2016 Tight Ends Preview: Surrounded by Stars, Hoosier Tight Ends Fly Under the Radar

Jordan Fuchs is ready to step into a bigger role in the offense this season. Image: IndyStar.com

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Our position previews continue today as we take a look at an often overlooked but critical group for IU’s offense: tight end. IU’s tight end coach James Patton knows what good linemen and tight ends look like. He coached with Kevin Johns at Northwestern and worked with Kevin Wilson at Oklahoma. Patton oversaw a line that featured a total of five All-Americans and future NFL draft picks. He’s been at IU for four seasons and works as the tight end, fullbacks and offensive recruiting coordinator. While they may not have been stars in college, recent IU tight ends like Ted Bolser, Anthony Corsaro and Michael Cooper have been valuable members of some of the Big Ten’s best offenses. Tight ends aren’t just responsible for receiving and they aren’t used only as extra run blockers. Rather, the position requires flexibility and versatility. It requires strength along with quickness. Or toughness mixed with great hands. The Hoosiers have to replace the underrated Michael Cooper but the six guys that remain hope to form a strong group that can help IU’s attack remain at the top of the Big Ten.

The Starter

Danny Friend – 6’5” 265 pounds RS Junior

Danny Friend is back healthy after missing 9 games in 2015. Image: IUHoosiers.com

There will be many times that Indiana lines up in a two tight end set. There may even be times when they line up with three tight ends on the field. However, I think the most common lineup will feature three wideouts and one tight end and the best guy in the bunch is Danny Friend. The redshirt junior from Illinois has struggled with injuries during his Indiana career, suffering a season-ending knee injury prior to the 2014 season and a season-ending injury in the Wake Forest game in 2015. Before leaving the game against the Demon Deacons, Friend had played well and had 30 receiving yards against Western Kentucky. He’s a strong blocker and capable receiver that is very similar in skillset to Michael Cooper and Anthony Corsaro, guys that helped IU’s run attack immensely. 

“Danny will set the tone, he’s had a great summer and has made great gains. He’s got a big, physical presence, kind of like what Michael Cooper had last year for us. He’s skilled and athletic enough in the passing game, he’s got soft hands and so he’s got a great skillset.” Tight ends coach James Patton told Hoosier Huddle’s Sammy Jacobs recently. “We can use him in the line, off the line or we can use him flexed out. I’m excited to see how he does and he kind of sets the tone for the rest of the guys. Danny does his talking with his play.”

Friend told Jacobs that he’s ready to lead the way for the tight ends, “I’m feeling great. I feel strong and I’m ready to go. I just want to do whatever I can to help this team win.”

If Friend can stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t average a few catches each game (think roughly 30-35 catch season with 250-300 yards). His most crucial contribution though will probably come in the trenches, helping pave the way for IU’s running backs.

The Next Guys Up

Jordan Fuchs – 6’6”/235 Junior and Austin Dorris – 6’5”/255 RS Fr.

The next two guys on the depth chart are certainly different types of players but they should both feature prominently in IU’s plans. Jordan Fuchs is probably the most athletic of the tight ends and he’s shown glimpses of what he’s capable on the football field during his two years thus far in Bloomington. He played in all twelve games as a freshman and appeared in seven games a season ago, catching four passes for 38 yards with two touchdowns. His 6’6” frame and his athleticism (keep in mind, he was athletic enough to join the men’s basketball program and appeared in three games late in the 2014-2015 season) make him an enticing receiving target. He’s not been a strong blocker during his first two seasons, something he’s been working to improve this offseason, and it seems likely his role will come as more of an in-line or flexed out receiving option. Fuchs can be particularly tough for opponents nickel defensive backs to match up with and he could be used as a threat in the red zone, an area where IU needs to improve its efficiency in 2015.

“He’s (Fuchs) a long, athletic skilled guy, weighs 230 pounds. He needs to continue to get himself stronger and keep his weight up. Again, we can flex him out and play him off the line but he’s a leaner body than Danny. He can stretch the field a little bit more. He’s got a skillset and just needs to be consistent with his practice habits. If he can do that, he’ll really help us out and have a big role this year,” Patton told Hoosier Huddle. 

Austin Dorris is a redshirt freshman that projects as the direct backup to Danny Friend. He’s nearly identical in height and weight and he’s been working on his blocking, something that will need to be a strength if he is to be a valuable asset to the Hoosiers offense. Dorris is from Ohio and he played both quarterback and tight end in high school, throwing for more than 1,100 yards and rushing for more than 1,250 as he earned second-team all-state honors in Ohio. After missing most of spring ball with an arm injury, Dorris has been battling other aliments in fall camp that has opened the door for Ian Thomas and others to step up. When healthy, Dorris could be a force in the fall.

The Newcomers

Ian Thomas – 6’5”/225 pounds Junior, Shaun Bonner – 6’3”/245 pounds, Freshman, Ryan Watercutter – 6’2”/228 pounds RS Sophomore
 

The trio of newcomers took different routes to get to this point but they are all listed together. Thomas is a JUCO transfer, Ryan Watercutter is a converted linebacker and Bonner is a traditional incoming freshman.

First up is Ian Thomas. JUCO transfers are typically not brought in to sit on the bench, so history tells us to expect to see Ian Thomas on the field and helping the Hoosiers in some capacity. His frame and highlight tape suggest that he is a strong receiver that will rival Jordan Fuchs as the tight end that can stretch the field. Thomas has shown good hands in camp and it appears he can be a quick out and possession option for IU’s quarterback. He has had a great fall camp thus far and has the look of a good weapon for the quarterback to get comfortable with.

Ryan Watercutter came to Indiana after a very strong high school career at Fort Wayne's Bishop Dwenger High School. He walked on to the football program and redshirted the 2014 season and then did not see any game action as a linebacker. Watercutter did quality work on the scout-team winning two player of the week awards. He’s a very good athlete and I think tight end is a better fit for him that linebacker was. Watercutter will be behind the first four names I listed and he’s not as heavy as the more traditional on the line blocking tight ends are. If either Fuchs or Thomas goes down to injury, Watercutter could be called upon to serve as a receiving tight end, as he has shown great hands for a converted linebacker and has turned heads catching the ball since making the switch.

The final name on the list is Shaun Bonner, a big-bodied true freshman from Georgia. Bonner is used to winning, coming to Indiana after capturing back-to-back state championships at Colquitt County High School. The players ahead of him make it possible for the Hoosiers to redshirt Bonner and I think that would be ideal for both player and team. If there is an injury to either Friend or Dorris, the first option might be to play someone like Coy Cronk as an extra blocker instead of Bonner. However, if Bonner shows some chops as a blocker as well as a receiver, he may get the call in that situation. His size and skill (first team all-region in Georgia) make him an intriguing player for the future but as of now, I think he’ll redshirt as he is dealing with an injury that has held him out of fall drills. 

James Patton is excited about this group’s versatility and flexibility and he told Hoosier Huddle’s Sammy Jacobs that he’s ready to see what this group can do: “I think we’ve got a chance to be really potent. The multiple tight ends we have and the different things we can do from a personnel standpoint and formation standpoint is interesting.”

Predicted Rotation

Starter – Danny Friend
Primary “Back-Ups” – Jordan Fuchs, Ian Thomas and Austin Dorris
Next Options, Rotation Guys – Ryan Watercutter
Redshirt – Shaun Bonner 

Stay tuned as we continue the Hoosier Huddle countdown and the remainder of the most in-depth position previews available!