Indiana football transfer tracker: Which Hoosiers are finding new homes, who is coming back

Indiana football players are planning to enter the transfer portal in the wake of a 3-9 season that resulted in Sunday's firing of coach Tom Allen.

Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, running back/kick returner Jaylin Lucas, wide receiver Donaven McCulley and four starters on the offensive line are the highlight names announcing plans to do so, while a host of others have also announced a move.

The fall window for players to enter their name into the portal runs through Jan. 2, 2024.

Indiana football players entering transfer portal

QB Brendan Sorsby (committed to Cincinnati)

QB Dexter Williams II (committed to Georgia Southern)

RB Trent Howland (re-committed to Indiana)

RB/KR Jaylin Lucas

WR Cam Camper

WR Donaven McCulley (re-committed to Indiana)

TE Aaron Steinfeldt

OL Matthew Bedford (committed to Oregon)

OL Khalil Benson (committed to Colorado)

OL Zach Carpenter (committed to Miami, Fla.)

OL Joshua Sales (committed to Purdue)

OL Carter Smith (re-committed to Indiana)

DL LeDarrius Cox (committed to UAB)

DL Nick James (committed to Pitt)

DL Julian Kameristy

DL Patrick Lucas Jr. (committed to Memphis)

LB Myles Jackson (committed to Tulsa)

LB Jared Casey

DB Phillip Dunnam

DB Jordan Grier (committed to Memphis)

DB James Monds III (committed to Middle Tennessee State)

DB Louis Moore (committed to Ole Miss)

DB Jordan Shaw (committed to Arizona)

K Chris Freeman

RB/KR Jaylin Lucas

"With 2 years left of eligibility to explore new opportunities for growth and development, both on and off the field, I'm immensely thankful for the time, guidance, and opportunities provided by Indiana University and will fever cherish the memories made here."

QB Brendan Sorsby (committed to Cincinnati)

The redshirt freshman led the Hoosiers offense the second half of the season, and finished the season with 57% completions, 1,587 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also had 4 rushing TDs

"First and foremost I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the sport that I love," Sorsby posted on X. I would also like to thank coach Allen, coach Bell, coach Carey, and the rest of the Indiana coaching staff for giving me a chance to play for the Hoosiers."

"I would also like to thank my teammates for pushing me to be my best every day in practice and believing in me. After careful conversations with my family and God, I would like to announce that I'm entering the transfer portal."

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WR Donaven McCulley (re-committed to Indiana)

McCulley led Indiana in all major receiving categories with 48 receptions, 644 yards and six touchdowns while playing the most snaps (662) of the team's skill position players. He was the most productive receiver for the Hoosiers over the last three seasons and closed out the year playing the best football of his career.

"First and foremost, I want to thank the lord for allowing me to pursue my goals each and everyday," McCulley posted on X. "I would also like to thank Coach Allen, Coach Henry and Coach Tucker for pushing me to be my best, day in and day out. I greatly appreciate my teammates for the lifelong bonds that we've created. I've enjoyed my time at Indiana, with that being said I will be entering the transfer portal."

The 6-5, 200-pounder's best game came in a 48-45 overtime loss to Illinois. He had 11 catches for 137 yards with two touchdowns. Illinois defenders racked up four defensive pass interference penalties and one holding call while trying to cover McCulley.

McCulley was one of the highest-rated offensive players Allen signed during his tenure. The Lawrence North product was the No. 223 player in the country (No. 2 in-state) as a four-star quarterback in the 2021 signing class, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

Before changing positions in 2022, he started four games at quarterback as a true freshman. He was only the third true freshman in program history to start a game.

RB Trent Howland (re-committed to IU)

Howland was a key contributor at running back for Indiana's offense late in the season. He finished as the team's leading rusher with 75 carries for 354 yards (4.7 per carry) and two touchdowns. His best stretch came when he had 70-plus yards in consecutive weeks against Illinois and Michigan State.

"It has been an honor to be part of Indiana's football program," Howland posted on X. "For the past three years Indiana University, has helped shape and mold me into who I am today ...This year has only been the start of whats to come in my journey, and with much prayer and careful consideration with my family I will be entering my name in the NCAA transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining."

He signed with IU as a three-star recruit out of Joliet West High School in the 2021 signing class. He had offers at the time from a handful of Big Ten schools including Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue.

K Chris Freeman

Zionsville product hit 10-of-14 field goals this season with a long of 50 and was 29-of-30 on extra points.

QB Dexter Williams II (committed to Georgia Southern)

For Williams it ends an injury-filled four seasons in Bloomington.

The former three-star prospect out of Mount De Sales Academy in Georgia suffered a torn ACL during spring practice in his redshirt freshman year. He worked his way back from the injury only to suffer a second torn ACL a week after making his first career start in the final game of the 2022 season.

Williams was cleared to play at midseason, but didn’t appear in any games.

OT Carter Smith (Re-committed to Indiana)

Smith, IU's starting left tackle, was the second highest rated signee in IU's 2022 signing class as a four-start prospect out of Olentangy Liberty in Ohio. He was the No. 207 overall ranked prospect, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

OL Matthew Bedford (Committed to Oregon)

IU's starting right tackle, Bedford was the longest tenured of the group after signing with IU back in 2019. He started eight games at left tackle as a true freshman and was named the team's newcomer of the year. He showed off his versatility in the years that followed by spending time at right guard (16 starts), left guard (three starts) and right tackle (one start).

OL Khalil Benson (Committed to Colorado)

Benson was a two-year starter for Indiana with experience at both right guard and right tackle. He played 1,423 snaps over the last two seasons and gave up a team-high 37 quarterback playing at tackle in 2023.

The 6-6, 310-pounder was a three-star signee out of Southaven High School (Mississippi) in the 2020 signing class. He had 11 scholarship offers including ones from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky and LSU.

DB Phillip Dunnam

The 6-1, 190-pounder was one of only two true freshman in 2022 (Jaylin Lucas) not to redshirt and had a prominent special teams role.

He got off to a strong start in 2023 with three interceptions in the team's first four games. He had 53 tackles (39 solo) with six pass breakups in 12 games (seven starts).

DB James Monds III (committed to Middle Tennessee State)

TE Aaron Steinfeldt

LB Myles Jackson (Committed to Tulsa)

According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson played 334 defensive snaps in 2023. He had 26 tackles (18 solo) with two tackles for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble.

Jackson spent his first two years of college at UCLA, the school he signed with as a three-star defensive end out of Hoschton, GA in the 2020 class. The former Mill Creek High School defender had just shy of 40 scholarship offers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football players in transfer portal, where they're going