Joe Brunner

BLOOMINGTON, IN - August 25, 2026 - offensive lineman Joe Brunner #56 of the Indiana Hoosiers and offensive lineman Adedamola Ajani #72 of the Indiana Hoosiers and offensive lineman Bray Lynch #74 of the Indiana Hoosiers and offensive lineman Drew Evans #62 of the Indiana Hoosiers and offensive lineman Carter Smith #65 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Luke Miller/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Luke Miller/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - August 13, 2026 - offensive lineman Joe Brunner #56 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Dani Meersman/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Dani Meersman/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - June 24, 2026 - offensive lineman Joe Brunner #56 of the Indiana Hoosiers during Football Production Week at John Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Mason Munn/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Mason Munn/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - April 02, 2026 - offensive lineman Joe Brunner #56 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Dani Meersman/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Dani Meersman/Indiana Athletics

Position:
OL
Ht./Wt.:
6-7 / 320
Year:
5th
Hometown:
Whitefish Bay, Wis.
High School:
Whitefish Bay
Prev School:
Wisconsin

Career Notes & Records
Earned undergraduate degree in life sciences communication from Wisconsin ... Appeared in 43 career games with 28 starts ... Made 39 appearances with 24 starts over four seasons at Wisconsin (2022-25) and redshirted initial collegiate season ... All 24 starts were at left guard at Wisconsin ... Collegiate debut came against Illinois State (9/3) in 2022 ... Made first collegiate start versus Western Michigan (8/30) in 2024 ... Committed only five penalties over 1,770 career snaps ... Garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-District in 2025 ... Three-time Academic All-Big Ten.

2026 (Fifth Season)
Season: Started four games at right guard ... Made Indiana debut versus North Texas (9/5) in season opener.

North Texas (9/5): Made Indiana debut ... Kept a clean pocket for Josh Hoover's 13-of-16 passing day and four touchdowns - the most by an IU quarterback in a debut in program history ... Paved the way for 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Howard (9/12): Paved the way for 296 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown ... Protected Josh Hoover and Grant Wilson to the tune of six touchdown passes ... Offense produced 505 yards of total offense. Western Kentucky (9/19): Led the way for 513 yards of total offense and five touchdowns ... Paved the way for 233 yards rushing and three scores on the ground ... Helped passing game notch 280 yards through the air with two touchdown passes from Josh Hoover. Northwestern (9/25): Helped the offense post 472 yards of total offense ... Blocked for 271 yards rushing ... Helped Lee Beebe Jr. rush for 203 yards - the first 200-plus yard rushing game since Stevie Scott III in 2018 versus Virginia.

2025 (Fourth Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Started 12 games at left guard ... Posted Pro Football Focus pass blocking grades above 80 in four-straight games (Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana) … Did not allow a sack across 316 pressure opportunities per PFF … Committed only one penalty over 694 snaps …Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

Awards: Named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

2024 (Third Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Started 12 games at left guard ... First collegiate start came against Western Michigan (8/30) in Week 1 … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2023 (Second Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Appeared in all 11 games … Saw time mostly on special teams … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2022 (First Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Appeared in four games … Saw time on the offensive line and special teams … Made collegiate debut against Illinois State (9/3).

Prep/Personal
Offensive lineman for head coach Jake Wolter at Whitefish Bay High School … Consensus four-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … Rated as a top-75 prospect national by ESPN (No. 74) and Rivals (No. 74) … Consensus top-15 interior offensive lineman per 247Sports (No. 14), ESPN (No. 9) and Rivals (No. 9) … Consensus No. 1 prospect in Wisconsin per all three major recruiting services … Earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Joe Thomas Award as the state’s most outstanding senior offensive lineman … Tabbed first-team WFCA all-state as a junior and senior … Also lettered in basketball and track and field … Brother, Tommy, played football for Northern Illinois (2019-20), Wisconsin (2021-23) and Western Illinois (2024).