‘His life could change’: Stephen Daley begins comeback as Indiana opens fall camp
- Zach Horwitz
- 6s ago
Stephen Daley’s final moment on the field last season was supposed to be a celebration.
IU football had just defeated Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship and Daley was making his way around Lucas Oil Stadium when he suffered a serious knee injury while celebrating with fans. The injury ended his season before the Hoosiers’ College Football Playoff run and left his professional future uncertain.
Eight months later, Daley is back with Indiana and has another opportunity to finish what he started.
Daley participated in a modified capacity on Wednesday as the Hoosiers opened fall camp in Bloomington. He dressed for practice and took part in some individual work but was held out of 11-on-11 periods. Indiana plans to bring him along gradually as he continues working with the strength and conditioning staff.
“We’re not in a hurry, in a rush,” Curt Cignetti said after practice. “We’ll bring him along. Evaluate it day by day. And if it works out for him long term, I think it’s a great thing.”
Daley’s return became possible after a federal court ruling granted another season of eligibility to athletes from the high school class of 2022 who had exhausted their eligibility. The NCAA has appealed the ruling, but Daley is back with IU for now and was cleared to participate in camp.
His return gives Indiana another proven piece on a defensive line that was already expected to be one of the team’s strengths.
Daley transferred from Kent State to Indiana before the 2025 season. Cignetti said it took him three or four games to become comfortable in Indiana’s defense last season. Once he did, Daley emerged as one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in college football.
Daley finished the season with 38 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. His 19 tackles for loss led the Big Ten, ranked second nationally at the time of his injury and tied for seventh on Indiana’s single-season list.
“He wasn’t playing a key role and then became the most dominant defensive lineman in the Big Ten,” Cignetti said.
Daley was especially productive late in the season. He recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and 25 tackles over Indiana’s final seven games, including the Big Ten championship game.
That production put Daley in a position to pursue a professional opportunity after the season. Instead, the injury prevented him from participating in Indiana’s postseason run and contributed to him going undrafted.
Now, a return to health and another productive season could give him a second chance.
“If it all works out and he can participate and help this football team, then his life could change,” Cignetti said. “But I know one thing about him, he’ll give it his best shot. He really will. And we’ll just see what happens.”
Cignetti did not offer a timetable for Daley’s full return. He said Daley appears to be in good condition after training with the expectation of playing next year and suggested the modified portion of his recovery might not last long.
Still, Cignetti has not looked ahead to whether Daley could be available for Indiana’s season opener against North Texas at Memorial Stadium on September 5.
“I haven’t even thought of that,” Cignetti said. “I’m really focused on developing this team.”
Indiana does not need to rush Daley back. Tyrique Tucker, Mario Landino and Daniel Ndukwe return from last season, while the Hoosiers added Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor from Kansas State and Josh Burnham from Notre Dame.
Daley’s return only adds more competition to a group that Cignetti believes has plenty of experience and production. But he also made clear that last season’s results will not guarantee anything in 2026.
“You get better, you get worse, you never stay the same,” Cignetti said. “And you get out what you put in.”
For Daley, fall camp is not only about earning a role on another talented Indiana defense. It is the beginning of an opportunity that did not appear possible when he left the field injured in December.
His comeback will not be rushed and its outcome remains uncertain. But after a dominant season ended in an instant, Daley is back with a chance to change the ending.
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