Former College Hoopers For NCAA Football Playoff Champion IU Hoosiers

January 20th, 2026 - 9:16

In an era of specialization, two-way athletes are becoming a dying breed. In the "good old days," a striking number of versatile athletes participated in both college basketball and football. Amid this multi-sport mosaic, sports history buffs might want to know former Indiana football players who also played hoops for the Hoosiers prior to capturing this year's College Football Playoff National Championship since the early 1930s:

FB-BKB Player Summary of Football Career Summary of IU Basketball Career
Quinn Buckner Selected by the Washington Redskins in 14th round of 1976 NFL draft. He was a starting safety as a freshman for the Hoosiers' football squad, leading it in interceptions and fumble recoveries. Three-time All-American averaged 10 ppg and 4.8 apg from 1972-73 through 1975-76. Member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team led IU in steals and was fourth-leading scorer and rebounder with undefeated 1976 champion.
Cam Cameron Assistant coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers for five years before he was named head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007 (1-15 mark was the worst in team history). Offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to mid-December 2012 when he was replaced by former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell. Head coach at his alma mater for five years from 1997 through 2001 (18-37 record). Class of '83 member played quarterback for the Hoosiers' football squad. Assistant coach at Michigan under Bo Schembechler before becoming an assistant for three years with the Washington Redskins. Stepfather Tom Harp was Indiana State's head football coach in the mid-1970s. Collected 33 points and 12 rebounds in 30 games for the Hoosiers' basketball squad in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Teammate of All-Americans Ted Kitchel and Randy Wittman scored two points in 1982 NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional first-round 94-62 win over Robert Morris. Played briefly vs. Oklahoma team featuring Wayman Tisdale in 1983 playoffs. Said coach Bob Knight: "He was a kid who really understood his role on the team. He did everything he possibly could to help the team become better, in practice, the times that he played, and the way he handled himself in the locker room. Has a real understanding of what it takes, from a variety of directions, to be good."
Bob Cowan Back caught 21 passes for five touchdowns and made three interceptions with two AAFC franchises (Cleveland and Baltimore) in three years from 1947 through 1949. Averaged 1.7 ppg in 19 basketball contests for IU in 1942-43.
Jordan Fuchs Tight end caught seven passes for 69 yards and three touchdowns in 2014 and 2015 before suffering a season-ending dislocated ankle in 2016 opener against Florida International. The 6-6 Fuchs grabbed five rebounds in three basketball games in 2014-15 under coach Tom Crean.
Ross Hales Tight end had 51 receptions for 580 yards and two touchdowns in 1992 and 1993, catching a 34-yard pass in the second quarter of a 45-20 loss against Virginia Tech in the 1993 Independence Bowl. The 6-7 Hales collected 3 points and 4 rebounds in 13 basketball games under coach Bob Knight in 1993-94, making a token appearance in the Hoosiers' 67-58 second-round victory over Temple in the NCAA playoffs.
James Hardy III Second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2008 NFL draft (41st pick overall) had two touchdown receptions among his nine catches in five games as a rookie. The only wide receiver in IU history to surpass 2,500 yards, 175 receptions and 35 touchdowns. Second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a freshman in 2005 when he caught 61 passes for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a career-high 12 receptions for 203 yards at Iowa. First player in school history to catch at least one TD pass in six straight games. As a sophomore in 2006, he led IU with 51 catches for 722 yards and 10 TDs, including a school-record four TDs against Michigan State. In 2007, he set school season-records with 79 receptions for 1,125 yards and 16 receiving TDs (2nd in nation). The 6-6 Hardy started three basketball games under coach Mike Davis for the Hoosiers in 2004-05 when averaging 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
Vern Huffman Quarterback-defensive back passed for 484 yards and rushed for 368 yards with the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938. Third-round draft choice (27th pick overall) scored one touchdown and passed for two touchdowns each season. The 6-2, 215-pound guard was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference basketball selection (first-team pick in 1935-36 as an All-American and second-team choice in 1936-37).
John Isenbarger Triple threat standout was the Hoosiers' leading rusher each of his three varsity seasons, including 1,217 yards as an All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection senior. He was the starting tailback as a sophomore IU's only Rose Bowl team (lost to top-ranked USC following 1967 campaign). RB-WR played four years with the San Francisco 49ers (rushing 27 times for 80 yards and catching 21 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns from John Brodie and Steve Spurrier) after being their second-round pick in 1970 NFL draft. Made 1-of-6 field-goal attempts in three basketball games in 1967-68. Brother of Phil Isenbarger, a backup senior forward for the Hoosiers' 1981 NCAA title team under coach Knight.
Ralph "Ken" Johnson Defensive lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals for seven years from 1971 through 1977. The 6-6 Johnson averaged 13.1 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Hoosiers from 1967-68 through 1969-70. All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as a junior led them in rebounding his last two seasons and grabbed a career-high 21 boards in a game at Minnesota.
Don Luft The 6-5, 225-pounder played one season (1954) as an end with the Philadelphia Eagles, catching three passes for 59 yards. Defensive end in the CFL in 1955 and 1956. Backup center to All-American Bill Garrett for the Hoosiers' basketball team as a junior in 1950-51, scoring 15 points in 17 games. In the final contest of Garrett's career with the Hoosiers, Luft replaced IU's first African-American player.
Antwaan Randle El Big Ten Conference freshman of the year in 1998 became the first conference player to accumulate 5,000 total yards as a sophomore. The 5-11 quarterback compiled 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 yards rushing through his 19th game, faster than anyone in NCAA Division I-A history. His brother, defensive back Curtis, played with him his first two seasons with the Hoosiers. Finished sixth in 2001 Heisman Trophy voting. Second-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a wide receiver. Key kick returner caught more than 30 passes each of his first four years in the NFL, including a career-high 47 as a rookie in 2002. Signed seven-year, $31 million contract with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent after throwing a flea flicker touchdown pass in Super Bowl XX. Returned to the Steelers and played in Super Bowl XXV in Dallas. Collected 16 points and 11 assists in 11 games for IU's 1999 NCAA Tournament team, including two points in each of the Hoosiers' playoff contests (against George Washington and St. John's). He scored 69 points in a single basketball game for Thornton High School in Harvey, Ill.
Trent Smock Caught 36 passes for five touchdowns as a sophomore when he was an AP All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection. Split end was a 15th-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1976 after leading IU in pass receptions three straight years. Collected 51 points and 49 rebounds in 34 games in coach Knight's first two 20-win seasons with the Hoosiers. Played briefly as a freshman forward at the 1973 Final Four. His teammates included All-Americans Quinn Buckner, Steve Downing and Steve Green.
Joe Zeller End scored two touchdowns for the Chicago Bears during his six years with them from 1933 through 1938 after playing one season with the Green Bay Packers. The 6-1, 200-pounder averaged 4.1 ppg as a three-year basketball letterman from 1929-30 through 1931-32.