Indiana Football 2024 Recruiting Class: Getting to know the defensive signees

Indiana football signed 33 players in the 2024 recruiting class last week — both through the transfer portal and high school. 17 players came through the transfer portal — including 10 from James Madison.

In total, there will be 23 players that will be mid-year enrollees, including eight defensive players.

Below is a breakdown of the 11 defensive players Indiana football added during the early signing period.

Defensive Line (5)

James Carpenter (DL • 6-2 • 285)

Carpenter comes to Indiana football after a successful career at James Madison. He finished as a two-time All-Sun Belt selection after 141 career tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He has played in 40 games with 37 starts across five seasons.

In 2023, Carpenter had 53 tackles, nine tackles for loos and four sacks. Indiana football needed depth and experience on the defensive line and Carpenter will come in and produce immediately.

Mikail Kamara (DE • 6-2 • 270)

Another James Madison transfer in Mikail Kamara comes to Indiana with a lot of production to his name. Kamara has 22 starts in 23 career games across four years at JMU.

Kamara is coming off of an All-Sun Belt Second-Team season in which he had 52 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He had at least one tackle for loss in 11 of the 12 games he played in last year and 21 of the 23 games he’s played in his career. He had at least one sack in five games last season.

Mario Landino (DL • 6-5 • 265)

Landino is a three-star prospect who is the No. 58 player in Pennsylvania. He had offers from Army, Air Force, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, Kent State and numerous others. Landino was originally committed to James Madison before flipping his commitment.

Landino was named Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Defensive Player of the Year this past season and to the All-EPC South First-Team this season. He finished the 2023 year with 97 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Daniel Ndukwe (DL • 6-3 • 220)

Another high school prospect who flipped from James Madison to Indiana football is Daniel Ndukwe. Ndukwe was a three-star prospect and rated as the No. 105 defensive end in the class.

Ndukwe finished with 40 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and one sack this past season, helping Arabia Mountain (Ga.) to a 4-5A Region Title. He had offers from Appalachian State, Army, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Coastal Carolina and others.

William Depaepe (DL • 6-6 • 230)

Depaepe is a three-star prospect by all major recruiting services. He is a consensus top-40 prospect in Illinois and the No. 159 defensive end in ESPNs rankings.

He was a second-team All-Western Big 6 Conference player as a senior. He ended his season with 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles.

More: ‘We’re bringing a bunch of really good football players’: Curt Cignetti details Indiana football recruiting class after ‘whirlwind’ of first 20 days

Linebacker (3)

Jailin Walker (LB • 6-1 • 220)

Walker is another James Madison transfer. He has 20 starts in 31 career games across there seasons at JMU. He was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt selection. He has 142 career tackles with 13 pass breakups, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Walker had 10 starts in 11 appearances in 2023. He had 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Quentin Clark (LB • 6-1 • 215)

Clark is rated a three-star prospect by all recruiting services. He is the No. 26 linebacker in the ESPN rankings and a top-100 prospect in Georgia by 247Sports.

Clark had 105 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2022. He had other offers from Virginia Tech, Liberty, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.

He also participated in basketball, track and field and weightlifting.

Aiden Fisher (LB • 6-2 • 225)

Fisher is another transfer from James Madison. He has played in 23 career games with 11 starts over two years with the Dukes.

He was a Third-Team All-Sun Belt selection last season and has 113 career tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Last season, Fisher led the team with 108 tackles, six tackles for loss, five QB hurries and seven pass breakups.

Defensive Back (3)

Jah Jah Boyd (DB • 5-11 • 180)

Boyd comes to Indiana football after being the highest-rated commit in James Madison history. Boyd is rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and a three-star prospect by every other major recruiting service. He was rated the No. 32 two-way prospect by ESPN. Boyd had offers from Boston College, Pitt, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Temple and others.

This season he totaled 11 receptions for 196 yards and one touchdown. He had 15 tackles, four pass deflections, one interception and one tackle for loss. He was a First-Team All-Catholic League selection at wide receiver and defensive back.

He is clocked at running a 4.6 – 40 yard dash time.

Josh Philostin (DB • 5-11 • 180)

Philostin is a three-star defensive back prospect who was highest-rated on the ESPN rankings — tabbed as a four-star. He is a consensus top-70 cornerback across all major services. He is also a top-100 prospect in Florida.

Last season he had 29 tackles and two interceptions. In three seasons, he totaled 68 tackles and six interceptions.

He had offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Arkansas and numerous other programs.

Dontrae Henderson (DB • 5-11 • 180)

Henderson is a three-star prospect across all services. He is a top-60 player in North Carolina and was a top-160 corner in the country.

Henderson had 53 tackles, 14 pass break-ups, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble a season ago. His cousin, Jaire Alexander, is an All-Pro defensive back for the Green Bay Packers.

SEE ALSO: Indiana Football 2024 Recruiting Class: Getting to know the offensive signees

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