Indiana's offensive line continues to show 'progress' with three expected transfer starters

Indiana football’s offensive line was pivotal for the 2024 team’s success, and that should be no different in 2025. Things are a little different, though, as the Hoosiers lost three linemen from the 2024 College Football Playoff team in Mike Katic, Tyler Stephens and Trey Wedig.

That left Curt Cignetti and staff with a lot to replace, forcing IU to look into the transfer portal to find replacements, where the Hoosiers picked up Notre Dame transfer Pat Coogan, Ohio State transfer Zen Michalski and Colorado transfer Kahlil Benson, with all three coming in as redshirt seniors.

These three transfers are likely to find themselves in the starting lineup come Aug. 30, but because of Curt Cignetti’s high expectations for his program, joining Indiana football isn’t an easy process.

It takes time, commitment and effort to learn Indiana’s system, meaning that progress had to be made during spring practices and, according to Cignetti, things are going well — but there’s always room for improvement.

“I see progress,” Cignetti said. “[Pat] Coogan is making progress. Carter Smith has got to get better; they all got to get better, right? All of them.”

Spring practice is in full swing and, with the April 17 spring game less than two weeks away, things seem to be taking shape — at least when it comes to a starting offensive line unit. Pat Coogan is likely to assume the center position that Katic held last season, while the other two incoming transfers, Michalski and Benson, will both play on the right side of the line — tackle and guard, respectively.

On the left side of the line, redshirt junior Carter Smith is projected to start at tackle, while redshirt junior Bray Lynch is expected to start at guard to give the Hoosiers some continuity within their offensive line from last year. Redshirt junior Drew Evans will also be back and may find his way into the left guard role during the season, but his 2024 season-ending injury is expected to sideline him for the entirety of spring practice.

“We’ll have the same results as last year. Multiple explosive runs every game, those 10-plus-yard runs. As long as we hit our targets and everyone is on the same page, the run game will explode,” Smith said.

If IU can replicate what it did last season from an offensive line standpoint, the Hoosiers are destined for success. But that will come with a new quarterback under center, as Fernando Mendoza will be the QB for Indiana in 2025.

Mendoza was the third-most sacked QB in all of the FBS in 2024, meaning that he and the offensive line must work together to ensure he has a clean pocket for the Hoosiers in 2025.

“I believe that sacks are both a quarterback and offensive line stat. So, I do take responsibility on that at my previous stop. However, having those amazing offensive linemen: [Pat] Coogan, Bray [Lynch], Carter [Smith], Zen [Michalski], Demola [Adedamola Ajani], Austin [Barrett], everyone. I could go on and on about all of those guys,” Mendoza said.

He then added, “Those are all phenomenal players, and I have a ton of time [to throw the ball]. Quite honestly, it is a little more time than I am used to, I would say. But it has been great, and I have had great offensive lines in the past, and I am blessed to have an amazing offensive line this year.”

While Indiana’s offensive line looks a lot different than it did a year ago, the Hoosiers are poised to make sure that Mendoza is protected.

“Fernando will have time to make decisions in the pass game. As long as we do our jobs, everything will mesh well together. We’ll get similar results to last year,” Smith said.

While there’s still a long road ahead for this Indiana offensive line, it seems to be meshing well, and Cignetti agrees, despite it being so early in the offseason process.

“The first line looks like an offensive line for the most part, functions like an offensive line for the most part. Going to continue to get better, working together, [making] calls. A lot of multiples [defensive looks] up front for an offense, and some of the techniques are different for some of the newer guys,” Cignetti said.

In a conference with so many talented defensive players like the Big Ten, this offensive line has its work cut out for it. The progress seen during spring practice, particularly by the three incoming transfers, is a very good sign for this Indiana offensive line and should have Hoosier fans excited — as football season is coming up faster than many expect.