2025 IU football position preview: Linebacker
- Josh Pos
- 11h ago
With the 2025 football season kicking off later this month, Inside the Hall is providing a position-by-position preview of the roster. Today: Linebacker.
Previously: Quarterback, Running back, Offensive line, Wide receivers & tight ends, Defensive line
Indiana football was active in the transfer portal during the offseason, adding transfers at all but one position: linebacker. Even after losing Jailin Walker, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines kept Indiana’s linebacker unit intact around returning All-American Aiden Fisher.
The stability in the linebacker room has sparked optimism that last season’s dominant group can replicate its success in 2025.
First team: Aiden Fisher (Sr.), Rolijah Hardy (So.)
Second team: Isaiah Jones (R-Jr.), Kaiden Turner (R-Jr.)
Aiden Fisher, Rolijah Hardy
One of Indiana’s three defensive All-Americans, Fisher returns to Bloomington for his final season of eligibility. His presence alone will bring confidence to his teammates, given his familiarity with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
Fisher played a team-high 744 snaps on defense last season, totaling 118 tackles (49 solo), 1.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss. The James Madison transfer ranks 16th on the IU single-season charts in tackles, becoming the program’s first-ever first-team All-American linebacker.
Vocal on and off the field, coach Curt Cignetti has entrusted Fisher to be one of the leaders of the team. Fisher addressed the entire team ahead of Indiana’s first fall camp practice on Wednesday morning.
Accolades have started to accumulate for Fisher as he was named on the Butkus Award watch list on Wednesday, further enhancing expectations for his senior season. Fisher also joined Mikail Kamara and D’Angelo Ponds on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, setting the tone for the Hoosier defense.
Haines found Walker’s replacement before the 2024 season ended, as Hardy played a pivotal role in Indiana’s late-season success.
Signed in May of 2024, Hardy made the most of every opportunity last season. When Indiana switched to a three-linebacker look in the second half of the season, Hardy earned the bulk of the reps as the third backer.
Seeing the field in all 13 games of his freshman season, the Lakeland, Florida native, tallied 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Hardy had a career-high four tackles in Indiana’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
The coaching staff’s decision not to bring a linebacker in via the portal was a head-scratcher to some at first. However, Hardy’s breakout in spring ball erased doubts as it was clear he was comfortable in the role.
Isaiah Jones, Kaiden Turner
Another rotational linebacker, Jones, saw most of his playing time on special teams. The London, Ohio, native dazzled in that department, graded as the 18th-best special-teams player according to Pro Football Focus.
Jones was Indiana’s third backer out of fall camp last year, but lost his spot to Hardy during conference play. With Hardy in a starting role, Jones is likely to be in the game when the Hoosiers switch to a 4-3 defense.
Another upperclassman vying for a spot, Turner has the least experience among the returning linebackers. The redshirt junior appeared in two games last season, posting two tackles against Western Illinois.
Turner appeared in ten games the prior two seasons, earning a start against Purdue in 2022. However, the additions of Fisher, Walker and Hardy dropped him out of the rotation last season.
Outlook
It is still unknown whether Haines will stick to the 4-3 look shown late last year. What is known is that defensive coordinators like to switch up looks throughout a game.
That said, Indiana has three more-than-capable linebackers, spearheaded by an All-American. Fisher’s leadership, parlayed with the athleticism of Hardy and Jones, could make Indiana just as lethal at the position in 2025.
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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