Indiana football, locked in preparation for its College Football Playoff opener Friday against the University of Notre Dame, is in a balancing act with an eye peeking toward the future. The Hoosiers have been active in the transfer portal, landing a pair of defensive commitments.
Northern Illinois University redshirt sophomore cornerback Amariyun Knighten announced his pledge to Indiana on Sunday via X, while Western Kentucky University redshirt junior defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler chose the Hoosiers on Monday, he announced on X.
Knighten redshirted as a true freshman in 2022, playing four games while making 15 tackles and two pass breakups. He appeared in all 13 games in 2023 and made five starts, collecting 17 tackles and one pass defended.
The 6-foot, 174-pound Knighten played eight games this season and made an upset-clinching interception over Notre Dame on Sept. 7. Knighten was on the field for 145 snaps in coverage and allowed only seven catches for 107 yards on 14 targets, according to Pro Football Focus. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Wheeler earned first-team All-Conference USA honors this season at Western Kentucky after posting five tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of quarterback hits. He was a second-team all-conference selection in 2023.
At 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Wheeler gives the Hoosiers a size reinforcement for next fall as they will lose defensive tackles James Carpenter and CJ West to graduation.
That, however, is a topic for another day, as Carpenter, West and Indiana prepare for an 8 p.m. kickoff Friday against the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
