Incoming Transfers Carter, Mangum-Farrar Add Versatility to Indiana Defense

Western Michigan defensive lineman transfer Andre Carter and Stanford linebacker transfer Jacob Mangum-Farrar are adjusting to new and versatile defensive roles ahead of the 2023 season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana's defense is getting a makeover with the help of transfers Andre Carter and Jacob Mangum-Farrar.

Indiana allowed a Big Ten-high 33.9 points per game in 2022, contributing to its 4-8 record and sixth-place finish in the East Division. 

Coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers have turned the page to spring ball, where Western Michigan defensive lineman transfer Carter and Stanford linebacker transfer Mangum-Farrar are adjusting to a new-look Indiana team hoping to change the narrative in 2023.

"I'm loving how every day we're coming to attack, coming to swarm, be better than the next day," Carter said. "We're never satisfied with the day we had, so we're always trying to come more takeovers, more sacks, more [tackles for loss], more fumble recoveries. I love the edge we're coming to practice with."

Carter, a 6-foot-5 sixth-year senior from Detroit, Mich., is coming off the best statistical season of his career, totaling 68 tackles, a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks on his way to second-team All-Mid American Conference honors in 2022.

Moving from the MAC to the Big Ten, Carter has noticed a few major differences.

"The backs are a lot faster than what I thought they would be," Carter said. "The type of plays that we run are a lot more stretched out, so it's a pretty big difference than what I come from as far as reading things, so I've actually got to play a lot faster and make sure my stance is a lot more getting off the ball type of a stance."

Western Michigan defensive lineman Andre Carter (5) tackles Nevada running back Toa Taua (35) during first half action of the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at Ford Field :: © Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

As a Hoosier, Carter has been tasked with being a versatile force in spring ball. Joining the defense, he said his teammates have made it a lot easier for him to grasp the new techniques.

"I put on like 40 pounds since I've been playing defensive end these past two years," Carter said. "So I'm like around 280 right now, and I thought I would just be playing a lot of edge, but I'm playing everywhere up and down the line."

Carter is one of four defensive line transfers this season, alongside Carl Biddings from Louisville, Marcus Burris Jr. from Texas A&M and Philip Blidi from Texas Tech.

"We do have a lot of transfers on the D-line and just the defense in general," Carter said. "It's been amazing. The guys have been very welcoming, making me feel at home, a part of the brotherhood, and that's just been making everything like 10 times easier with learning the plays, going through the playbook and things of that nature."

In the linebackers room is Mangum-Farrar, who started seven games at linebacker for Stanford last season. As a senior, the 6-foot-4 Sugar Land, Texas native ranked No. 6 on the team with 44 total tackles. He chose Indiana because of the genuine attitude of Allen and the coaching staff. 

There was an interesting connection, too, as his high school linebacker coach was once coached by former Indiana wide receivers coach Adam Henry at McNeese State. Mangum-Farrar felt it was a sign to become a Hoosier.

Oct 8, 2022; Stanford, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Tre'Shaun Harrison (0) carries the ball while being tackled by Stanford Cardinal linebacker Jacob Mangum-Farrar (14) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium / © Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Since arriving at Indiana, Mangum-Farrar is being tasked with more responsibility, similar to Carter. He didn't necessarily know this would be the case when he chose Indiana, but he's up for the challenge.

Mangum-Farrar is getting more opportunities to rush the passer, something he didn't do often at Stanford. As an inside linebacker, he mostly covered the tight end or running back, but since putting on weight, he can now play on the edge a bit, he said.

"Lining up at different positions allows me to be versatile and make myself like broaden my horizons," Mangum-Farrar said. "Which I'm welcoming, because at Stanford I had a couple different positions, but nothing like this. More responsibility, I love it. It just allows me to make more plays and just up my game."

The pair of transfers have both felt the push to do more as they're surrounded by players who want to work harder to have a better season. In his sixth and final season of college football, Carter is shifting to a leadership role by hanging out with the younger players and taking them to dinner. 

Carter said both the offensive and defensive lines have motivated him to catch on to new plays quickly. It's all thanks to relationships he's quickly developed with his teammates in the short time since transferring to Indiana.

"Myles Jackson, Lanell Carr, they come to work every day, Carter said. "And we constantly compete for sacks, so it's just like lions going after the gazelle every day in practice. I'm trying to get more, they're trying to get more and we all work with each other. We critique each other on our technique, hand and eye placement and things like that."

Mangum-Farrar said he likes Indiana's defensive scheme because it allows the linebackers to play free and instinctual. He admires the competitiveness of his new teammates, as well as the passionate coaching style from Chad Wilt, Indiana's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, and Kasey Teegardin, special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

"A lot of these guys are just like super competitive," Mangum-Farrar said. "Which is what we need to be a championship team and strive to get better every day because if the guy next to me goes 10 times hard as me, I need to pick up my pace."

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