Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 52-16vs North Texas | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 55-0vs Howard | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#90
Joe Hjelle
Redshirt senior defensive lineman on Indiana's 2026 roster.
6′3″ · 318 lb · Decorah, IA · Decorah
CFB Index 75 · #54 of 330 interior linemenLow confidenceTransferred Tulsa → Indiana for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1.5 TFL · 5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1.5 TFL, 2 tackles, vs Howard
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman on Indiana's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 2-star recruit to Tulsa in 2024.
- Transferred from Tulsa to Indiana in 2026.
Joe Hjelle
Wins his gap play after play. Three head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. The receipt: 3 tackles against North Texas — Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
4 programs, one constant: he played.
202410 games
- Signed with Tulsa2-star out of Iowa Western C.C.
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Indiana
Played his entire career under Curt Cignetti.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Indiana
2025Tulsa
2026Indiana
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Tulsa3-9HC: Kevin Wilson · Balanced
2025Tulsa4-8HC: Tre Lamb · Run-leaning
2026Indiana2-0HC: Curt Cignetti · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Low confidenceBreakout
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.5 TKL/g, 0.8 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Curt Cignetti
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Impact starter
Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
75 · #54 of 330 interior linemen
Two-star recruit. Now #54 at the position.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 55–0
vs Howard
2 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 55-point win at home against Howard.
With J. Hoover — 145 yds · 4 TD · 0 INT · QBR 75.5 · 18 rush yds (6 car) · T. Richard — 108 rush yds (11 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Hosea Wheeler’s 2023 season.
92%match
All-Conference USA
Matches Hosea on
Hurry rate
Height
Sack rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Caden Haws's sophomore season at BYU (2021).
89%match
Matches Caden on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Joe Hjelle
Background
Career Notes & Records Appeared in 24 games over two seasons at Tulsa (2024-25) … Began his career with two seasons at Iowa Western Community College (2022-23) and redshirted his initial collegiate season … First FBS appearance came Northwestern State (8/29) in 2024 … Part of back-to-back Nationa...
The defensive line · Indiana
- #8Stephen Daley19 tackles for loss · 2025
- #95Tyrique Tucker11.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #97Mario Landino6.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #8Joshua Burnham6 tackles for loss · 2025
- #90Joe Hjelle4.5 tackles for loss · 2025
14 more on the roster · Indiana team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology