Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti shares positive injury update on key personnel

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti was short-handed during spring practice with six players expected to be on the two-deep (five starters) sidelined with injuries.

The Hoosiers head into fall camp at 100 percent.

"Everybody is back and in the summer conditioning program," Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, told reporters at Big Ten Media Days.

The list includes offensive lineman Nick Kidwell, linebacker Jaylin Walker and a trio of defensive linemen, Lanell Carr Jr., James Carpenter and Venson Sneed Jr. Kidwell, Walker and Carpenter were part of the Hoosiers transfer haul from James Madison and each of them played a pivotal role in the team's success as they transitioned to the FBS.

Carpenter was the team's bell cow at defensive tackle. He played 736 snaps and had 36 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. He only missed four tackles all season and all of them came during the first four weeks of the season.

The former walk-on earned All-Sun Belt honors in consecutive seasons from 2022-23.

Walker, who also earned All-Sun Belt honors each of the last two seasons, is expected to start alongside Aiden Fisher at linebacker. He had 61 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles along with 41 quarterback pressures (second-most on the team).

Kidwell suffered a season-ending injury on the only snap he played in Week 4 against Utah St. He was a full-time starter in 2021 and 2022 with all his snaps over the last three seasons coming at right tackle. He did get some experience at right guard early in his career, which is where he's expected to play in the fall.

Carr played the most snaps of his career (494) last year with IU as a transfer from West Virginia. He had 19 quarterback pressures with multiple pressures in seven of the 12 games he played. Sneed is the other returning player in the group and he's expected to provide depth at defensive tackle.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here .

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti shares positive injury update on key personnel