Four Indiana Starting Offensive Linemen Enter Transfer Portal

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana's next head coach will have to rebuild and re-recruit the entire offensive line after recent transfer portal news.

Since Indiana fired Tom Allen on Sunday, four starting offensive linemen have entered the transfer portal: left tackle Carter Smith, center Zach Carpenter, right guard Matthew Bedford and right tackle Kahlil Benson. 

Despite having one year of remaining eligibility, starting left guard Mike Katic announced his decision to enter the NFL Draft after starting 39 games for the Hoosiers since 2019. Smith has three years of remaining eligibility; Benson has two; and Carpenter and Bedford both have one.

It's important to note that entering the transfer portal doesn't entirely eliminate the possibility of a student-athlete returning to Indiana. By entering the portal, they can evaluate opportunities at other schools and also talk to the new Indiana coaching staff. 

Improving the offensive line was a major emphasis at Indiana in 2023, and that started with hiring new offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who had a track record of success at Wisconsin and in the NFL. The line made noticeable improvements, especially from the last two seasons.

Indiana rushed for 1,451 yards, the most since the 2019 season. The group allowed 25 sacks, a steep decline since 38 during the 2022 seasons. 

Here's how the offensive line graded out this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

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