IU football 2026 preseason position previews: Defensive Ends
- Ian Plaskoff
- 1h ago
Welcome to “IU football 2026 preseason position previews,” a series that will break down the depth chart and production potential of Indiana’s roster ahead of the 2026 season.
Next up: Defensive Ends
Previously: Specialists, Cornerbacks, Safeties, Linebackers, Defensive Tackles
Personnel
Returners: Daniel Ndukwe, Tyrone Burrus Jr., Keishaun Calhoun, Quentin Clark
Departures via transfer portal: William DePaepe (UMass), Andrew DePaepe (UMass), Aden Cannon (Illinois State), Finn Walters (undeclared)
Departures via graduation/NFL Draft/Out of eligibility: Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt, Stephen Daley, Andrew Turvy, Triston Abram (No longer listed on roster)
Arrivals via transfer portal: Tobi Osunsami (Kansas State), Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State), Josh Burnham (Notre Dame)
Incoming freshmen: Ronelle Johnson, Kevontay Hugan
What is different in 2026?
Indiana’s turnover of defensive ends and edge rushers may be the most drastic of any position. The Hoosiers have to replace their top three players at the position, all three of whom were pivotal in Indiana’s undefeated season.
Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt accounted for 99 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 11 quarterback hits in 2025.
In 2026, Indiana aims to use veteran portal additions and young returners to replace that production. On paper, it is one of the more impressive edge rusher groups Indiana has had.
As with any drastic change, there are questions about how much production this group can actually put together. We won’t know until we see it happen.
New veterans from the portal
Tobi Osunsami (Redshirt senior, 6-foot-2, 251 pounds)
Osunsami is Indiana’s highest-rated defensive portal addition, per 247Sports. He was rated the No. 28 player and No. 5 edge in the class despite an injury-riddled redshirt junior season at Kansas State.
In 2025, Osunsami played in six games, starting five, for the Wildcats, recording 19 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks. He missed the last six games of the season with an injury.
When he was on the field, he looked like one of the best edge rushers in the country. Indiana is hoping he stays healthy and returns to the game wrecker he was.
If Osunsanmi stays healthy and produces as he did at Kansas State, he has a chance to be the top guy off the edge for the Hoosiers.
Chiddi Obiazor (Redshirt junior, 6-foot-5, 279 pounds)
Obiazor has seen significant playing time on the field during his college career, appearing in 28 games over three seasons and starting eight games at Kansas State.
He earned 2025 honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in 2025 after racking up 17 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He also had a pass deflection and recovered a fumble.
Obiazor was rated the No. 344 overall prospect and No. 32 edge rusher in the 2026 portal class. He will likely not be the No. 1 guy off the edge for the Hoosiers, but could be the No. 2 or a very valuable rotational player.
Josh Burnham (Redshirt senior, 6-foot-4, 255 pounds)
Burnham is the most experienced transfer into the defensive end room with 40 career games played at Notre Dame. In 2025, he played in all 12 games for the Fighting Irish and made four starts, tallying 16 tackles with six tackles for loss and three sacks.
He was rated the No. 245 overall recruit and the No. 26 defensive end in the 2026 portal class. He is a former top-100 high school recruit as well.
As an experienced player from a winning program, Burnham fits everything Cignetti likes as a transfer. He’ll be as much of a contender as anyone to play a big role for the Hoosiers.
Mostly-young returners
Daniel Ndukwe (Junior, 6-foot-3, 238 pounds)
Most freshmen redshirt their first season under Cignetti. Ndukwe quickly proved he did not need to.
Over the last two seasons, Ndukwe has been a staple on special teams. He has also seen a share of defensive snaps. He played in 12 games as a true freshman in the 2024 season, recording 117 special teams snaps and 17 defensive snaps. He made one tackle and blocked two kicks.
In 2025, Ndukwe saw his role increase. He still played a major role on special teams, playing nearly every snap and blocking a punt against Oregon in the regular season.
In his limited time defensively, he tallied 16 tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks and recovered a fumble. He logged his first-career tackle for loss in the Rose Bowl vs. Alabama. Both sacks came in the Peach Bowl in a performance that most non-IU fans will know him by.
Ndukwe has proven he can be a major defensive piece, but has only done so for two games. The big question is what his full potential looks like in a full season. The only way to find out is by seeing him play.
Quentin Clark (Redshirt sophomore, 6-foot-1, 221 pounds)
Clark was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class and played in one game during the 2024 season. In 2025, he appeared in 14 games, mostly on special teams and made five tackles.
Tyrone Burrus Jr. (Redshirt freshman, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds)
Burrus Jr. was a consensus three-star recruit in the 2025 class out of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. He redshirted the 2025 season, but did see action in two games, making one tackle.
Keishaun Calhoun (Redshirt freshman, 6-foot-2, 262 pounds)
Calhoun was a consensus three-star recruit in the 2025 class. He redshirted the 2025 season and did not play.
Incoming freshmen
Kevontay Hugan (6-foot-1, 227 pounds)
Hugan is the top-rated recruit in Indiana’s 2027 class out of Booker High School in Sarasota, Florida. He is rated the No. 180 overall player and the No. 20 defensive lineman, per 247Sports.
Hugan is tabbed as a top-50 defensive line prospect by all three recruiting services: ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals/On3.
Indiana flipped his commitment from Louisville earlier in the spring.
Ronelle Johnson (6-foot-3, 266 pounds)
Johnson is a three-star recruit from Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Missouri. He is a consensus top-10 recruit out of the state of Missouri in the 2026 class.
Predicted depth chart
The starting spots on the defensive line feel wide open and there is plenty of talent to fill them. Osunsanmi, Ndukwe, Obiazor and Burnham are the leading candidates. Who starts and who is a reserve is up in the air and quite interchangeable.
STUD
Tobi Osunsanmi
Daniel Ndukwe
Defensive End
Chiddi Obiazor
Joshua Burnham
Depth/Special Teams
Quentin Clark
Tyrone Burrus Jr.
Keishaun Calhoun
Redshirt/Unlikely to play much
Kevontay Hugan
Ronelle Johnson
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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