Indiana starting defensive back Marcelino Ball will miss the 2020 season after suffering a torn ACL, Indiana head coach Tom Allen announced on Monday. Jim Coyle of Indiana Sports Beat was one of many to report on the news.

Ball appeared in all 13 games for the Hoosiers last season, making 12 starts at the husky position — a hybrid of the safety, cornerback and linebacker position. His absence is significant for a defense depending heavily on experience in the secondary for the 2020 season.

Last season, Ball made a big impact for Indiana defensively, totaling 47 tackles, which included 2 sacks. He also defended two passes as the Hoosiers finished the season with an 8-5 record and made a Gator Bowl appearance.

Allen said that the injury Ball sustained was not due to contact.

This is the second time in his career in Bloomington that Ball has suffered a season-ending injury. As a sophomore in 2017, Ball’s season came to a close after just three games due to injury. He was able to receive a medical redshirt that fall.

Over the course of his career at IU, Ball has totaled 201 tackles, with 15.5 stops for loss, 16 passes defended, 4.5 sacks and 3 interceptions.

Per Zach Osterman of the Indianapolis Star, Indiana will move Bryant Fitzgerald into the starting role at the husky position on the depth chart. Fitzgerald is a redshirt junior for the Hoosiers with 58 tackles, 3 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles over the last two seasons.

Indiana opens the season against Penn State.