IU football gains a key defensive player with the addition of Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman.
According to multiple sources, Zachman, a 6-foot-1, 212-pound safety, is set to join Indiana University for his final season of college football in 2026. This marks his seventh year in college football, and he brings valuable experience to the team.
Zachman has played in 35 games, starting in 20 of them, and has accumulated 130 tackles and seven interceptions throughout his career with Wisconsin. He will be a significant asset in filling the void left by starters Louis Moore and Devan Boykin.
In the 2025 season, Zachman played in three games, recording 12 tackles and two interceptions. Unfortunately, he missed the final nine games due to a leg injury. However, his strong performance in the season opener against Miami (Ohio) earned him the Big Ten defensive player of the week award.
Zachman is pursuing a medical hardship waiver to play his seventh season in 2026, which he should qualify for despite only playing three games. In 2024, he started all 12 games, making a career-high 58 tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups.
The previous year, 2023, saw Zachman play in 13 games, starting in five. He accumulated 49 tackles and two interceptions. In 2022, he played in six games before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the season, recording 11 tackles and 0.5 TFLs, with his first career interception in the season opener against Illinois State.
Zachman's college football journey began at Southern Columbia H.S. in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, where he was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class, as ranked by 247 Sports, ESPN, and Rivals.
For comprehensive coverage of IU football recruiting, visit https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/the-latest-iu-football-recruiting-news/.
Stay tuned for more updates on the transfer portal and the anticipated 2026 roster changes by following https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-football-2026-transfer-portal-tracker/ and https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-football-position-by-position-look-at-anticipated-2026-roster-changes/.
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