Indiana football not likely to add another quarterback to roster: ‘I would be surprised if we did at this point’

The biggest question coming into the 2023 season for the Indiana football program was what it would do at the quarterback position. Following spring practice, there is still no clear answer on who will start for the Hoosiers come their opener on Sept 2.

After trying out the transfer portal in 2022 with Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak, something that didn’t work out like Indiana wanted, the Hoosiers are potentially looking at another transfer once again in 2023 — albeit in a different variety.

Tom Allen and the Hoosiers added Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson. Jackson, a former four-star recruit and top-200 prospect, arrives in Bloomington with high expectations despite completing just three passes in 2022. Add in Brendan Sorsby who returns for Indiana after just one appearance a season ago, and Indiana still has a lot to be desired at the quarterback position.

But, the plan is to move forward with what it currently has.

“With having these young guys we have, we really felt like those guys are really going to be — that’s where our starter’s gonna come from,” Allen told reporters earlier this summer. “But we do have a couple spots left and we’ll see how those play themselves out here. But, just trying to be judicious with those spots.”

That includes the potential to see Dexter Williams return. As of now, he’s ‘ahead of schedule’ with his rehab after suffering a gruesome leg injury in the season-finale last year.

“Dexter’s still on the mend, so he is ahead of schedule,” Allen said. “That doesn’t mean he’s gonna be ready for the start of the season by any means — he will not be — but at the same time, he will eventually be. So that gives us some of that (experience) there.

“As everything has kind of played itself out, it’s kind of gone from he’s probably going to be out the whole season, to it might be where he could be ready later in the season. Now, it’s like maybe halfway into the season.”

While his role is still to be determined, having that voice on the sidelines and locker room in any capacity will be beneficial.

After attacking some veteran signal callers in the transfer portal this offseason, Indiana struck out on all options. While there are still some potential options remaining — and likely more to come — will Indiana make a move and add a proven player under center? Likely not at this point in the process.

“It’s a unique dynamic with the age of the (quarterback) group there, so we just never really found the right combination for that. I would be surprised if we did add at this point,” Allen continued. “It was challenging to be able to really find that spot. We talked about it and I had interest in that as well, just more of an insurance policy kind of thing (at this point).”

If someone does show themselves as a potential addition for Allen and Indiana, it will be critical the transparency and expectations are clearly laid out. Both for Allen and the potential incoming transfer.

“It’s got to be a guy that fits and wants to be in that role and understands the whole situation,” Allen said.

The question remains, however, will the current quarterback group be good enough to elevate Indiana back into a bowl game discussion?

“I’m anxious to see that role kind of come to fruition and see how the guys respond and how those guys handle that,” Allen added. “It’s obviously a very, very important position.

“It is the position that’s going to drive a lot of our success in 2023.”

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