Why Indiana? Incoming Transfers Explain Decisions to Join the Hoosiers

A large portion of the 2023 Indiana football roster consists of transfers, 32 of which joined the Hoosiers this offseason. Throughout press conferences in the spring and fall, we asked these transfers why they decided to play at Indiana.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana football roster went through a major overhaul this offseason.

A total of 23 players entered the transfer portal, and coach Tom Allen replaced them with 32 incoming transfers, both scholarship and walk-on players.

From a rankings perspective, various recruiting sites agree that Allen's work in the transfer portal was a success. The incoming class is ranked 13th in the nation by On3, 16th by Rivals and 19th by 247 Sports, each using different metrics to calculate their rankings. 

The transfers' production on game day is ultimately what matters most, of course, and a good portion of those new Hoosiers will get a chance to prove themselves in major roles in 2023.

Throughout spring practices and fall camp, we asked 13 transfers why they chose to play at Indiana. 

Here's what they said.

Philip Blidi, defensive lineman, Texas Tech

"The defense that Indiana runs is the defense that best fits me and that can utilize my skill set," Blidi said. "What is important outside of that is the coaches and how they really care about their players, how they really value relationships, too. Of course, you want to be somewhere that really cares about the players and really care about you outside of football. They are going to take care of you while you are here and outside [of football] when you have problems. They are coaches that are really there for you. From that aspect all of the coaches here really fit that, so that was really big for me."

To read more about Blidi and the defensive line, CLICK HERE.

Marcus Burris Jr., defensive lineman, Texas A&M

"I hopped in the portal some time in December, got in, got connected with coach Randolph and coach Allen," Burris said. "I jumped in and those guys showed me love from the start. Coach Randolph, I've heard a lot of good things about him. I know he's got a lot of experience under his belt. Even where I was at at A&M, he had a relationship with coach Price, RIP coach Price, and coach Price had told me good things about him. So I never doubted coming to Indiana. I know it's far from home, but I always kind of knew once they gave me that offer that this was going to be the spot."

To read more about Burris, CLICK HERE.

DeQuece Carter, wide receiver, Fordham

"Just proving myself," Carter said. "I love their schedule, the schedule we have. We're competing against one of the top, if not the best conferences in the country and that's something that I enjoy and see myself fitting into. And again, just coach Allen. We had a one-on-one meeting when I was getting recruited and he talked about all the things that I could do and what we could do for Indiana football. I trust him. I trust everybody here."

To read more about Carter and the Indiana wide receivers, CLICK HERE.

Andre Carter, defensive lineman, Western Michigan

"Honestly, what made this the place for me was just the trajectory that I could feel with the culture shift," Carter said. "When I came here on my visit, I could see that the guys in the locker room, and the staff, wants to get better and wants to compete for a Big Ten championship. That is the exact thing that I want to do myself. I want to compete at the highest level and compete for a Big Ten championship. With Coach Allen and this group of guys, I truly believe we can get it done."

To read about Carter being named to the Bednarik Award watch list, CLICK HERE.

Tayven Jackson, quarterback, Tennessee

"Me and Coach Allen's relationship has been five-plus years I think, but we have had a relationship forever," Jackson said. "Going in the portal and seeing the options, Indiana stuck out the most. That is because of Coach Allen's energy, the love that he has for the players, what he brings every single day, a loving culture. I have been here for a week in the locker room, on the field doing field work, and everybody loves each other. Everybody looks out for each other, and everybody wants everyone to succeed. There is no jealousy ... the culture is fantastic. That is what I thought it was going to be coming in, and it's exactly what I thought. That was a huge part in making the decision to come here. Obviously, it is home. It is 35 minutes away and my family doesn't have to drive a long way to see me. It just felt like the right choice. It was home and I kind of wanted to come back home."

To read about Jackson's long-term goals at Indiana, CLICK HERE.

Indiana's Tayven Jackson (2) takes the snap during the first day of fall camp for Indiana football at their practice facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jamier Johnson, cornerback, Texas

"I chose Indiana because the coaching staff here treated me like family. Coach Allen and coach Shelby welcomed me in with open arms. It was time for a new opportunity and new beginning.

Anthony Jones, outside linebacker, Oregon

"Just talking to the coaching staff and seeing their best interests in me as an individual off the field, not just on the field," Jones said. "But systematically, I think [Indiana's Bull position] allows me to play free, show a lot of different skillsets of mine, being able to drop back in coverage and then I'm also pass rushing. So I kind of get the best of both worlds."

To read more about Jones, CLICK HERE.

Max Longman, offensive lineman, UMass

"Being from Michigan, I wanted to come back home a little bit closer and play in front of my friends and family the last couple years," Longman said. "Also, I wanted to play in the Big Ten, the highest competition, going against them every day in practice. The Big Ten East, doesn't get much tougher than that on the schedule, so I wanted to come here and be a better football player and I felt that was the best opportunity for me."

To read more about Longman and the Indiana offensive line, CLICK HERE.

Jacob Mangum-Farrar, linebacker, Stanford

"First and foremost I really enjoyed meeting the coaching staff and how genuine they were," Mangum-Farrar said. "It was weird, I had a bunch of connections that I just felt like it was a sign. My high school linebacker coach was actually coached by the receivers coach that was here just before he left [Adam Henry] at McNeese, and I was like, 'Man, it's just a sign.' On top of that, they're producing really quality linebackers over the years."

To read more about Mangum-Farrar's role at Indiana, CLICK HERE.

Indiana's Jacob Mangum-Farrar (7) during fall camp for Indiana football at their practice facilities on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kobee Minor, cornerback, Texas Tech

"Coach Shelby, when I entered the transfer portal, coach Shelby he had called my phone and he was like, 'Hey man, you've got a real good opportunity to play here and play against the top talent day in, day out, every game throughout the season,'" Minor said. "So I just seen the opportunity and took it and ran with it."

To read more about Minor's experience at his new school, CLICK HERE.

Joshua Rudolph, linebacker, Austin Peay

"My decision to hop into the portal was basically just look for better opportunities to showcase my talent on the bigger stage," Rudolph said. "I chose Indiana because coach Allen was the first P5 coach to really like believe in me and tell me his plan for me, so I believed in that and that's why I chose to come here. He knew what type of player I was, and then knowing what I had to work on so he can create me to kind of like a better type of linebacker."

To read about Rudolph's impressive PFF grade, CLICK HERE.

Nic Toomer, cornerback, Stanford

"They had a lot of the same coaches from when [Indiana recruited me] in high school, so it was a pretty easy transition. They had a couple coaching changes, but for the most part, coach Shelby recruited me in high school, coach Allen recruited me in high school. I kind of knew what I was getting into when I stepped into the portal. I had instant contact with them. It always felt like home to me, so it was an easy transition for me."

E.J. Williams Jr., wide receiver, Clemson 

"Really what went into my decision getting into the portal, probably just trying to find a new fit for me," Williams said. "I played a good bit at Clemson, but I just didn't feel like I was getting enough targets, enough opportunities, so I just felt like Indiana was the best school for me, best fit culture wise and would give me the best opportunity to be the best on the field."

To read about Williams' efforts to revitalize his career at Indiana, CLICK HERE.

Indiana's E.J. Williams (7) runs after the catch during Indiana football's Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

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