A Season of Recognition
Pro Football Focus, the analytics powerhouse behind many of the season’s most telling evaluations, has released its list of top returning players for the 2026 campaign, and Indiana’s own Carter Smith, Drew Evans, Charlie Becker and Tyrique Tucker all earned spots among the nation’s elite at their respective positions.
Carter Smith, a senior offensive tackle, is highlighted as the premier returning tackle in the country, having posted top‑10 grades in both pass‑blocking and run‑blocking during the 2025 season, a rarity that underscores his all‑around dominance along the line.
Drew Evans, meanwhile, boasts an 81.5 PFF pass‑blocking grade since 2024 while never surrendering a sack in 656 career pass‑blocking snaps, a testament to his reliability and earning him a place among the 20 most valuable guards nationwide according to PFF’s wins‑above‑average metric.
Charlie Becker, a sophomore wide receiver, surged after Week 11, delivering a 90.0 PFF grade that topped the country and amassing 522 receiving yards in that stretch, the third‑most in the nation, while his 3.41 yards per route run ranked second only to Jeremiah Smith among Power Four receivers.
Tyrique Tucker, an interior defensive lineman, contributed seven sacks in 2025, tying for the most in the Power Four, and posted an 85.6 PFF run‑defense grade over the past two seasons — the highest among the group — while also ranking fifth in PFF’s WAA metric among returning Power Four interior defenders.
What This Means for Indiana’s Future
With proven pass protection, dominant run blocking, elite receiving precision and disruptive interior pressure, the returning core positions Indiana at the forefront of the Big Ten’s competitive landscape, promising an exciting brand of football for the upcoming season.