Indiana Hoosier 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The Hoosiers sprang onto the scene in the college football world by winning their first four games reaching all the way up to No. 9 in the national rankings. After Indiana’s only regular-season defeat to Ohio State (42-35) on Nov. 21, they won their final two games against Maryland and Wisconsin to enter their bowl game against Ole Miss with a record of 6-1. However, the Hoosiers were upset 26-20 in the Outback Bowl finishing 2020 with a 6-2 record which was good enough to finish second in the Big Ten East Division behind Ohio State.
An ingredient to help the Hoosiers and Head Coach Tom Allen remain successful in the Big Ten is locking up a solid recruiting class. During the early signing period in December, Indiana received 13 letters of intent from talented recruits from all over the country and will bring their skills to Bloomington.
The Hoosiers signed two four-star recruits in December, wide receiver Jaquez Smith, from Atlanta, and quarterback Donavan McCulley, from Indianapolis. Three-star defensive end Cooper Jones from Valparaiso will be a future force on the defensive line. Another transfer who will make an immediate impact for the Hoosiers is wide receiver D.J. Matthews from Florida State.
This recruiting class currently ranks at the bottom of the Big Ten so it has room to pick up more commitments during the next signing period in February. The talent that has already signed with Indiana all of the goals raising the bar and getting the Hoosiers into contention for their first conference championship since 1967.
Indiana Hoosiers’ Early Period Signees
WR Jaquez Smith, 6-1, 190, Westlake HS-Atlanta, GA
QB Donavan McCulley, 6-5, 195, Lawrence North HS-Indianapolis, IN
WR Jordyn Williams, 6-1, 182, Trinity Christian School-Cedar Hill, TX
OT Joshua Sales, 6-6, 305, Brownsburg HS-Brownsburg, IN
OG Vinny Fiacable, 6-4, 300, Bishop Dwenger HS-Fort Wayne, IN
P James Evans, 6-1, 207, ProKick Austria-Australia
DE Cooper Jones, 6-6, 245, Valparaiso HS-Valparaiso, IN
S Larry Smith, 5-10, 170, Oakleaf HS-Orange Park, FL
TE Aaron Steinfeldt, 6-5, 230, Bloomington North HS-Bloomington, IN
S Maurice Freeman, 6-0, 190, Oscar Smith HS-Chesapeake, VA
ATH Trenten Howland, 6-2, 218, Joliet West HS-Joliet, IN
RB David Holloman, 5-11, 200, Avondale HS-Auburn Hills, MI
ATH Jordan Grier, 6-0, 185, Cedar Grove HS-Ellenwood, GA
Photo credit: Indiana University Athletics; Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen