South alum Bomba accepts preferred walk-on offer from Indiana

If James Bomba wanted to wait it out, he could have come to Indiana the first time around.

Bomba, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end at Bloomington South, was committed to Miami (Ohio) in the summer before his senior season in 2019. But IU was still talking to him about a preferred walk-on spot, all the way up until the weeks before signing day in December.

One was a scholarship opportunity. The other wasn’t. But as the son of Matt Bomba, a former IU player and strength coach, and as the grandson of Dr. Brad Bomba and Bob Van Pelt, two Hoosier greats, it wasn’t an easy decision. There is a picture in James Bomba’s possession of himself as a 1-month-old, wearing an Antwaan Randle El jersey.

Randle El and his father are friends to this day.

“I was very torn,” Bomba said of his original IU offer. “It took a couple of weeks to stick with the decision and a lot of talks with my family and a lot of prayers and stuff. But even when I was at Miami, I always felt for Indiana. I never stopped being a fan of IU.”

When Bomba put his name in the transfer portal this past December, he had a second chance at becoming a Hoosier. And he seized it.

The Bloomington native announced Monday he will join IU’s program as a preferred walk-on in May.

“I feel like everything happens for a reason,” Bomba said, “and it’s gotten me back to this point, and I couldn’t be happier.”

This is a fresh start for Bomba, who was suspended by Miami (Ohio) in the fall after he was involved in an off-campus incident at a fraternity house. Bomba was initially charged with assault and trespass, both misdemeanors. The assault charge was dismissed, while Bomba pled no contest to trespass. He was given a 30-day suspended sentence, granted on the condition of good behavior.

Since leaving Miami (Ohio), Bomba has spent most of his time in Bloomington. He was even brought on to the South boys’ basketball coaching staff during the winter and was on the sideline for the Panthers’ run to semistate in March.

The former forward was on the hardwood during the season, too, giving South’s players a look during practice.

“I was like a player-coach, kind of did both. I was a connection between the coaches and players,” Bomba said. “I’ve thought about being a coach. … Even though I would like to be a football coach, it was a good learning with some of the best coaches in the state and the country at the high school level.”

Still, there was an itch to get back with a football team, and there were two main options that surfaced. Indiana State gave Bomba a scholarship offer. But, again, he had another chance to join IU as a preferred walk-on.

The latter was hard to pass up. IU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who was IU’s tight ends coach when he recruited Bomba out of high school, made another pitch.

“He made it clear he wanted me as a football player and he thinks that I can play, but he also emphasized the bigger picture,” Bomba said. “Years down the road, I’ll want to be in IU gear at tailgates, after I’m graduated, because that’s how it’s always been my whole life. If football weren’t in the picture, where would I want to go to school? So that’s an easy answer. I’d want to be at IU.”

Again, Bomba has deep roots with the Hoosiers. He not only has a father and grandfathers who played for IU, but Bomba’s mother, Kelly (Van Pelt) Bomba, is an associate athletic director with IU Athletics. Bomba was friends at Bloomington South with former quarterback Jake Johnson, whose dad, Billy Ray, was IU’s director of football operations for six seasons. That connection with the Johnsons also made Bomba friendly with running backs coach Deland McCullough and his sons.

And Bomba is already friends with IU athletes, including former South basketball player Anthony Leal and his teammates. Over the summer, Bomba was grilling steaks while Leal was mashing the potatoes and Trayce Jackson-Davis was working the asparagus.

At IU, Bomba has friends. He will be on a team led by a well-regarded coach, Tom Allen, and behind talented tight ends like Peyton Hendershot, Matt Bjorson, and A.J. Barner. IU also has another Bloomington product, North’s Aaron Steinfeldt, entering the mix next season.

Bomba may be a walk-on, but he’s coming to Bloomington to compete.

“I’d say it’s no different than if I would be on scholarship, because it’s personal for me. IU is so personal,” Bomba said.

Because of COVID-19, Bomba hasn’t been able to see either of his grandfathers in more than a year. But with vaccines being administered and an end to the pandemic in sight, Bomba is looking forward to visiting each of them and telling them about his move to IU.

Dr. Brad Bomba was an All-Big Ten end for IU in 1955. Bob Van Pelt was an All-Big Ten center for IU in 1966.

“They’ve always been my biggest fans, they’ve always supported me,” Bomba said, adding his mom did call each of them. “I think they felt it was pretty cool I’d be joining IU. I know they had smiles on their faces. Even though I couldn’t see them in person, I know they did.”

In the interim, the younger Bomba is readying to join the Hoosiers. He’s been working out with a trainer in Indianapolis, Levar Johnson. They hone in on Bomba’s hands, his route-running, his hand-eye coordination.

“It’s been hard being away from it, and I’m excited to get back,” Bomba said. “But, like I said, everything happens for a reason and I trust in that fully. I know right when I get to IU, I’m going to work my hardest and see where things take me.”