IU wrapped up National Signing Day by taking care of business Wednesday and bringing in a few surprises as well to make it 21-member class.
IU went into Signing Day with 18 verbal commitments for the 2016 class. All 18 signed their letters of intent to play in Bloomington.
Then, IU signed Winchester, Indiana, running back Kiante Enis, a former Michigan commit, and Georgia defensive back Marcelino Ball to complete the class.
For expected signings, IU brought in three junior college players. Quarterback Richard Lagow and safety Jayme Thompson have been with the program since December. New York tight end Ian Thomas from Nassau Community College stuck with IU after a late push from Texas A&M.
Eighteen of IU’s 20 commits were 3-star commits, according to 247sports.
The highest rated of these was Akron, Ohio, athlete Jonah Morris. The program listed him as a receiver when it announced his signing. He is 6-foot-4, 196 pounds. He is joined at receiver by Florida native Phil Benker.
IU also gained another receiver, Taysir Mack, after he decommitted from Rutgers earlier Wednesday.
Lagow is the big name in the class at quarterback, but he only has two years of eligibility to use at IU. Cincinnati quarterback Peyton Ramsey is the 2016 class’s high school commit.
Ramsey is the son of Cincinnati Elder Coach Doug Ramsey. His father raves about Ramsey’s intangibles on the field.
The offensive line has become a calling card for IU in recent years thanks to accolades such as two All-American lineman in 2015. The 2016 class brings in four offensive linemen.
The highest rated is an Indiana native — Lafayette’s Coy Cronk. He is 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, and 247sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons described him as IU offensive line coach Greg Frey’s next great development.
Cronk is joined by two 300-pounders in Texas guard Mackenzie Nworah and Florida tackle Grayson Stover. Cincinnati tackle Ryan Smith, who didn’t allow a sack all season, rounds out the offensive linemen.
Enis is the highly-touted running back of the class, but Ohio running back Cole Gest has been labeled by recruiting services as an underrated and explosive player by recruiting services. Texas back Tyler Natee is another signee. He is listed 5-foot-11, 258 pounds.
IU also brings in a deep defensive back class. Thompson is the already established player who spent a redshirt season at Ohio State then went to junior college.
There is also Florida defensive backs Khalil Bryant and Brandon Drayton. Drayton was a late acquisition who was at one point committed to Nebraska. Hamilton, Ohio, native A’Shon Riggins also joins the team and is expected to play cornerback.
Add in the Wednesday signing of Ball, and it’s a 5-man defensive back class.
IU is searching for depth on the defensive front line after losing three starters, so it’s bringing in Mississippi defensive tackle Jerome Johnson and Illinois defensive end Allen Stallings. Stallings is not rated by 247sports.
To round out the class, IU signed another tight end in Georgia native Shaun Bonner, a 6-foot-3, 240 pound, 2-star prospect.
Bonner and Stallings are the only commits not listed as 3-star prospects.
Brody Miller
