Indiana Football Incoming Transfer Profile: Hosea Wheeler

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti had the unenviable task of replacing both of his primary defensive tackles from last season, with James Carpenter and CJ West running out of eligibility. 

Both have a shot at being drafted, but West is more likely to hear his name called after a strong performance in the NFL Combine this past week. 

There are some guys on the roster from last season, like Tyrique Tucker and Marcus Burris, who saw snaps inside, but Bryant Haines and Cignetti hit the portal for starters and depth at the position . 

Alongside Dominique Ratcliff from Texas State Indiana signed Hosea Wheeler from Western Kentucky to replenish the defensive line. 

Wheeler comes to Indiana with one season of eligibility remaining after three years at Western Kentucky and a season at Sacramento City College. In his three years as a Hilltopper, he appeared in 40 games with 25 starts.

2024 was his most productive season at Western Kentucky, after he was named First Team All-Conference USA. He finished with 65 tackles last year, 27 solo, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He also intercepted a pass in 2023 and forced another fumble that year. 

Wheeler also did see elite competition last year, with Western Kentucky facing Alabama in the first week of the 2024 season. That was when Wheeler recorded one of his sacks and forced a fumble, a promising sign for how he projects in the Big Ten.

Like Ratcliff, Indiana's other defensive line addition from the portal, Wheeler is stronger in run defense than in the pass rush. He earned a 70.2 grade in run defense from PFF last season. 

That grade would actually put him slightly ahead of James Carpenter from last year, though Carpenter still graded as a better defender overall because of his ability in the passing game. 

With Mikail Kamara on the edge, it makes sense for Indiana to focus on stopping the run inside. Kamara had 10 sacks last season, a career-high, and could take another step forward in his second season of Big Ten play in 2025. 

Indiana also has Penn State and Iowa on the schedule in 2025, who accounted for two of the top three rushing attacks in the conference last season. The Hoosiers also boasted the top run defense in the country last year, and rode that defense all the way to the College Football Playoff. 

In his final year of college eligibility, look for Wheeler to try to follow in the footsteps of guys like West or Carpenter who spent one year proving themselves in a power conference before entering the NFL Draft.