IU football spring practice: Tuesday observations and notes

IU football coach Curt Cignetti at practice.

Indiana football’s 2026 spring practice continued on Tuesday morning as the Hoosiers returned to Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.

After practice, running back Lee Beebe Jr. and offensive lineman Carter Smith met the media following the Hoosiers’ second open practice.

Chiddi Obiazor stands out

Another of the list of transfers on defense, Kansas State transfer defensive lineman Chiddi Obiazor caught eyes in practice almost immediately.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Obiazor’s large frame stood out from the initial stretching period. Throughout his time with his fellow defensive linemen, Obiazor displayed bursts of speed and agility.

Last season with the Wildcats, Obiazor recorded 28 total tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery, including a six-tackle performance against No. 12 Utah on November 22.

With a positive spring and fall camp, Obiazor has a window to be a fixture in the Hoosiers’ defensive rotation.

Hardy and Jones appear ready for heightened roles

Underneath the Victory Flag in the southeast corner, Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones led the linebacker unit in drills with defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.

The first to do drills, the linebacker tandem kept their teammates accountable for missteps. Anything Haines needed modeled, Hardy and/or Jones led the charge for the newcomers to the unit.

Jones, who spoke to the team before the first practice on Thursday, is primed to assume Aiden Fisher’s role as the green-dot linebacker. He has already emerged as a vocal leader through two open practices.

Hardy will step into Jones’ role for his junior season, while senior Kaiden Turner has positioned himself to be the third linebacker.

Beebe Jr. and Smith eye fall camp return

The first two Hoosiers to speak to the media, Beebe Jr. and Smith, provided progress reports on their injuries.

Smith, who was seen sporting a hefty sling while attending a women’s basketball game in February, is now out of the cast and explained that the operation he underwent repaired a torn labrum.

Itching to return, Smith is still not allowed to put pressure on his elbow and will ramp up toward a fall camp return.

“I wanted to be able to put on film that even after an injury like this, where I need to have a full repair, that I can still put the same stuff on film because sometimes that can pop up as a red flag for some programs,” Smith said when asked about his decision to return for another season.

Beebe Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team’s Week 3 win against Indiana State.

Overcoming the mental obstacles of missing nearly an entire season, he is optimistic he can also return to form for fall camp.

Excited to be back on the practice field, Beebe Jr. is working with fellow running backs Kaelon Black and Turbo Richard, fully immersing himself back into the fold.

“I was out there on the practice field today and I was feeling great,” he said. “I feel like myself again. I just gotta continue doing it.”

Indiana’s pro day will be on Wednesday afternoon, with 23 Hoosiers participating in front of NFL scouts and coaches.

NFL Network will broadcast the event live from Mellencamp Pavilion.

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