2024 IU Football Position Preview: Defensive Line

IU Football has had plenty of turnover this offseason and the defensive line is another place where Curt Cignetti made significant changes.

As Cignetti and Haines installed their defense, it was crucial to have some familiar faces on the roster. Cignetti brought key contributors James Carpenter and Mikail Kamara with him from James Madison.

He also added standout defensive tackle CJ West from Kent State.  While there were notable losses, like Philip Blidi and Andre Carter, IU Football returned key contributors Lanell Carr Jr. and Jacob Mangum-Farrar.

The Indiana defensive line will look a lot different than it did a year ago, as even the familiar faces are learning to play new positions.
Here is how the defensive line is shaping up ahead of the 2024 season.

More Indiana Football Position Previews: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line

Defensive Line Room

Mikail Kamara R-Jr. 6-1 265

Jacob Mangum Farrar Gr.+ 6-5 256

CJ West R-Sr. 6-2 317

Andrew Turvy R-Jr. 6-2 252

Lanell Carr Jr. Sr.+ 6-2 246

Andrew Depaepe R-Fr. 6-5 260

Finn Waters R-Fr. 6-4 247

Ta’Derius Collins R-Fr. 6-4 250

Caleb King Fr. 6-5 277

Venson Sneed Jr. R-So. 6-4 266

Ebron Person Jr. 6-3 205

Aden Cannon R-So. 6-6 268

Race Stewart R-Jr. 6-3 302

Mario Landino Fr. 6-4 275

William Depaepe Fr. 6-6 244

James Carpenter R-Sr.+ 6-2 288

Indiana added some key transfers on the defensive line highlighted by CJ West from Kent State

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Main Rotation

CJ West

After an extremely successful four seasons at Kent State, West decided to finish his collegiate career under Cignetti with IU Football.

West started 35 games and appeared in 39 games for the Golden Flashes while totaling 110 tackles. He also had 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks during his four seasons.

West was a third-team All-Mid-American Conference in 2023 and figures to play a big role on the defensive line for Indiana.

With one year of eligibility, West is the expected starter at the nose tackle position alongside James Carpenter.

“Built like a true nose at a wide, stout 315 pounds. Has natural strength and a leverage advantage which he uses against the run. Is not just a plugger though, as he has quickness off the ball, and can penetrate and make plays in the backfield,” 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu said about West.

“Has been a multi-year starter at Kent State and brings that experience of 35 starts. That includes when the Flashes played SEC and Big Ten competition like Georgia, Texas A&M and Iowa.”

James Carpenter

Carpenter was one of many key players to follow Cignetti from James Madison to IU Football. After beginning his career as a walk-on, Carpenter worked his way into becoming one of the key pieces of Bryant Haines’ defense.

He has played in 40 games with 37 starts for JMU and is a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference pick (2022-23). Carpenter made 141 career tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks during his time with the Dukes.

RELATED: From FCS walk-on to Big Ten leader James Carpenter knows ‘the job is not finished’ as he heads into final season with IU Football

Carpenter has been a staple of the James Madison defense and will play a big role for Indiana in his final season of college football.

Coming off of offseason shoulder surgery, Carpenter did not do much in the Spring. He was forced into a leadership role that should continue into the season.

“Being able to help these guys, that was kind of my job in the spring, I wasn’t playing but I was trying to help them the best I can with the little details,” Carpenter said.

“Whatever questions they got, hopefully, I have an answer for them and continue to build that relationship with these other guys and show them the way and what this defense is about.”

Mikail Kamara

Kamara was a game-wrecker for James Madison on the edge last season. He had 6.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, and forced three fumbles last season en route to a Second-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection.

Pro Football Focus had Kamara as the eighth highest-rated returned edge rusher in the Big Ten after his 2023 performance.

Kamara slots into the same spot on the defensive line for IU Football as he looks to recreate his success from last season at the Big Ten level.

Over the last two seasons, Kamara has appeared in two games against Power Four competition. Against Louisville and Virginia, he totaled 10 tackles including two tackles for loss.

Kamara had a tackle for loss in every game last season for James Madison.

Lannell Carr Jr.

Carr Jr. is a versatile player who has spent time at both the linebacker spot and on the defensive line during his four years with West Virginia and IU Football.

After moving to the defensive line for the 2021-2022 seasons with WVU, Carr Jr. moved back to linebacker in his first season with Indiana.

He had a good year for the Hoosiers, playing in all 12 games and recording five sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups on the season.

Now moving back to the defensive line, Carr Jr. will be playing the ‘stud’ position which is a hybrid of the two roles he has bounced back and forth between during the last four seasons.

Playing ‘stud’ should highlight Carr Jr.’s skills as a pass rusher while also allowing him to use his versatility against the run.

Other Potential Impact Guys

Jacob Mangum-Farrar

It would be no surprise if Mangum-Farrar is a key contributor to this defense. In 2023 he finished third on the team in tackles (62) after transferring from Stanford during the offseason.

The main concern for Mangum-Farrar is the position change he made this offseason. Mangum-Farrar has played middle linebacker for much of his career and is now making the transition to ‘stud’.

He added more than 15 pounds to help him make the transition from off the ball to playing on the defensive line. At 6-foot-5, his length and added size should help him make the changes necessary to learn the ‘stud’ position.

His ability to adjust to the position change will affect his ability to compete with Lanell Carr Jr. for snaps at the position.

Marcus Burris Jr.

Burris Jr. played in all 12 games last season after transferring from Texas A&M the year before.

Primarily a rotational piece on the defensive line last season, Burris Jr. made 20 total tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had one sack for Indiana.

He will likely play a similar role as last season, but with so many seniors in front of him, he could be in line to play a critical role in the future for IU Football.

SEE ALSO: ‘I’m really excited to get into that rivalry and try to get that Oaken Bucket back’: IU Football is looking to start a new chapter in the Indiana-Purdue rivalry under Curt Cignetti

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