Pro Football Focus’s latest preseason assessment of the 2026 college football landscape has placed two Indiana University standouts inside its top 50, a testament to the program’s rising fortunes.
A New Era of Talent in Bloomington
Carter Smith, the Hoosiers’ All‑American left tackle, checks in at No. 8 overall and holds the top spot among offensive linemen. The senior’s 2025 campaign yielded an 85.7 grade from PFF, with an 87.7 pass‑blocking mark and 83.4 run‑blocking rating, while he surrendered just two sacks in 16 starts. After undergoing labrum surgery this offseason and missing spring drills, Smith has elected to use his final year of eligibility to sharpen his film and boost his 2027 NFL draft profile.
Safety Amare Ferrell, a senior who anchors the secondary, is ranked No. 46 overall and No. 5 among safeties. His 2025 performance featured a career‑high seven interceptions, tying him for second among returning FBS players, and he has logged over 1,500 snaps in the past two seasons. With the departure of starters Louis Moore and Devan Boykin to graduation, Ferrell’s leadership is amplified by the arrival of seventh‑year senior Preston Zachman, a Wisconsin transfer, and the potential emergence of sophomore Byron Baldwin Jr. and Cincinnati transfer Quan Sanks in the nickel role.
The offensive line will also benefit from the addition of Wisconsin interior lineman Joe Brunner, the No. 3 transfer prospect, giving Indiana depth that could translate into more consistent protection for the quarterback. Meanwhile, the secondary’s blend of experience and fresh talent positions the Hoosiers to improve on a defense that has been a work in progress over recent years.
Both Smith and Ferrell are expected to be pivotal in Indiana’s push for a stronger conference record and a higher national ranking. Their individual performances not only aim to elevate the team’s immediate prospects but also to showcase the players as prime candidates for the next NFL draft cycle.