Indiana football lands 7th-year safety in transfer portal. Meet him

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BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football shored up its secondary for 2026 on Sunday, adding well-regard safety Preston Zachman from Wisconsin out of the transfer portal.

Zachman, who was twice named academic All-Big Ten, spent two years as a key figure in back end of the Badgers' defense before losing most of 2025 to a season-ending injury. He was among a large list of visitors at IU over the weekend, as Curt Cignetti and his staff cast one eye toward next season.

Now Zachman — the Hoosiers' first portal commitment in this window — will be part of that future.

Here's what to know about IU's newest safety.

Preston Zachman stats

Zachman was a fixture for Wisconsin in Luke Fickell's first two seasons in Madison.

The Elysburg, Pennsylvania, native appeared in 25 games across 2023-24, posting 107 tackles, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions.

In particular, he excelled in coverage, where he posted an 87.2 grade per PFF. That ranks sixth among Big Ten safeties.

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Preston Zachman injury

Zachman figured to play a key role in Fickell's Badger revival this fall, before an unspecified lower-leg injury suffered in Wisconsin's loss to Alabama sidelined the sixth-year safety.

There was for a time hope Zachman could return for Wisconsin this season. It wasn't until the week the Badgers lost at Indiana that he was officially ruled out for the season. Zachman will seek a medical waiver to restore that last year of eligibility.

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Preston Zachman eligibility

Zachman will play his seventh college season in 2026.

He is among a dwindling number of players still capitalizing on COVID-allowed extra eligibility. Zachman signed with Wisconsin in 2020, but appeared in just one game across his first two years in college and used his normal redshirt then.

The upcoming season will be his last in college.

How Preston Zachman fits with IU football

Indiana will want at least one experienced safety into the mix next season, with Louis Moore (78 tackles, six interceptions) out of eligibility.

Amare Ferrell, who likewise has one year of eligibility remaining, might have an NFL draft decision to make. His departure would likely increase IU's need at the position.

But for the time being, Zachman steps into the position Moore will vacate on the depth chart, allowing the Hoosiers more time to develop young players like Byron Baldwin Jr. and Jah Jah Boyd. Baldwin will be among the candidates for IU's hybrid nickel position — what Bryant Haines' defense terms the rover — next season as well.

Preston Zachman highlights

Here is Zachman wired at Wisconsin:

Turning back the clock, his high school highlights are the most available.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Preston Zachman commits to Indiana football in transfer portal

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