INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Hoosiers enter 2026 with a striking void at one of football’s most strategic positions.
Indiana has lost virtually all of its tight end production from the 2025 season, with the program accounting for just 10 snaps retained from that group. The turnover has prompted debate among fans and placed the position squarely among the biggest uncertainties for the defending champions as they prepare to repeat.
Coaches backing the remaining group
Head coach Curt Cignetti, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and tight ends coach Grant Cain have elected to stick with the returning and incoming players rather than pursue additional experienced transfers following a late-season eligibility ruling that briefly rekindled interest in bringing back a former player.
That decision suggests the staff believes in the potential of the current room, prioritizing a blend of blocking toughness and receiving skill that Cignetti demands from the position. The staff’s approach emphasizes multi-faceted tight ends who can protect at the line of scrimmage and present mismatches in the passing game.
What remains in the room
Among the holdovers is Riley Nowakowski, a player who emerged last season as a key, if sometimes under-the-radar, contributor. Nowakowski combined physical blocking with reliable receiving production, finishing with 32 catches for 327 yards and four touchdowns during the 2025 campaign and drawing attention at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February.
To replenish depth, Indiana added a transfer and two freshmen. The highest-profile incoming player mentioned is Brock Schott, a Fort Wayne native who spent his first collegiate season at Miami (Fla.). Schott arrived with a recruiting reputation as a consensus four-star prospect. At the high school level he played multiple roles — including defensive end — and showed a rare combination of receiving ability and physicality.
- Riley Nowakowski — returning starter, strong blocking, reliable receiving option.
- Brock Schott — transfer from Miami (Fla.), former four-star recruit with two-way high school background.
- Two freshman tight ends — incoming signees expected to provide developmental depth.
Why the turnover matters
The tight end position occupies a unique role in Cignetti’s offense: players must be willing and able to block at the point of attack and also run routes effectively in intermediate passing concepts. Losing nearly all production from one season to the next elevates the importance of coaching continuity, scheme clarity and patience as younger or newer players learn the plays and physical demands.
For Indiana, the shift also has roster-management implications. The staff has shown a willingness to trust the compositions of its position groups rather than pivoting to a wide hiring of transfers. That signals either confidence in the scouting and development process or a calculated risk that the new mix can replicate the production lost.
How the tight end outlook could affect the offense
Because tight ends function as both blockers and intermediate pass-catchers, their effectiveness can shape run-game opportunities and the quarterback’s distribution of targets. A tight end group that can hold up in the blocking game preserves the run scheme, while receiving-savvy players create matchup advantages against linebackers and safeties.
If the new personnel can match the balance struck by Nowakowski last season — who combined stout blocking with 32 receptions — the offense will be able to maintain its versatility. If not, the Hoosiers may lean more heavily on wide receivers and backfield personnel in early 2026 game plans.
Quick reference
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Retained snaps from 2025 tight ends | 10 snaps |
| Riley Nowakowski (2025) | 32 catches, 327 yards, 4 TDs |
| Notable incoming | Brock Schott (transfer from Miami, Fla.) |
What to watch this preseason
Coaches and fans alike will monitor a few key indicators as camp progresses: which tight ends handle early-down blocking responsibilities, who emerges as a consistent target in the intermediate passing game, and how quickly the younger players pick up the playbook and physical techniques favored by the staff.
The position’s rapid makeover makes it one of the more intriguing storylines as the Hoosiers attempt to defend their title. How the room performs could influence both the running game’s durability and the passing game’s red-zone options in 2026.
Coverage will continue through training camp and into the first games of the regular season, as Indiana’s coaches reveal whether the gamble on youth and a single impactful transfer pays off.
