Signing day tracker: IU football, Curt Cignetti build 2024 recruiting class on the fly
Today is the opening of the early signing period for high school football players across the country.
Heading into Wednesday, On3 rated Indiana's 2024 recruiting class 56th-best in the country. This class is a mix of former Tom Allen recruits who were re-offered by Curt Cignetti's staff, some new pickups and a bunch of former James Madison recruits.
Here's who is committed to the Hoosiers heading into Wednesday. We will update when signings become official. And there may be a surprise or two.
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Confirmed transfer signings:
QB Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
RB Justice Ellison, Wake Forest
RB Ty Son Lawton, James Madison
WR Miles Cross, Ohio
WR Myles Price, Texas Tech
WR Ke'Shawn Williams, Wake Forest
OL Trey Wedig, Wisconsin
DL Mikail Kamara, James Madison
Hit refresh for updates.
2024 IU football high school recruits
Rankings and height/weight via On3.com. Players listed alphabetically.
Adedamola Ajani, OL (signed)
High school/Hometown: Speedway/Indianapolis, Ind.
Height/weight: 6-4, 270
Rank: 3 stars, No. 929 in nation, No. 11 in Indiana, No. 80 at position
Ajani recommitted to the new coaching staff at Indiana this week after originally picking the Hoosiers over Duke, Louisville, Marshall, West Virginia and others. As a senior, Ajani was also an impact player on the defensive side for the young Sparkplugs, who finished 3-8. He had 84 tackles, including a team-high 19 for a loss, and six sacks.
Charlie Becker, WR (signed)
High school/Hometown: Father Ryan/Nashville, Tenn.
Height/weight: 6-3, 198
Rank: 3 stars, No. 971 in nation, No. 34 in Tennessee, No. 139 at position
Originally committed to IU's previous staff, he was re-offered by Curt Cignetti. Becker chose Indiana over Vanderbilt, Iowa, Ole Miss, Northwestern and Appalachian State. He had 30 receptions for 565 yards despite playing only five games this season before an injury derailed his senior year. He also had 11 touchdowns. Becker won Division II-AA state championships in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles in track as junior last spring.
Jah Jah Boyd, DB (signed)
High school/Hometown: Roman Catholic/Philadelphia, Penn.
Height/Weight: 5-10, 170
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,356 in the nation, No. 34 in Pennsylvania, No. 143 at position
Boyd was the highest-rated recruit in James Madison history before flipping to IU.
Tyler Cherry, QB (signed)
High School/Hometown: Center Grove/Greenwood, Ind.
Height/Weight: 6-4, 220
Rank: 4 stars, No. 234 in nation, No. 5 in Indiana, No. 15 at position
Cherry, the Mr. Football position winner for quarterback, completed 71.5% of his passes as a senior for 3,156 yards and 34 touchdowns with six interceptions. He also ran for four TDs. For his career, Cherry completed 68.5% of his passes for 5,461 yards and 56 TDs with 11 interceptions. He also ran for eight TDs. A former Duke commit, he re-opened his recruitment after Mike Elko left for Texas A&M. IU's highest-rated recruit, Cherry picked IU over Michigan State.
What Cherry's commitment means: 'Keeping this guy home is a pretty big deal.'
Quentin Clark, LB (signed)
High school/Hometown: West Laurens/Dexter, Ga.
Height/Weight: 6-3, 200
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,046 in nation, No. 123 in Georgia, No. 97 at position
Another recruited by the previous staff, Clark stuck with the Hoosiers. He picked IU over offers from Liberty, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State, Virginia Tech and Western Kentucky. As a junior, Clark produced 105 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and five forced fumbles.
William Depaepe, Edge (signed)
High School/Hometown: Moline/Moline, Ill.
Height/Weight: 6-6, 225
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,010 in nation, No. 24 in Illinois, No. 85 at position
A former Georgia Tech commit, Depaepe had 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior.
Dontrae Henderson, CB (signed)
High school/Hometown: Chambers/Charlotte, N.C.
Height/Weight: 6-0, 170
Rank: 3 stars, No. 2,217 in nation, No. 58 in North Carolina, No. 229 at position
A former James Madison recruit, Henderson is following IU's new staff to Bloomington. Out of his 16 offers, IU is the only one from a Power 5 school. He recorded 53 tackles, four interceptions and 14 pass breakups as a junior.
Brody Kosin, TE (signed)
High school/Hometown: Clarkston/Davisburg, Mich.
Height/Weight: 6-6, 215
Rank: 3 stars, No. 939 in nation, No. 18 in Michigan, No. 54 at position
The first to commit to IU's 2024 class and the first to re-commit after Curt Cignetti's hire, Kosin earned first-team all-state honors after posting 42 catches, 876 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. Picked IU over Pitt, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Duke and Kansas. “IU checks all my boxes in what I’m looking for in a college to play football at,” Kosin told The Oakland Press in May. "... The school’s academics are excellent, the culture, the campus, the facilities are all top notch. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the opportunity to become a member of the Hoosiers football family.”
Mario Landino, DL (signed)
High school/Hometown: Emmaus/Emmaus, Pa.
Height/Weight: 6-4, 255
Rank: 3 stars, No. 2,226 in nation, No. 61 in Pennsylvania, No. 204 at position
Landino had been committed to JMU since late June. He received an Indiana offer Dec. 4, the same day he announced his decision to reopen his recruitment. The Hoosiers moved quickly to bring Landino to campus, and he committed to IU following a visit.
Evan Lawrence, OT (signed)
High school/Hometown: Danville/Danville, Ind.
Height/Weight: 6-7, 250
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,486 in nation, No. 21 in Indiana, No. 105 at position
Lawrence, who recommitted to the new IU coaching staff, was named a Top 50 All-State selection by the IFCA after helping Danville to a 7-3 record. He played some defense, too, making 21 tackles and one sack. Lawrence is also a standout basketball player who averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior.
Austin Liebfried, OT (signed)
High school/Hometown: Mount Horeb/Mount Horeb, Wisc.
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,215 in nation, No. 10 in Wisconsin, No. 79 at position
Height/weight: 6-6, 265
Khobie Martin, RB (signed)
High school/Hometown: Fishers/Fishers, Ind.
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,437 in nation, No. 20 in Indiana, No. 113 at position
Height/weight: 6-0, 200
Martin went for 1,379 rushing yards and 19 rushing TDs in nine games (missed two to injury) for the 7-4 Tigers. In three years for Fishers, he had 2,746 rushing yards and 38 rushing TDs. Martin was committed to Miami (Ohio) before opening up his recruitment and committing to IU under the previous coaching staff. Martin said he intends on signing with IU later this month.
Why I'm signing with IU: Fishers RB Khobie Martin explains why he'll be a Hoosier
Alberto Mendoza, QB (signed)
High School/Hometown: Miami Columbus/Miami, Fla.
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,565 in nation, No. 201 in Florida, No. 88 at position
Height/weight: 6-2, 190
Once a James Madison commit and twice a state champion with Florida powerhouse Miami Columbus, will follow Curt Cignetti to Indiana. Florida Atlantic and Temple were also involved following Mendoza’s decommitment from James Madison. The Florida native — whose brother plays the same position at Cal — joins Indiana following a glittering career for one of the Sunshine State’s more-decorated programs. As a junior, Mendoza threw for 2,825 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2022, leading Columbus to a 14-1 record and a state title. Mendoza repeated the feat this fall, rolling up 149 passing yards, 138 rushing yards and each a passing and rushing touchdown in a 38-19 win against Jacksonville Mandarin to clinch a second-straight championship.
Daniel Ndukwe, DE (signed)
High school/Hometown: Arabia Mountain/Lithonia, Ga.
Height/Weight: 6-3/210
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,660 in nation, No. 175 in Georgia, No. 160 at position
Ndukwe added his Indiana offer on the same day he announced his decommitment from James Madison. He quickly scheduled an official visit to Bloomington and subsequently committed. A track-and-field athlete as well, Ndukwe, a three-star prospect per 247Sports, helped Arabia Mountain make the playoffs in football in one of Georgia’s most competitive classifications.
Christian Peterson, DB
High school/Hometown: Carmel/Carmel, Ind.
Height/Weight: 5-10, 185
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,234 in nation, No. 16 in Indiana, No. 132 at position
Peterson was rarely tested on his side of the field, finishing with 36 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal. Peterson factored into six touchdowns in a variety of ways with two TD receptions, one rushing, one passing, one interception return and one fumble return. Peterson was named the IFCA’s Top 50 All-State team.
Josh Philostin, CB (signed)
High school/Hometown: Cardinal Newman/West Palm Beach, Fla.
Height/Weight: 5-10, 165
Rank: 3 stars, No. 481 in nation, No. 59 in Florida, No. 46 at position
Philostin is a state champion sprinter and played wide receiver and defensive back. He committed to IU's previous staff and was re-offered by Curt Cignetti. “Indiana was the first school to offer me back my sophomore year. They stayed loyal and consistent throughout the whole process,” Philostin told USA TODAY HSS. Philostin had 29 solo tackles and two interceptions as a senior. He had four interceptions as a junior.
Mitch Verstegen, OL (signed)
High school/Hometown: Kaukauna/Kaukuana, Wisc.
Height/Weight: 6-4, 280
Rank: 3 stars, No. 1,802 in nation, No. 17 in Wisconsin, No. 152 at position
IndyStar reports Zach Osterman and Kyle Neddenriep contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Signing day: IU football 2024 commit list, player bios, highlights