Indiana University Football’s Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt progressing closer to 11-on-11 Indiana football’s two major roster additions during fall camp are already getting closer to practicing at full capacity. Defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt rejoined the Hoosiers with an additional year of eligibility following recent court rulings. Both players saw their 2025 seasons end prematurely due to knee injuries — Wyatt went down in October, while Daley got hurt celebrating IU’s Big Ten Championship game win in early December. IU head coach Curt Cignetti reiterated on Monday that the program isn’t rushing either player along, but he said both are progressing closer to full strength. “I think Daley will be ready to take some 11-on-11 reps next week, with Wyatt a little bit behind him,” Cignetti said. “Both of them were really good players for us. Kellan Wyatt was playing really good football when he got hurt, and Stephen Daley really emerged, big time. So it gives those guys an opportunity to finish what they started. They didn’t get that opportunity last year because of injury. And it makes us a better football team.”
Indiana already had promising depth along the defensive line before Daley and Wyatt rejoined the program. Daniel Ndukwe played really well during the College Football Playoff after Daley’s injury, and IU brought in Josh Burnham from Notre Dame along with Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsami from Kansas State on the ends. Tyrique Tucker, Mario Landino, and Tulsa transfer Joe Hjelle should keep the interior defensive line locked down. Cignetti expressed confidence in defensive coordinator Bryant Haines to figure out the best way to make use of all those bodies. “One (Daley) is an end, and one (Wyatt) is a stud. I let Bryant handle the defense, because I got a pretty good idea of what he’s thinking,” Cignetti said. “Wyatt could possibly have some linebacker versatility in our trio package, which we play against 12 personnel.”
‘Confidence and Belief’ — Clutch-Catch Charlie Becker Ready for More Clouds are nowhere in sight above Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium. Eighty-degree temperatures are building into the 90s, humidity has a Florida feel and Charlie Becker lines up for pass drills no longer a sub, but a star. On one play, the junior receiver dives for an over-the middle catch from a Josh Hoover pass. In another, he goes deep as Hoover completes a short pass. In another, he runs across the middle for a catch, jogging back to the sidelines while joking with a defensive coach that a defensive back had jumped offsides trying to slow him down. Then comes No. 1 offense-against-No. 1-defense action. Becker blocks safety Preston Zachman on one running play, cornerback A.J. Harris on another. The Harris block helps free running back Khobie Martin for a down-the-sideline explosive play.
In offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan’s dynamic attack, receivers had better block as well as catch and the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Becker checks all the boxes, which is what you’d expect from one of the best receivers in America. While it’s early in camp as the Hoosiers seek a repeat of last season’s national title run, potential is obvious for Becker and the team. As head coach Curt Cignetti puts it, Becker is playing with “more confidence and belief.” Why not?
Last season showed the college football world Becker’s clutch-catch knack. His late-season dominance was a revelation to those outside the program, but not to the Hoosiers, who had seen him thrive in practice, thrive on special teams as a freshman, then thrive in limited receiving doses as a sophomore — just seven catches for 157 yards and one touchdown in the first nine games — until veteran Elijah Sarratt’s injury created opportunity Becker ruthlessly exploited. Once a three-star high school prospect out of Tennessee with the speed and athleticism to win state track titles in the 110-meter high hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the 1,600-meter relay, Becker had at least four catches for at least 65 yards in four of the last seven games, finishing with 34 catches for 679 yards and four TDs. He had 126 receiving yards on six catches against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game, and a 53-yard catch at Penn State while totaling seven receptions for 118 yards.
He also found time for seven special teams tackles, which ranked second in the Big Ten. “Maybe the biggest change (this season) is how we look at him,” Cignetti says. “(Last year) he was just a guy and he had an opportunity. He was a special team’s demon for us in ’24. Then, when he got in the games, he took advantage of his opportunities. “When Elijah got hurt, (Becker) was our leading receiver in seven of the last eight games. He had a great summer, too.” The result — high expectations that include Big Ten preseason honors along with teammates Rolijah Hardy at linebacker and Tyrique Tucker at defensive tackle. “As I get older and continue to grow and know more about the offense and get better at reading defenses,” Becker says, “I see how I improved. My confidence has gone up. I’m able to trust myself and what I’ve been taught.”
Becker insists his early lack of playing time was never a problem. He says Shanahan, who also coaches the receivers, ensures all the receivers are ready when opportunity comes. “Last year, I put in the work,” Becker says. “I’m happy that I was able to get that opportunity. “Coach Shanahan does such a great job of making sure that everyone in the receiving room knows what to do at every single position, so that when their numbers do get called, they’ll be able to make plays. I’m super thankful to Coach Shanahan for that.” That patience experience is a prime example for younger receivers to learn from. “To those younger guys,” Becker says, “I’d say just keep grinding, keep working. Eventually, your number will get called. Just keep it going.” Has success changed him? Becker says no. “I wouldn’t say my life has necessarily changed. I think I’ve always been the same person before or after football. I think I always will be the same person. “I’m extremely blessed that I’ve been put in this position. I just have to remember that.”
Elite receiver production demands elite pass-game chemistry with the quarterback. This season, that’s with Hoover, a transfer quarterback from TCU who brings plenty of experience and success with career totals of 9,629 passing yards (the most of any returning quarterback in the nation), 71 touchdowns, and a 65.2 completion percentage. “Josh is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” Becker says. “He texts me all the time, like every weekend and during weekdays. He’ll say, ‘Hey, do you want to work on this connection?’ He does that with all the receivers. We’re all out there doing spot catches, making sure our legs aren’t dead. “Josh really wants all of us to succeed. He wants to build those connections with all of us because you never know what could happen. That’s a testament to how hard a worker he is.”
Becker says it feels like yesterday that he was in the receiver room with veterans such as Sarratt, E.J. Williams Jr. and Omar Cooper Jr. learning the nuances of the position. Now, all are pursuing pro-opportunities while Becker helps set the team tone. “All those guys taught me how to become a leader,” he says. “I got bits and pieces from each of them. They were such great leaders. They taught me so much. I took that and put it into my own leadership to help out these younger guys and try to make them as good as they can be.” That’s crucial because the best teams, the championship teams, are player led. Last year’s Hoosiers proved that. “With learning from E.J., Coop, and Elijah,” Becker says, “I think my biggest improvement is the leadership aspect. That’s something that I’ve taken a pretty big step, and I’m nowhere close to being where I want to be in that aspect. I will continue to be a leader and continue to be a role model.”
As far as the receiver room, it’s been boosted by the addition of Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh (100 catches, 1,311 yards, nine touchdowns in two Spartan seasons) and the return of former Michigan receiver Tyler Morris, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Talented sophomores Lebron Bond and Davion Chandler show potential, as does senior Jackson Wasserstrom. There’s also plenty of receiving skill from running backs Turbo Richard, Khobie Martin, and Lee Beebe Jr. “Nick is a beast,” Becker says. “We got weapons all over now. With Turbo, Khobie, and Lee, our running backs, I mean, shoot, those guys are studs. Then there’s our O-line, who are just a bunch of dogs, ballers. And Josh is a beast at quarterback.
“I really like the look of our offense. Where do you see a hole? We’ve got a lot of receivers. We’ve got depth there. We’ve got some giant dogs all over the field. Bringing in Nick Marsh just adds another layer to that. He’s worked his butt off this off season. I can’t wait to see what he does on Saturdays.” As for Morris, a former four-star prospect who played 34 games with 14 starts for Michigan, Becker adds, “Even though Tyler got hurt last year, which was very unfortunate, he was with us the whole way. That’s what a leader is. “Things might not go your way, but you always have to keep the faith and be sure you’re able to know and teach and coach as much as you can, even though you know you’re not the one getting recognition for it. “That’s what Tyler did last year. He had a big role last year for all of us. He did a great job of making sure everyone would want to do and just helping out the younger guys, just like Elijah and E.J.”
‘Tremendous’ Upside — Trevor Manhertz Seeks to Play to his Potential Doubt? Of course there was some of that for Trevor Manhertz, a slender true first-year player facing grown men in Indiana basketball practices, veterans who are formidable in size and experience. Case in point — 7-foot-2, 290-pound Samet Yigitoglu and 6-foot-11, 255-pound Aiden Sherrell. “It’s hard going against them,” Manhertz says, “but they will prepare me for the season.” The 6-foot-8, 185-pounder from North Carolina is deep into preparations, first during summer practices, then during the Hoosiers’ 98-64 mid-July exhibition victory over Team Canada, and finally through the late-July FISU America Games in Peru. He brings a 7-foot wingspan, strong perimeter shooting, and a ceiling he isn’t close to reaching yet. The key, Manhertz says, is learning to “be yourself.”
“If you’re not, you won’t be confident in what you’re doing and you’ll question everything. If you be yourself, you can get the maximum out of this.”
Maximum comes in measured doses for an Indiana team rich in talent, depth, and potential. Consider this candid moment in the days leading up to the exhibition victory. Asked what’s the biggest thing he has to work on, and Manhertz says, “My confidence.” “Right now, it’s a new team. I’m getting to know everyone, but I’m not as confident as I was last year. Getting my confidence back up is the biggest thing. I’ll get there.” His exhibition performance was a big step in that direction — 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist in 22 minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers. In four games in Peru, he totaled 32 points, 19 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks while shooting 64.7% from the field and making 6-of-12 3-pointers.
Coach Darian DeVries praises Manhertz’s versatility and ability to guard multiple positions. He saw the potential during the recruitment process, and then more this summer. “Trevor is one of those guys, maybe on the first week you look at his size and think, well, he’s got to bulk up and stuff,” DeVries says. “Sure, he’s got to do that. But I tell you what, he sticks his nose in there. He’s got an incredible feel for the game for being such a young player. He understands where guys are going to be, the concepts of offense, the concepts of defense. “I think his upside is tremendous. I think you saw flashes of that (against Team Canada). That’s why we’re so excited about him and some of the things he’s been doing. He’s got great length. His skill set is really good. He’s just scratching the surface, which is awesome.”
Scratching will include gaining weight, strength and physicality. “I take what they give me — protein shakes, food, all of that,” Manhertz says. “It’s helped.”
So has Manhertz’s coaching receptiveness. “The coaches have been very helpful,” he says. “They tell me to shoot; they tell me when I make a good play, and when I make a bad play; they tell me to do it again and make the right read out of it. They’re encouraging me to always do the right things. That always helps.” Asked to describe his game, and Manhertz says, “I’m a shot maker. My ability to make the right play on the offensive side is really good. So is my passing. On defense, it’s my off-ball defense.”
Through it all, Manhertz works to adapt to college conditioning and physicality. “That was expected,” he says. When it comes to advice and leadership, Manhertz looks to second-year forward Trent Sisley (the only returning Hoosier player) and fourth-year point guard Markus Burton (the heralded Notre Dame transfer). “When I was here before we started working out (as a team), if I did something wrong, Trent would let me know. We built a good connection. We’re in the same position group and he’s always helping me do the right things. I just follow him.”
Manhertz says he rooms with fellow first-year players Prince-Alexander Moody and Vaughn Karvala. “We go out to dinner every night. It’s been fun. Prince is an all-around player. So is Vaughn. We complement each other well.” The overall summer goal was to build chemistry. Manhertz says it’s “gone really well.” We’ve gotten a lot of good connections.” Manhertz comes from an athletic family. His father, Joe, played basketball for Colgate and is now senior associate athletic director for development at VCU. His mother, Alexis, played volleyball for Georgia Southern and works at Duke.
A year ago, Manhertz was considered a mid-major prospect drawing interest from schools such as UNC Asheville, Charlotte, Boston, and Northeastern. A strong summer showing and an impressive high school season in Cary, North Carolina (averaging 18.8 points while shooting 42 percent on 3-pointers) had recruiting services elevate him to top-35 national status in the class of 2027. Major college programs began calling. He decided to switch to the Class of 2026. Manhertz says IU assistant coach Rod Clark was instrumental in his choosing the Hoosiers over programs such as Duke and Louisville. He signed in April. “Coach Clark didn’t just recruit me as an athlete and a player, but as a person,” Manhertz says. “All the coaches believed in me. They saw my potential.”
That included DeVries. “You can tell he’s very invested in the team,” Manhertz says. “He wants us to be good. He makes sure we do everything right and don’t cut corners. That’s been very beneficial.” As for his role this season, Manhertz says, “I want to contribute any way I can and help us win games.”
Report highlights increased athletics donations, university applications as Indiana University Football Soars The tangible benefits of elite college football are being felt in Bloomington. According to a report by Scott Dochterman of the Athletic, donations designated for IU Athletics have doubled year-over-year from $25 million to $50 million for the year ended June 30, 2026. The phenomenon of rapidly expanding student interest in a school in connection with major sports success has been measured in the past, and IU is experiencing that as well. The Athletic reports applications have grown by more than 9.3 percent each of the last two years. More operational revenue has also come in the doors.
According to records obtained by The South-Central Indiana News Network, football program revenues swelled by more than $17 million when comparing 2024-25 to the prior year and excluding one-time events. Another substantial boost is expected when reports for the year just ended, which includes the national championship run, are released. Indiana announced season tickets for the 2026 season were completely sold-out months ago. They appear likely to announce a complete season sell out very soon as just a handful of single game tickets remain.
Of course, all of this growth coincides with the hire of Curt Cignetti in late 2023. And the IU head coach regularly cites the support of the duo that hired him — AD Scott Dolson and President Pam Whitten — for providing the support necessary to operate a successful Power 4 college football program. Substantial support started with the hire of Cignetti, when Dolson sought $26 million from Whitten and IU to make a change of leadership and pay various contract buy-outs. Dolson had already been empowered to think bigger when it came to the long-suffering football program. “We can’t treat it like an intramural sport anymore,” was Whitten’s directive to Dolson when she was hired by Indiana. The results have been staggering.
In The Athletics’ attempt to estimate values for college football programs as if they were professional sports franchise, Indiana took the greatest jump among Power 4 programs this year with a $696 million valuation. That comes in at No. 22 overall, just behind Iowa and ninth among Big Ten programs. That same analysis value IU football at $386 million the year prior. Indiana still lags at least in part because of its relatively small stadium, something Cignetti has said will be addressed, but takes time and resources. He has everything on the right track to get that done.
Indiana Fever take down the New York Liberty 106-92 led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 28 points Led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 28 points and Caitlin Clark’s 22 points, the Indiana Fever took down the New York Liberty 106-92 on Tuesday inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana has now won two straight games and are 21-12 on the season. Mitchell, a ninth-year Fever guard, extended a WNBA record she set after Saturday’s win over the Chicago Sky. Mitchell’s 28 points in Tuesday’s win marked her 17th straight game of over 20 points, a record previously set by A’ja Wilson, who scored 20 or more points in 15 consecutive games. Mitchell has now recorded 48 consecutive double-digit scoring games. Clark’s 22-point, 10-assist double-double gives her the third-most in Indiana Fever history with 29 in her career. Clark is now behind Aliyah Boston (50) and Tamika Catchings (96) in just 86 games played. As a team, it’s the 15th time this year that the highest-powered offense in the WNBA has scored 100 or more points in a game. The Fever have now won seven of their last nine games and have scored 100 or more points seven times during the stretch. Indiana’s 2023 No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston also pitched in 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists along with three triples. The Fever have the fifth-best record in the WNBA and look ahead to hosting the Dallas Wings on Friday at 7:30 pm.
Indiana Fever Sign Center Mercedes Russell as a Season Ending Injury Exception The Indiana Fever have signed center Mercedes Russell, it was announced Monday. Russell joins the team as a season-ending injury exception following Damiris Dantas’ recent knee surgery. Russell was selected No. 22 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty. She played the 2018-24 seasons as a member of the Seattle Storm, winning the 2018 and 2020 WNBA Championships, the latter with current Fever team advisor Gary Kloppenberg as head coach. Last season, the 6-6 center played 20 games as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks. The Springfield, Ore. native has featured for numerous teams overseas, including winning the 2024 WNBL Championship with Australia’s Southside Flyers, which also saw her named Grand Final MVP after averaging 14.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the series. She will wear No. 5 for the Fever.
The Indianapolis Colts Sign Wide Receiver D.J. Montgomery and Waive Wide Receiver Liam Clifford The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent wide receiver D.J. Montgomery and waived wide receiver Liam Clifford. Montgomery, 6-1, 201 pounds, has played in 10 career games and has registered six receptions for 92 yards (15.3 avg.) and one touchdown in his time with the Colts (2022-25), Houston Texans (2022), New York Jets (2020-22) and Cleveland Browns (2019-20). He has also tallied one special team’s tackle. In 2025, Montgomery spent the entire season on Indianapolis’ Injured Reserve list. Clifford, 6-1, 200 pounds, was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent on July 30, 2026. Collegiately, he played in 52 career games (15 starts) at Penn State (2021-25) and compiled 42 receptions for 530 yards (12.6 avg.) and one touchdown. Clifford also registered three carries for 16 yards (5.3 avg.) and had one touchdown on a blocked punt.