Indiana's #35 Ranked Class Is About To Get A HUGE Shot In The Arm If This 4-Star OL Comes Home!

Alright, Seattle sports fam, even when we're talking college ball, you know we keep an eye on coaches building something special. Curt Cignetti over at Indiana? Man, that dude doesn't shy away from the mic, but he's also laser-focused on football, keeping his eyes on two prize fights: nailing down the 2026 season and absolutely stacking the 2027 recruiting class. And let me tell you, that 2027 class is already sitting at No. 35 nationally on 247Sports, but it's about to get real, real interesting with a couple of massive commitment announcements coming up that could seriously ignite the program!

Cignetti's Blueprint: Stacking Talent and Staring Down Costs

Cignetti's not just talking smack, though. He's building something. While he mostly avoids the whole NIL and transfer portal circus, he did drop a warning bomb at their retreat at Huber’s Orchard and Winery: roster costs are rising and action might be needed in the next 12 to 24 months. That's real talk from a coach who knows the grind. But don't think for a second he's letting that distract from the field! This guy's been on a tear, scooping up talent for the future. In May alone, Indiana grabbed six commitments, pushing their 2027 class to a solid nine players. And get this: they already locked down a legit talent with four-star edge rusher Myles Smith. That's defensive strength right there, building momentum for what's coming next!

Massive Decisions Loom: Could Two Stars Commit This Week?!

But hold up, the real fireworks are just around the corner. We're talking about two potential game-changers. First up, insider Jacob Goins from the 'Locked On Hoosiers' show dropped the scoop on Dejan Tally Rhodess, a three-star running back out of Washington DC. This dude is the #1 player in his area and a top 30 running back in the entire country, according to 247. And guess what? He's verbally committing tomorrow! Imagine the buzz if that comes through!

Then, get ready for June 10. That's when four-star offensive lineman Dominic Black, a standout from Ohio, makes his call. This guy is HUGE. He visited Bloomington in May after getting an offer in April, narrowing it down to five big programs: Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Virginia Tech. Black isn't just any O-lineman, he's a top guy in Ohio and sitting near the top 20 nationally at his position. If Cignetti lands Black, it would be a major boost and potentially the highest-rated 2027 recruit under his whole rebuild. You tell me that's not absolutely massive for this program's future!

So yeah, Cignetti's got his eyes everywhere, balancing those immediate 2026 goals with these huge long-term roster plans. The staff is still evaluating other targets, but these next few days are critical. We're talking about building a program from the ground up, bringing in elite talent that could define the next era. Keep those eyes peeled for tomorrow's announcement on Dejan Tally Rhodess and circle June 10 for Dominic Black! If these commitments go Indiana's way, Cignetti's rebuild is gonna feel unstoppable, and the energy in Bloomington is gonna be through the roof. This is how you build a winner, folks, one star at a time. Let's GOOO!

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.