Assessing Indiana’s defensive line after Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt lose their eligibility

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Well.

For a week there, Indiana probably had one of the deepest, most distruptive disruptive defensive lines in college football. Now it just has the latter.

To be extraordinarily clear on that point: Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt are both tremendously impactful football players, that’s not a slight against either’s ability on the field. It’s moreso an endorsement of the existing group the Hoosiers’ staff put together prior to their addition.

Indiana was well aware of just how much it’d have to replace there heading into the offseason and reloaded that group while simultaneously planning and preparing for its eventual run through the College Football Playoff. The results were encouraging then and remain so now.

Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor are both the real deal. They were already productive at Kansas State and get to work under the same coach, Buddha Williams, who oversaw career defining years for both of Daley and Wyatt during their one season with Indiana in 2025.

There’s existing depth behind them in Josh Burnham, who turned in similar production at Notre Dame over the past several seasons, and Daniel Ndukwe, who rose to the challenge last season when Indiana needed him most.

That’s without mentioning returners Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino on the interior, with Joe Hjelle right behind them. Indiana’s been loading up on defensive linemen for the future as well, with several promising freshmen on the roster from the signing class of 2026.

So, yes, with this news Indiana does lose some of the considerable depth it had for a week or so there. Wyatt and Daley would be incredible to have and a massive boost to this line that’s already very strong. The Hoosier defense, as it stands, is in position to be stronger in 2026 than it was in 2025. That remains true whether or not the two are able to suit up this fall.

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