Indiana football released its first availability report Saturday afternoon before its 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Florida International University in Memorial Stadium, and the Hoosiers announced four players will be out for the season due to injuries.
Freshman defensive back Josh Philostin, redshirt freshman Andrew Depaepe, redshirt junior offensive lineman Vincent Fiacable and seventh-year senior Nick Kidwell will not suit up for Indiana this season.
Philostin, the Hoosiers’ second-highest ranked recruit, and Depaepe, who transferred from Michigan State this spring, suffered knee injuries in the Hoosiers’ first preseason scrimmage Aug. 10, an intrasquad scrimmage held at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Aug. 12 each player would be out for “a while,” which evidently spans the 12-game regular season.
Kidwell, a projected starter at right guard who transferred from James Madison University last winter, sustained a knee injury during an unspecified date in fall camp. In his absence, the Hoosiers, who also have a question mark at left guard, have rotated redshirt senior Tyler Stephens and redshirt sophomores Drew Evans and Bray Lynch at the guard spots.
Fiacable’s injury went unreported throughout camp. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native played in one game last season as a blocker on special teams.
The Hoosiers are without three other players Saturday in redshirt senior receiver E.J. Williams, redshirt junior cornerback JoJo Johnson and freshman tight end Brody Kosin.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
