Indiana senior defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler helped the Hoosiers earn the 2025 CFP National Championship.
As he prepared to compete against Alabama during the Rose Bowl Game, the Sacramento native noted how several of his family members would see him play.
“It’s God’s Blessing. I know the Rose Bowl is pretty rare and to be back in my home state is just amazing,” Wheeler said. “Since we got into the season, I seen how good we were, I was praying we got to the Rose Bowl and God Blessed me with that.”
Wheeler played in all 15 games this past season and made five starts. He made a season high of five tackles in their 27-14 victory over Old Dominion. He ultimately made 11 solo tackles, 31 total hits, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback hits.
Wheeler transferred to Indiana after spending three seasons at Western Kentucky. He noted how his relationship with God helped him transition to the Hoosiers’ program.
“I just asked God to guide me and he guided me here,” Wheeler said. “I’m here for a reason, I came from JuCo [junior college] to Western Kentucky to coming here.”
During his time at Sacramento City College, Wheeler competed in football while working two jobs. He worked at Burger King and worked security for Sacramento Kings games.
“I would go home, work and then go to practice,” Wheeler said. “Or I’d have a game … and I would go straight to work.”
The rigors of balancing jobs, academics and athletics was a challenge that Wheeler did not back down from, seeing it as a chance to improve. The situation was an evaluation from God, according to Wheeler.
“He’s going to give you adversity just to challenge you and I feel like that’s what He did,” Wheeler said. “He made me balance football, two different jobs, to see how bad I really wanted it.”
Wheeler earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky, making him the first in his family to graduate from college. He knows that his degree has inspired his loved ones to pursue higher education.
“I have a business degree now I can use,” Wheeler said. “I know that motivates people in my family because my little brother even started junior college two years ago. I know he’s seeing me do all of this … he knows he can do it.”
