Indiana University Football’s James Carpenter Named a Finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy The Burlsworth Trophy selection committee announced Indiana defensive lineman James Carpenter as one of three finalists for the 2024 award that honors the most outstanding football player in America that began his career as a walk-on. This marks the second-straight year that Carpenter has been selected a finalist, as he was one of three to travel to Bentonville, Arkansas, for the banquet in 2023 while at James Madison. Carpenter has started all 10 games with 431 snaps played on the defensive interior. He owns 25 tackles on the season with 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. The interior rusher ranks No. 2 on team in tackles for loss and sacks with at least 0.5 TFL in six of 10 games. All four of his sacks are solo and he is the No. 6-ranked pass rusher among defensive interior linemen in FBS (min. 400 snaps). While Indiana doesn’t have season-long captains, Carpenter has served as game captain in all 10 games of 2024. The Roanoke, Virginia, native has logged at least three tackles in eight of 10 games this season with three multi-TFL games and a multi-sack effort against Maryland.
Carpenter joins Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher and Buffalo linebacker Shaun Dolac as finalists for the award, which will be presented on Dec. 9, 2024, at 8:00pm EST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. The trophy’s namesake, Brandon Burlsworth, arrived on the Arkansas campus in 1994, with no money, no famous last name, and absolutely no Division 1 scholarship offers. Through his unbelievable work ethic and ceaseless determination, Brandon not only earned a scholarship, but became team captain, All-SEC 1997-1998, First Team All-SEC 1998, Football News First Team All-American in 1998, and the first All-American from the University of Arkansas in a decade. His success was not limited to the gridiron. He was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 1995-1998, and was the first football player in the entire history of his university to earn a Masters degree “before” playing his last game.
Brandon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. After minicamp, he was projected by his coaches to start as a rookie. Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in a head-on automobile collision just 11 days after the draft. In 1999, the University of Arkansas created a scholarship endowment in Brandon’s name. Eighteen $5,000 academic scholarships, and one $10,000 Walk-On athletic scholarship are given out each year. The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation is also engaged in various charitable endeavors including the provision of free eye-care to thousands of underprivileged children. In 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy was created to honor the achievements and successes of the Walk-On athlete. It is presented annually to the Most Outstanding player who began his career as a Walk-On. For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.
Indiana University Women’s Soccer earns Six CSC Academic All-District accolades Indiana women’s soccer had six student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, the organization announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Sydney Masur | Midfielder | Sr.-Masur is a three-time All-district nominee. She played in all 17 matches for the Hoosiers this season with 1360 minutes on the pitch. The Montclair, N.J., native totaled two assists on the year and had 14 shots. In addition, Masur is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished scholar. She will graduate with a degree in Finance from IU’s Kelley School of Business this spring.
Camille Hamm | Defender | Sr.-In her final season, Hamm earned her first Academic All-District honors for work in the classroom and on the pitch. She played in 17 matches this season in the backline. She earned a point on one assist tis season and tallied 12 shots with four shutouts this year. Hamm is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Hamm will graduate this spring with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Avery Snead | Defender | Gr.-A graduate transfer from Wrentham, Mass., Snead earned her a spot on the All-District list. She played in 16 matches for the Hoosiers and tallied nine points this season. Snead scored three goals and three assists for nine points. She played 1275 minutes in the backline contributing to four shutouts this season. Snead will complete a certificate in Business Management in the spring.
Olivia Rush | Midfielder | Jr.-Rush was named to the list for the second year in a row. She played in 17 matches in the midfield with 1160 minutes. Rush netted two goals and held a .429 shots on goal percentage. She was recognized as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Rush is pursuing a degree in Sport Marketing and Management.
Elle Britt | Midfielder | So.-Britt totaled seven points this season on three goals and one assist. She played in 17 matches with 892 minutes. Britt led the team with 39 shots and held a .410 shots on goal percentage. Britt earned their first Academic All-District award and is pursuing a degree in Human Biology.
Piper Coffield | Defender | So.-Coffield aided the Hoosiers to four shutouts this season with 1318 minutes played in the backline. She scored two goals, converting on two penalty kick opportunities. She also added one assist for five points on the season. Coffield earned their first Academic All-District award and is working towards a degree in Finance.
A full list of the CSC Academic All-District Honorees can be found HERE.
Indiana University Wrestling Signs Five for the Class of 2025 Indiana Wrestling head coach Angel Escobedo announced the program’s 2025 signing class last Friday. Indiana signed five prospects today, including Jackson Blum, Gavin Jendreas, Matt Kowalski, Hunter Sturgill and Carson Thomas. The class features wrestlers from four different states, including one in-state Hoosier, two from Ohio, one from Michigan and one from Tennessee.
Jackson Blum | 125/133 lbs. | Lowell, Mich. – Wrestles for Lowell High School. High school coach is RJ Boudro. Wrestles club for Premier Wrestling Club. Has eclipsed 100 high school wins. Three-time individual state champion and part of three team state championships. Two-time Fargo All-American. All-American at Super 32. U17 All-American. Intended Major: Sports Media. Why IU: “I picked IU because of the culture. From the campus, the team, and the coaches there is no other place like it. It is truly a place where I feel that I can be myself and continue to become the best version of myself. Once you come here, you realize that it’s a special place and there is nowhere else I would want to be.”
Gavin Jendreas | 125 lbs. | Crown Point, Ind.- Wrestles at Crown Point High School. High school coaches are Brandon Lorek and Bill Hawkins. Wrestles club for Region Wrestling Academy. Got 4th place at Junior Nationals. Fargo All-American. Was part of two state championship teams with Crown Point and has won three dual state championships. Will be joining three high school teammates at IU. Intended Major: Finance. Why IU: “I picked IU because I felt like there was no other environment that could help me excel quite like the one at Indiana University.”
Matt Kowalski | 197 lbs. | Springboro, Ohio- Wrestles at Springboro High School. High school coaches are Fred Boulton and Doug Kowalski. Club team is SAW. Has a high school record of 127-30 with 85 pins. Won 2024 D1 All-Area Wrestler of the Year and was Springboro’s 2024 Male Athlete of the Year. 2024 Ohio D1 State Champion and 2022 Ohio Freestyle state champion. Three-time Ohio state qualifier and two-time Ohio State placer. Placed at Ironman. Was part of 2022 Ohio Freestyle National Team Champions. Intended Major: Criminal Justice. Why IU: “After my first practice I could see myself grinding there for the next 5 years. Coaches and teammates were like family.”
Hunter Sturgill | 149 lbs. | Maryville, Tenn.- Wrestles at The Baylor School. High school coaches are Rex Kendle, Joe Blackwell and Andrew Wrestles. Wrestles club for Baylor Wrestling Club. Three-time Tennessee state champion. Two-time Fargo All-American. Intended Major: Biology. Why IU: “The prospect of creating the next great Indiana Wrestling dynasty was nothing short of exciting. Being a part of something so awesome was really hard to turn away from.”
Carson Thomas | 184/197 lbs. | Ross, Ohio- Wrestles for La Salle High School. Club team is Spatola. 2024 Ohio state champion and a 2023 Ohio state runner-up. Got 3rd place at Fargo in 2024 and 4th place in 2023. 2024 Super 32 Champion. Got 3rd place at 2024 Escape the Rock. Has eclipsed 100 high school wins and was the GCL Wrestler of the Year as both a sophomore and junior. His high school team has never lost in the GCL in his time there and has two top-six finishes at state. Intended Major: Business. Why IU: “It’s a team that feels like family.”
Indiana University Men’s Tennis Signs Aryan Badlani for the Class of 2025 Indiana Men’s Tennis head coach Jeremy Wurtzman has announced the singing of Adryan Badlani to the team. Badlani, a native of Roslyn Heights, New York, is a five-star recruit and the No. 34 overall prospect in the class of 2025 according to Tennis Recruiting Network. He also ranks No. 5 in the state of New York and No. 7 in the Middle Atlantic region for the 2025 class. In the UTSA’s rankings, he is slated at No. 126. Badlani will join the Hoosiers when he arrives in Bloomington in the fall of 2025.
Notre Dame and the University of Texas announce Home and Home Football Series “The Eyes of Texas” will return to Notre Dame Stadium before this decade ends. Notre Dame football has added a two-game series with the University of Texas in 2028 and 2029, the schools announced Tuesday. Texas will visit South Bend on Sept. 9, 2028, and the Irish will return the favor with a game in Austin on Sept. 22, 2029. Notre Dame is 9-3 all-time in the series, which dates to 1913 and a 30-7 Notre Dame win on the road. Both teams have been ranked in seven previous meetings. In the most recent meeting, Texas handed Notre Dame a 50-47 loss in double overtime in the 2016 season opener. That game was played in Austin. Notre Dame and Texas met in back-to-back years in the Cotton Bowl after the 1969 and 1970 seasons. The teams split those matchups, which ended a 45-year avoidance of bowls on Notre Dame’s part The fifth-ranked Irish upset the top-ranked Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl after the 1977 season; the 38-10 winning margin, combined with other upsets, was enough to vault the Irish to the national championship. Texas, 9-1 and ranked third in the US LBM Coaches Poll, moved from the Big 12 into the Southeastern Conference for this football season. Notre Dame is 49-26 all-time against SEC foes, including a 23-13 win at Texas A&M to open this season. Notre Dame also beat South Carolina in the 2022 Gator Bowl.
Indiana Pacers drop a road game in Canada to the Toronto Raptors RJ Barrett scored a season-high 39 points, Jakob Poeltl had 30 points and 15 rebounds for his third straight double-double and the Toronto Raptors snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Indiana Pacers 130-119 on Monday night. Toronto came in with the NBA’s worst record at 2-12 and won for the first time since beating Sacramento in overtime on Nov. 2. Barrett shot 13 for 21, going 4 for 8 from 3-point range and making 9 of 12 at the free throw line. He finished with nine rebounds. Gradey Dick scored 15 points for Toronto. Ochai Agbaji and Davion Mitchell each had 11 and all five Raptors starters scored in double figures. Benedict Mathurin scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 10 rebounds against his former team as the Pacers lost for the third time in four games. Indiana’s Obi Toppin had nine of his 19 points in the final period. Tyrese Haliburton scored 16 points and T.J. McConnell added 10. Pacers center Myles Turner sat out because of a sore right calf. Turner scored a season-high 34 points in Sunday’s home win over Miami. Tyrese Haliburton shot 5 for 18, missing nine or more field goal attempts for the fourth time in six games. He finished 2 for 9 from 3-point range. All three of Toronto’s wins have come at home. They’re 0-8 on the road. Mathurin’s layup with 6:47 left in the fourth cut the gap to 106-99. After a Toronto timeout, Barrett scored three points as the Raptors used a 5-0 run to restore a double-digit advantage. Toronto won despite 23 turnovers leading to 24 points for Indiana. The Raptors had 10 turnovers in the third. Indiana visits Houston this evening while Toronto hosts Minnesota on Thursday.