Three IU football reserve defenders are no longer in the program.
Veterans quitting teams in the middle of the season with the intention of transferring has become a common occurrence in college football.
Why?
Players who see game play, typically as reserves or on special teams, choose to redshirt to preserve a season of eligibility.
As a reminder, college football regulations changed a few years ago, allowing players to take a redshirt season if they appeared in four or fewer games. For athletes who still retain their redshirt, a midseason journey to the gateway allows them to salvage a season and pursue a larger position elsewhere.
That appears to be why linebacker Nahji Logan, safety Tyrik McDaniel, and linebacker Joshua Rudolph are no longer listed on Indiana’s official roster at iuhoosiers. Logan and McDaniel played four games this season. Rudolph did not witness any action.
A source confirmed that all three are no longer with the program.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, McDaniel and Logan will use the transfer portal. Rudolph will probably do the same thing.
With the departures of Logan and Rudolph, Indiana’s depth at middle linebacker took a hit. To this point, starters Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker have seen the majority of the snaps. Isaiah Jones and freshman Rolijah Hardy appear to be the twos on the depth chart.
Logan transferred in from UMass in May. He appeared to have a good chance to factor into the rotation. He was named to the College Football Network All-Independent Defense Team (Second Team – LB) in 2023. Logan competed in all 12 games for the Minutemen in 2023, totaling a team-leading 60 tackles (30 solo, 30 assisted), four tackles for loss for 11 yards, 0.5 sack, one QB hurry and a pass breakup.
McDaniel transferred to IU from junior college before the 2023 season. In a reserve and special teams duty, he featured in all 12 games last year and four this year.
Rudolph transferred to IU from Austin Peay before the 2023 season. He played in all 12 games last season, recording 18 tackles.
Besides Fisher, Walker, Jones, and Hardy, IU boasts Kaiden Turner and Quentin Clark as scholarship middle linebackers. Walk-on Jeff Utzinger has also impressed the coaches.