2024 IU Football Position Preview: Linebackers

For the last five years, the linebacker unit has been a strength for IU Football. From Micah McFadden to Cam Jones, and then to Aaron Casey, the linebackers have stood out and it has led to all three earning opportunities in the NFL.

The last of the three has led Indiana in tackles each of the last two seasons which forced Curt Cignetti and his staff to replace Casey’s production. Cignetti brought in key contributors from his linebacker unit at James Madison as they have played a crucial role in Bryant Haines’ defense.

“[Haines] relies on us heavily,” Jailin Walker said of the linebackers. “Since he’s the defensive coordinator, he expects us to know as much as he knows. We just know the whole defense. We have to know what the defensive linemen are doing, the cornerbacks, safeties, the linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense. We train in the meeting room, and he gets us right.”

Haines expects a lot from his linebackers. Their play is crucial to the success of his defense and they played a big role in 2023.

Aiden Fisher and Jailin Walker were the two leading tacklers for a James Madison defense that finished 20th in scoring.

“It’s fun. The motto is Fast, Physical, Relentless,” Walker said. “Haines’ defense revolves around scheme, blitzes and he says freedom equals discipline. He’s just letting us fly around, make plays, and enjoy it with the guys.”

Both Fisher and Walker followed their coaching staff to Indiana where they will look to replicate their past success in the Big Ten. The play of the linebackers will be critical to the success of IU Football and Haines’ defense in 2024.

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

Linebacker Room

Jailin Walker Sr. 6-1 218

Aiden Fisher Jr. 6-1 233

Kaiden Turner R-So 6-0 228

Joshua Rudolph Sr. 6-0 223

IU Football’s linebacker core looks completely different heading into the 2024 season

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Starting Tandem

The ‘Quarterback’ of the defense

If it wasn’t already clear that Aiden Fisher was going to be one of the leaders of the defense, his appearance at Big Ten Media Days confirmed it.

Fisher started 11 of 13 games as a sophomore for James Madison and was a standout on their top-20 scoring defense. He made 108 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and had seven pass breakups en route to a third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection.

“I think Bryant Haines sleeps a lot better at night with him,” Cignetti said of Fisher after the spring game. “He’s like a quarterback of the defense. Knows it inside out, really studies, really respected by his teammates too, helps get others lined up. So making progress, good football player.”

Fisher demonstrated his importance during the spring game where he made 7.5 tackles while flying around from sideline to sideline. 

As the quarterback of the defense and the de facto leader of that side of the football for IU Football, Fisher has a lot of responsibility heading into the 2024 season.

Weakside Linebacker

Jailin Walker heads into his senior season after playing 32 games with 20 starts over three seasons at James Madison. He is a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention.

Walker has totaled 124 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three interceptions including two for touchdowns, three forced fumbles, and nine pass breakups over his last twenty games.

He and Fisher formed one of the best duos in the Sun Belt and they’ll look to recreate their production with IU Football.

RELATED: Jailin Walker is back from injury and ready to ‘fly around, make plays and enjoy it’ for Indiana football

Walker missed spring camp after suffering a shoulder injury but took on a coaching role while he was on the sidelines.

“Last year, I tore my labrum in my shoulder. So in the spring I didn’t play, I was more of like a coach — they called me coach Jay-Walk,” Walker said. “I just was on the sideline like coaching up the guys, just praying every day that I have a speedy recovery. We had a great training system here, and just praying every day and just relying on the guys.”

With Walker and Fisher leading the way, IU Football does not lack leadership on the defensive side of the football.

Other Impact Players

Nahji Logan

Logan heads into his fifth year of college football after spending his first four seasons with UMass. He should see snaps at the weakside linebacker spot behind Walker.

Logan played in 39 games for the Minutemen where he made 128 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three pass breakups.

At 6-foot-3 226 pounds, Logan is one of the bigger linebackers at the position and can provide production both against the run and in pass coverage for IU Football.

Joshua Rudolph

Rudolph played a rotational role during his first season with Indiana in 2023 after transferring from Austin Peay. He played in all 12 games and made 18 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.

Rudolph will likely play a similar role for his senior season as he competes with Jailin Walker and Nahji Logan for snaps at the weakside linebacker spot.

Isaiah Jones

Jones is heading into his sophomore season after redshirting as a freshman.

The 6-foot-2 230-pound linebacker has played sparingly with IU Football, only appearing in four games over two seasons.

He projects to play the middle linebacker spot behind Aiden Fisher, but likely won’t see the field much in 2024 as a result barring injuries. Jones is someone who could find himself as a key piece of the Indiana defense in a few years.

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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