2024 IU Football Position Preview: Running Backs

The beginning of the Curt Cignetti era signaled massive changes to IU Football.

The culture, identity, and style of the program were some of the changes at the forefront, but Cignetti and his staff have completely rebuilt the roster.

A big piece of the changes to the roster that came involved the rushing attack. IU football lost the five leading rushers from the 2023 season and was forced to rebuild the running back room. Indiana lost 1,469 rushing yards from the five players who left the program over the offseason.

Replacing that production is going to be critical for Cignetti and his staff as they look to recreate the rushing attack that averaged 134.2 rushing yards per game with James Madison.

Cignetti brought his two leading rushers from JMU with him to Indiana and also added some running backs from other power four schools.

“I think that group definitely caught my eye,” Cignetti said after the spring game. “I just think our running back room is faster, more dynamic, good at pass pro, good at catching the ball out of the backfield, can break tackles. We have more speed and athleticism back there.”

While the four transfers will lead the RB room, each player’s role is still up in the air heading into fall camp. It seems likely that Indiana will utilize a committee approach to the rushing attack to start the season.

What does the running back room look like heading into fall camp?

RB Room

Justice Ellison Sr. 5-10 210

Kaelon Black R-Jr. 5-9 211

Ty Son Lawton R-Sr.+ 5-9 207

Elijah Green R-Jr. 6-0 206

Soloman Vanhorse Gr.+ 5-8 187

Daniel Weems R-So. 5-9 197

Khobie Martin Fr. 6-0 205

Kyler Kropp Fr. 6-2 203

Justice Ellison

Ellison spent four years with Wake Forest before entering the transfer portal and joining the Hoosiers. During his time with the Demon Deacons, Ellison ran the ball 427 times for 1,901 yards and 15 touchdowns.

As a former receiver, Ellison’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield could be a big part of the Indiana offense.

“I played receiver in high school. Coach Shanahan had offered me at JMU as a receiver,” Ellison said about his relationship with the coaching staff. “Then I end up changing to play running back at Wake Forest. So when I saw the offense, I was like man this is really going to be an opportunity for me.”

His abilities as a pass catcher seemed underutilized as he only caught 24 passes during his time at Wake Forest. Cignetti and Shanahan likely will look to get Ellison more involved in the passing game moving forward.

RELATED: ‘Every day I think about being resilient, detailed, and dominant’: Justice Ellison’s ‘go get it’ mentality made Indiana football the perfect fit for him

Ellison has averaged over 10 carries a game over the last three years, but has not played the workhorse role for Wake Forest. That likely won’t change now at Indiana, but he has proven to be efficient as a part of a committee.

Ellison has the most experience in the running back room and should play a key role in the offense from the get-go.

Elijah Green

Like Justice Ellison, Elijah Green is heading into his fifth year of college football after spending his first four seasons with North Carolina.

Outside of the 2022 season where he had 148 touches, Green did not play much for the Tarheels, only recording 25 touches in his other three seasons.

Towards the end of the 2022 season, Green established himself as the guy, averaging 20.8 touches per game and 88.7 total yards over the final six games. Green had nine total touchdowns during that 2022 season and could play a big role around the goal line for IU Football.

During the Spring Game, Green led the room in carries with seven and also reeled in both of his targets.

While Green has been the ‘guy‘ in the running back room before, he likely won’t have that opportunity due to the depth Cignetti and his staff added to the running back position.

Former JMU RB tandem expected to play a big role for Indiana

© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

James Madison Transfer Tandem

A big part of the additions to the running back room came from James Madison. IU Football added Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton who were the two leading running backs from James Madison’s 2023 season. The pair figure to be an integral part of the IU Football offense during the 2024 season.

Kaelon Black

Kaelon Black was the leading rusher for James Madison in 2023 as a sophomore, edging out Lawton by less than 100 yards.

Black carried the ball 142 times for 637 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also had 27 catches for 254 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.

Black has the most experience in the passing game out of the running backs and that could be where he shines in the offense.

The versatility that Black adds is a change of space as he is a big play threat out of the backfield. He showed that off during the spring game as he averaged 9.5 yards per rush.

Already having experience within the Cignetti offense, there are no questions as to how Black’s game will fit into the Indiana offense.

Ty Son Lawton

The other half of the 2023 JMU tandem was Ty Son Lawton who had 568 rushing yards in 2023. Lawton averaged 4.5 yards per rush on 126 attempts while adding five scores on the ground. He also caught 19 passes for 174 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Lawton joins the Hoosiers as a graduate transfer after spending the first four seasons of his career with Stony Brook before moving on to James Madison.

During the spring game, he played a big role on third down, both as a rusher and pass catcher. He had 5 touches for 26 yards and a touchdown.

While his role is not guaranteed with four RBs expected to have a role, Lawton could find his way onto the field as the main third-down running back.

SEE ALSO: Top rated players for Indiana football in EA Sports College Football 25

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