Notre Dame begins their journey to a National Championship at home in primetime on Friday Night against the tenth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. We preview the Hoosiers’ elite defense here:
Photo by The Irish Tribune
The 11-1 Hoosiers are ‘never daunted’ as they look to keep their dream season alive in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. The winner of this Friday’s matchup will have a date with the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. Here are the Hoosiers’ results this season:
vs Florida International (31-7, Win)
vs Western Illinois (77-3, Win)
at UCLA (42-13, Win)
vs Charlotte (52-14, Win)
vs Maryland (42-28, Win)
at Northwestern (41-24, Win)
vs Nebraska (56-7, Win)
vs Washington (31-17, Win)
at Michigan State (47-10, Win)
vs Michigan (20-15, Win)
at Ohio State (38-15, Loss)
vs Purdue (66-0, Win)
Indiana’s total defense ranks among the best in the country. Their 244.8 total yards per game allowed are the second-fewest in the nation and their 14.67 points per game allowed are the second-fewest in the Big Ten and the sixth-fewest among all FBS teams. The Hoosiers are capable against both the pass and rush and have been great in late-down scenarios.
On third downs, the Hoosiers defense is allowing opponents to convert just 31% of their attempts, the lowest percentage in the Big Ten and eighth-lowest in the country. Notre Dame’s offense will need to step up on Friday in these situations, as they rank 87th in third-down offense, converting just 38.3% of their attempts. It goes without saying, but if the Irish can not move the chains, they will be in for a long night.
Similarly, the Hoosiers have been elite on fourth downs, allowing opponents to convert just 31.2% of their attempts, the second-lowest percentage among all FBS teams. The Irish offense has had success on fourth downs this season, converting 76% of their attempts. This will be a matchup to watch if a fourth-and-short situation arises.
Indiana has been great against the pass this season. Their 174 passing yards per game allowed are the third-fewest in the Big Ten and ninth-fewest in the country. Additionally, their 9.28 yards per completion allowed are the second-fewest in the FBS. Also, the Hoosiers’ 14 interceptions are the third-most in the Big Ten and tied for 18th in the nation. Opposing passers are averaging a 111.07 passing efficiency, fifth-lowest in the conference and 12th-lowest among all FBS teams. They have been able to disrupt opposing passers as their 2.83 sacks per game are the third-most in the Big Ten and tied for 21st-most in the country. Here are the key players in Indiana’s secondary:
The star of the Hoosiers secondary is First Team All-Big Ten sophomore cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Last season, the James Madison transfer recorded 51 tackles, 13 passes defended, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in 13 games played. Ponds earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors as his 13 passes defended were the tenth-most among all FBS defenders. Following this campaign, he transferred to Indiana with Head Coach Curt Cignetti. As a Hoosier, Ponds has totaled 53 tackles including five for a loss, nine passes defended, and two interceptions, both of which occurred versus Washington including a 67-yard pick-six. He has at least one tackle in each game, including six games with five or more. He had a season-high ten tackles versus Maryland. Additionally, he has six games with a pass defended. Ponds has been great in coverage all season, having allowed 30 receptions for 226 yards and a touchdown on 55 targets. He is also a great tackler, with just four missed tackles on the year. Ponds is also efficient against the run for a corner. Despite being a bit undersized at 5’9 and 170 pounds, he is still among the most talented cornerbacks in the Big Ten. Irish quarterback Riley Leonard needs to avoid throwing in Ponds’ direction if he wants to have success on Friday.
Another starting cornerback for the Hoosiers is senior Shawn Asbury II. He started his career at Boston College before transferring to Old Dominion. At ODU, Asbury totaled 125 tackles including ten for a loss, six passes defended, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 23 games played the last two seasons. He was named an All-Sun Belt honorable mention last season, before transferring to Indiana this year. Asbury has recorded 62 tackles including four for a loss, three passes defended, one and a half sacks, and an interception as a Hoosier this season. He has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high of eight versus both Maryland and Washington. In my opinion, Asbury is a pretty average corner. He is solid in coverage, having allowed 20 receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown on 28 targets. However, he is a bad tackler with 15 this season, including at least one in nine games, and he does not have a big impact against the run.
Indiana’s featured slot corner is a redshirt senior, and another ODU transfer, Terry Jones Jr. In 36 games played across the last three seasons at ODU, he totaled 239 tackles including 13 for a loss, six passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. Last season, Jones was named an All-Sun Belt honorable mention after recording 107 tackles, the sixth-most in the conference. This year, he did not receive ample playing time until Nebraska week. However, he has shined on the field with 35 tackles, two passes defended, a sack, and a forced fumble. Jones recorded a season-high 6 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble versus Michigan. Overall, he is a well-rounded defensive back who excels in coverage, having allowed 9 receptions for 96 yards on 17 targets. He is a good tackler with just three misses this season and he has been reliable in stopping the run when called upon.
The Hoosiers defense has been able to stay relatively healthy all year, however, starting cornerback Jamier Johnson did miss their last contest versus Purdue with an undisclosed injury and there is no update on his status for Friday at this moment. Regardless, the redshirt junior and former Texas transfer was enjoying a breakout season. This year, he has recorded 34 tackles and an interception in 11 games played. He has at least one tackle in ten games, including a season-high of six at Northwestern. Johnson is a pretty average cornerback; he has been solid in coverage, having allowed 34 receptions for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 50 targets, but he has struggled with seven missed tackles and is a non-factor against the run. Johnson’s status will be one to keep an eye on before kickoff.
If Johnson can not go, expect to see a lot of redshirt sophomore Jamari Sharpe. Last season, he recorded 22 tackles, two passes defended, and an interception in 12 games played. This year, Sharpe has nine tackles, six passes defended, and a fumble recovery in eight games played. He had a season-high of five tackles and four passes defended versus Charlotte. Sharpe has been solid in his limited playing time. In coverage, he has allowed just four receptions for 24 yards on 17 targets. Additionally, he has no missed tackles and is a good run-stopper for a corner.
The final defensive back, and lone safety, to highlight is sophomore Amare Ferrell. He is amidst a breakout season with 42 tackles, four interceptions, and a sack. Ferrell’s four interceptions are tied for the second-most in the Big Ten and tied for 17th-most among all FBS defenders. He has at least one tackle in each game, including four games with six or more. Notably, two of his interceptions occurred at Michigan State. Ferrell is another solid defensive back who excels in coverage, having allowed 17 receptions for 140 yards on 26 targets, and is a good run-stopper. He has had his struggles with eight missed tackles this season.
Against the run, this Hoosiers' defense is, arguably, the best in the country. Their 70.8 rushing yards per game allowed are the fewest among all FBS teams, and they are the only school to have allowed less than 1,000 rushing yards in the regular season. Additionally, Indiana’s 7.2 tackles for loss per game lead the Big Ten and are tied for 16th-most in the country. Let’s preview the key players in this front seven:
The leader of this defense is redshirt junior edge rusher Mikail Kamara. He earned First Team All-Big Ten honors this season and is projected as a day three 2025 NFL Draft prospect. Kamara is another JMU transfer who recorded 67 tackles including 24 for a loss, 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two passes defended in 17 games with the Dukes. Following his 2023 All-Sun Belt Second Team campaign, he transferred to Indiana with Coach Cignetti. This season, the versatile edge who can line up on either side of the line, has 44 tackles including 15 for a loss, 10 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. Kamara’s 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks are both the second-most in the Big Ten and top-15 among FBS defenders. Additionally, his three fumble recoveries lead the conference and are tied for fifth-most in the country. He has at least one tackle in each game including a season-high of seven and 2.5 sacks at MSU. Kamara is a true game-wrecker who is elite as a pass rusher with 60 QB pressures recorded this season. He is also a good run-stopper and solid tackler, with five missed tackles on the season. Notre Dame’s pass protection will have their hands full trying to contain this star.
Indiana’s other featured edge rusher is senior Lanell Carr Jr. The former West Virginia transfer entered this season with 54 tackles including 14 for a loss, six sacks, and three passes defended in 24 games played over the last two years at WVU and IU. Like Kamara, Carr is also versatile and capable of lining up on either side of the line. This season, he has recorded 37 tackles including four for a loss and one and a half sacks. Carr has at least one tackle in 11 games, including a season-high of seven at OSU. Overall, he is a pretty average defender. Carr excels against the run and as a pass rusher, with 30 pressures this season, but his tackling could use some work with six misses this year, and he has struggled in coverage when needed, having allowed 12 receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns on just 14 targets.
The Hoosiers feature three solid inside linebackers including leading tackler and junior Aiden Fisher. Another JMU transfer, he came to IU after posting 108 tackles including six for a loss, seven passes defended, one and a half sacks, and an interception in 13 games played last season with the Dukes. He earned Third Team All-Sun Belt before transferring to IU with Coach Cignetti. This year, Fisher earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after totaling 108 tackles including four for a loss, four passes defended, and one and a half sacks. His 108 tackles are the third-most in the Big Ten and tied for 25th-most among all FBS defenders. He has at least four tackles in each game, including four games with 11 or more. Fisher recorded a season-high of 14 versus Michigan. In my opinion, his absurd amount of tackles is a bit misleading. Overall, Fisher is a fairly average linebacker; he is great against the run and is a solid tackler with 13 misses this season and a pass rusher with 13 QB pressures recorded on 52 pass rush snaps. However, he consistently struggles in coverage, having allowed 40 receptions for 381 yards and a touchdown on just 51 targets. The Irish offense will have to pick their spots with Fisher, but they should take advantage when he drops back into coverage.
The second interior linebacker to highlight is senior and JMU transfer Jailin Walker. The backer totaled 124 tackles including nine for a loss, nine passes defended, three interceptions including two pick-sixes, three forced fumbles, and two and a half sacks in 20 games played across two seasons at JMU. Walker was named an All-Sun Belt honorable mention in both 2022 and ‘23, before transferring to IU with Coach Cignetti. This season, Walker has generated late-round ‘25 NFL Draft buzz as he recorded 72 tackles including nine for a loss, eight passes defended, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He is another versatile key on this defense, as he is capable of playing slot corner in addition to his linebacker role. Walker has at least three tackles in each game, including a season-high of eight in four separate contests. Overall, Walker is a great defender who is elite in pass rush with 22 pressures recorded on 59 pass rush snaps. He has also been great against the run all year. His tackling, 12 misses this season, and coverage having allowed 34 receptions for 322 yards and a touchdown on 51 targets, could use some improvement. In my opinion, Walker is a bigger threat to the Irish offense than Fisher.
The third and final inside backer to key is freshman Rolijah Hardy. As an unranked recruit, the linebacker was planning on playing at Navy before Indiana offered this past May. Whoever discovered Hardy on IU’s staff deserves a raise as he has emerged as one of the best true freshman linebackers in the Big Ten. He has 18 tackles including five for a loss, two interceptions including a pick-six, two forced fumbles, and a sack in 10 games played. Hardy has at least one tackle in eight games, and his best performance of the season occurred versus WIU when he recorded two tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a 12-yard pick-six. He has been elite against the run all season and a good tackler with just one miss recorded. However, he is a non-factor in the pass rush and has been bad in coverage, allowing six receptions for 50 yards on just seven targets.
Up front, the Hoosiers rotate four different tackles including redshirt senior CJ West. The Kent State transfer totaled 109 tackles including 19 for a loss and seven sacks in 36 games played across three seasons with the Golden Flashes. He was named to the Third Team All-MAC last year, before transferring to IU. This season, West has garnered eyes from the NFL as a late-round ‘25 prospect as he has 36 tackles including six for a loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He has at least one tackle in 10 games, including a season-high of nine and a pass defended versus Michigan. West is a good interior lineman, who excels against the run. Also, he is a talented pass rusher with 21 quarterback pressures recorded this season. West has struggled with eight missed tackles, with six of them occurring in the last four contests.
Another featured defensive tackle is redshirt senior James Carpenter. The JMU transfer totaled 104 tackles including 20 for a loss, nine and a half sacks, seven passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and an interception in 24 games played with the Dukes. The 2022 and ‘23 Second Team All-Sun Belt honoree transferred to IU with Coach Cignetti before this season. Carpenter has recorded 30 tackles including 10 for a loss and four sacks, including at least two tackles in 10 games in his first year as a Hoosier. Overall, the redshirt senior is an average tackle; he is a good pass rusher with 34 pressures recorded and, a solid run-stopper, but a bad tackler with six misses this season.
The third tackle to highlight is another JMU transfer, redshirt sophomore Tyrique Tucker. Last season with the Dukes, he recorded 29 tackles including five for a loss and one and a half sacks in 13 games played. This year, Tucker has 24 tackles including five for a loss and two and a half sacks. He has at least one tackle in nine games including a season-high of four and one and a half sacks versus WIU. In his somewhat limited playing time, Tucker has been solid. He excels against the run and is an average pass rusher and tackler with 17 pressures recorded on 173 pass-rush snaps.
Finally, the last defensive player to keep an eye on is redshirt junior tackle Marcus Burris Jr. The former Texas A&M transfer recorded 20 tackles including three for a loss and a sack in 12 games played last season, his first as a Hoosier. Burris has had a tough second season this year at Indiana, totaling just 14 tackles and a sack. He has at least one tackle in nine games, including a season-high of three and a sack versus FIU. Burris has slowly seen his role reduced throughout the season, specifically in the last three contests where he has only received between eight and 15 snaps per game. He is a decent run-stopper, however, he has struggled as a pass rusher with just seven pressures recorded on 180 pass rush snaps. Additionally, his three missed tackles in limited playing time are not ideal.
Notre Dame’s offense will undoubtedly have their hands full trying to scheme against this elite Hoosiers defense. The matchup to watch will be how effective the Irish rushing attack can be against this top-ranked rushing defense. It is win or go home on Friday night, tune in for the primetime matchup at Notre Dame Stadium.
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