Why Indiana football's leading tackler is confident in next starting linebacker (2025)

BLOOMINGTON —Indiana football’s starting middle linebacker Aiden Fisher needs a new running mate.

Fisher is one of IU’s most experienced returning defenders —he’s played in 36 games and made 24 starts —and knows defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme better than anyone on the roster, but he won’t have Jailin Walker by his side for the first time in his career.

Advertisement

Fisher took over as a full-time starter for James Madison in Week 3 of the 2023 season with Walker already manning the Will linebacker position. They inherited those same roles when they followed coach Curt Cignetti and his staff to Bloomington.

Fisher earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last season with a team-high 118 tackles while Walker was one of IU’s top defensive playmakers with 82 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

Insider: 5 questions IU must answer in spring practice to make College Football Playoff

The success they had helped IU finish with the No. 2 ranked defense (256.3 yards allowed) in the country.

Advertisement

"Definitely not easy (to replace) with how special of a player he is,” Fisher said.

Cignetti called establishing depth at linebacker behind Fisher as a key “priority” this spring. The good news for Indiana is that Walker’s potential replacements, Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, got plenty of reps last year.

They both got reps in IU’s 4-3 package that was primarily used against 12 personnel — offensive formations with two tight ends.

Insider: Projecting Indiana football's defensive two-deep depth chart

“Isaiah Jones the first half of the season was that first guy in,” Cignetti said. “The last half of the season it was Ro Hardy. So you've got two guys, Hardy and Jones, that have played a lot of football.”

Advertisement

Jones played 207 snaps and Hardy played 170 snaps with 116 of those coming in IU’s final five games.

Hardy flashed some playmaking ability with 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He was part of IU’s 2024 signing class after spending the 2023 season as part of the Naval Academy Preparatory School.

“The thing with Rolijah is, he’s been a sponge,” Fisher said previously. “He’s gotten in that room and he’s wanted to learn every single thing. Everything me and J Walk say, he’s always listening. He’s really impressive, he’s a really good player, smart player and I know he’s impressed a lot of people.”

Roster retention: Why coach Curt Cignetti didn't have any issues bringing back IU players

Advertisement

Indiana also has redshirt freshman Quentin Clarke and early enrollee PJ Nelson getting reps at linebacker this spring.

“It's all about development and growing, and seeing who meshes well together,” Fisher said. “They have all done a great job in the film room, practice-wise of taking the right approach to it. I think when it comes around, we'll be able to get to that production at the Will position.”

Want moreHoosierscoverage?Zach Osterman,Michael NiziolekandChloe Petersonkeep up with IU all season.Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter.Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IU football: Aiden Fisher confident in next starting linebacker, top defense