The Hoosiers have an all-new running backs room for year one.
Perhaps none of Indiana football’s position groups have been more reshaped by the transition to the Curt Cignetti era than running backs.
The Hoosiers’ current running backs room is full of transfers, most coming from Cignetti’s last stop at James Madison. There’s a few others, mostly from over power conference programs, and a single freshman.
The room is led by running backs coach John Miller, who played for Cignetti at JMU before going on to join the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Miller spent time at East Carolina and Texas before rejoining Cignetti as the Dukes’ running backs coach in 2020.
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Expect Miller’s group to see multiple players with plenty of carries. This group doesn’t have one do-it-all back, multiple guys are going to see snaps and carries.
As for the room itself…
- Justice Ellison – Sr (Wake Forest)
- Kaelon Black – R-Jr (JMU)
- Ty Son Lawton – R-Sr+ (JMU)
- Solomon Vanhorse – Gr+ (JMU)
- Elijah Green – R-J (North Carolina)
- Daniel Weems – R-So
- Khobie Martin – Fr
There is a lot of experience at the top of the room. Well over half of the group has been in college for at least four years, with in-state Khobie Martin being the lone freshman.
Last year’s James Madison team featured a bit of a duo between Kaelon Black and Ty Son Lawton. Black led the team in total rushing yards, with 637, while Lawton led the room in rushing touchdowns with five. Both can operate as receivers and each hauled in passes for touchdowns last season.
Justice Ellison was a starter for Wake Forest last season and logged 548 yards, good for second on the team. He previously led the Demon Deacons in rushing yards with 707 back in 2022. He won’t be utilized much as a receiver, but he’ll receive his fair share of carries on the ground after a multiyear productive career in Winston-Salem.
Solomon Vanhorse has seen minimal snaps in the past two season, with a few injuries keeping him off the field. When he was available, he was effective on special teams as a returner and was a versatile piece offensively as a runner and receiver.
Elijah Green was a valuable piece for North Carolina as a sophomore in 2022, finishing the season with 558 rushing yards and 107 receiving yards. He redshirted the 2023 season after a few appearances, entering the transfer portal afterward and committing to Indiana.
Daniel Weems and Khobie Martin are both in-state players, with Weems being from Center Grove and Martin being from Fishers. Weems redshirted for Indiana this past season after starting his career at Indiana Wesleyan while Martin committed to the program under Tom Allen and opting to stay on board when Cignetti was hired.
I’d expect multiple backs to get a solid amount of carries. The staff is most familiar with Black and Lawton, but expect Ellison to get his share as well. We’ll have to see what Vanhorse can do coming off an injury and Green has some real potential if he’s able to get the ball.
Weems and Martin aren’t likely to see the field this fall. There’s just way too much experience in the room.