member of the Demon Deacons and should be a player we see a lot this season.
Kaelon Black – Redshirt Junior, 5’10 210 pounds
Maybe Cignetti prefers someone he’s coached before? If so, one of those options in the running back room is Kaelon Black, a transfer from JMU who appeared in 27 games with 16 starts in four seasons with the Dukes. Last season, he appeared in every game and started 12, rushing for 637 yards on 142 carries and catching 24 passes for 254 yards. Black’s running effort led the team last season and also clearly showed the versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield and make plays in the passing game. Another interesting option for Cignetti and his staff.
Ty Son Lawton – Redshirt Senior+, 5’9 208 pounds
Curt Cignetti also has experience coaching Ty Son Lawton, who also came from James Madison. Cignetti has preached the importance of experience, and Lawton has it; he has already played six seasons of college football (five with Stony Brook, one with James Madison) as he enters his final year of eligibility. In those six seasons, Lawton has played in 39 games, 22 as a starter, totaling 2,660 yards on 583 carries and 26 touchdowns. Lawton finished second in rushing yards behind Black last season, but he surpassed him in rushing touchdowns.
Elijah Green – Redshirt Junior, 6’0 207 pounds
The last of what I’ve dubbed the Core Four is Elijah Green, another transfer, but this time from the University of North Carolina. Green spent four seasons with the Tar Heels and had his best year two seasons ago in 2022. He then finished the year appearing in all 14 games with five starts and led the team in rushing touchdowns (8). However, he saw a significant decline in his playing time and offensive productivity last season. He finished the year appearing in four games and carried the ball just four times for 12 yards. He comes to Indiana looking to make a fresh start and bring back the mojo he found earlier in his career.
Specialist/Gadget
Solomon Vanhorse – Graduate+, 5’8 185 pounds
The last James Madison transfer in the room may see himself primarily on special teams, although he could eventually be used as a specialist/gadget player out of the backfield. Solomon Vanhorse spent six seasons with the James Madison Dukes, but missed the majority of the last two due to injury. In 2021, he was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team as a kick returner. He has appeared in 37 games over the course of his career. He once made history when he became only the 39th player in FBS/FCS history to return a kickoff for a touchdown, score a rushing touchdown, and catch a receiving touchdown in the same game. While he will most likely be used primarily elsewhere on the field, he has the flexibility to still be used as a running back behind the core four.
Reserve/Redshirt Candidates
Daniel Weems – Redshirt sophomore, 5’9 197 pounds
Unless the above names are sidelined due to injury, we’ll likely see little action from the next two players. Daniel Weems began his career at Indiana Wesleyan in 2022 before transferring and eventually receiving a redshirt last season. He didn’t play in a game last year. The Center Grove High School product is the only returning scholarship player on the roster.
Khobe Martin – Freshman, 1.83 m, 93 kg
Khobe Martin, originally signed by Tom Allen and who stuck with the Hoosiers even after the coaching change, is entering his first season of college football. The Fishers High School product was a 3-star recruit who already has good size entering college football. Martin shows the muscle needed to weaken defenders and the agility to escape them. He didn’t come with many Power Four offers but dominated high school football. He will likely play four cleanup games this season and eventually redshirt and prepare for the future.
Extras
Kyler Kropp – Freshman
