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Indiana Defensive Lineman Nick James Enters Transfer Portal

Nick James was a prized recruit in Tom Allen's 2022 recruiting class, picking Indiana over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and others, but he entered the transfer portal on Monday.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana defensive lineman Nick James announced his decision to enter the transfer portal Monday on social media. He has three years of remaining eligibility. 

Regardless of who Indiana hires as its next head coach, James will likely be a priority to keep in Bloomington. But if James decides to stay in the portal and head to a new school, this would be a big loss for the Hoosiers.

James was a prized recruit in Tom Allen's 2022 class. He was ranked as a four-star recruit, No. 307 in the nation and No. 39 among defensive linemen, according to the 247 Sports Composite. James picked Indiana over offers from top programs like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and plenty of other Power 5 schools.

James, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive lineman, played four games while maintaining redshirt status during the 2022 season. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he appeared in all 12 games.

Indiana had a transfer-heavy defensive line in 2023, and that could be the case again in 2024. 

  • IU FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Welcome to our Indiana football transfer portal tracker, where we'll keep an updated list of all of the outgoing and incoming transfers following the 2023 season and heading into the 2024 season with a new coaching staff. CLICK HERE
  • COACHING CANDIDATES: Here are nine names that, due to their head coaching background, would make sense to become the next head coach of the Indiana football program. CLICK HERE
  • HOWLAND ENTERS PORTAL: Trent Howland led Indiana in rushing yards during the 2023 season, but he entered the transfer portal on Monday. CLICK HERE