2024 Spring Football: Position Battle – Wide Receiver

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

The excitement is buzzing around the Indiana football program and now we’re entering a critical time to start building for next season: spring football. This will be Coach Cignetti’s first spring with the Hoosiers and today we’ll highlight what projects to be a strong unit for him, the wide receiver room. The room is pretty crowded, leaving many to suspect there could be additional movement after spring ball, but for now, here is how the roster stands.

The Experienced

Among these six players, Indiana has plenty of production – which is exactly what Cignetti was targeting in his transfer portal recruiting. The following have combined for 582 receptions, 7,164 yards, and 40 touchdowns over their college careers. Some of these players will certainly find a way to separate and be the elite group amongst the others, but all six should see serious playing time this fall.

Donaven McCulley – Senior 6’5 200

One of Cignetti’s best transfer portal “pickups” was actually just retaining McCulley from last year’s roster. The quarterback-turned-wide receiver broke out last season and led the Hoosiers with 48 receptions, 644 yards, and six touchdowns. He entered the portal after another losing season and the coaching change, but ultimately Cignetti was able to pull him away from offers of the likes of Texas A&M, Kentucky, UCLA, Nebraska, Michigan, Penn State, and more. The big-bodied receiver looks to build on last year’s success and leave his mark as one of the best receivers in the Big Ten.

Elijah Sarratt – Junior 6’2 205

Coach Cignetti was eventually able to bring his top wideout at James Madison along with him to Indiana this offseason when Elijah Sarratt committed to the Hoosiers at the beginning of January. Sarratt was a first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honoree last season after catching a team-high 82 passes for 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Utah, Kansas State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Cal, Purdue and South Carolina all offered Sarratt after he entered the portal, but ultimately he decided to follow his coach and join the Hoosiers. Sarratt is a go to receiver that can line up in multiple positions on the field and will be another reliable target for Indiana’s quarterbacks.

Myles Price – Senior+ 5’10 190

After highlighting a pair of bigger-bodied receivers, we now switch to another transfer pickup, but this time one that will do his damage primarily out of the slot. Myles Price joined Indiana in December after starting the last four seasons at Texas Tech. He was another productive guy, last season leading the Red Raiders in receptions with 43 and having seven touchdowns the last two years. He also offers the ability to return punts, which Indiana will need after Jaylin Lucas transferred. Price has sure hands and is great at finding the chains on key downs over the middle of the field.

Miles Cross – Senior 6’1 215 Pounds

If Kurtis Rourke is ultimately the starting quarterback like we expect him to be, he will have a familiar target to throw to in Miles Cross, a fellow Ohio transfer. Cross was Rourke’s number one target at Ohio, tallying 617 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He plays primarily on the outside. The Hoosiers beat out Florida Atlantic, South Florida, and Pittsburgh in this offseason’s transfer portal recruitment process.

Ke’Shawn Williams – Senior+ 5’11 190

Indiana needed more guys in the slot, and Cignetti found one in Ke’Shawn Williams from Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons struggled at quarterback last season, but Williams was still able to haul in 38 balls in 11 games after a 553-yard season in 2022. Williams will serve as another option to return kicks, just like he did for Wake Forest the last three seasons.

E.J. Williams Jr. – Senior+ 6’3 200

E.J. Williams returns to Indiana for his final season of eligibility after coming on strong in the second half of last year. After starting his career at Clemson, Tom Allen brought Williams in last season and he began to show glimpses of the greatness he showed early on in his career with the Tigers after returning from injury in week seven last year. Against Wisconsin he tallied 4 catches, all of which were for first downs and in the season finale against Purdue he caught a career-high with Indiana 6 balls for 97 yards. Williams has appeared in 41 games over his career, so he is well experienced in college football.

Rotation Guys

Andison Coby – Senior+ 6’2 175

Coby transferred from Tennessee after his 2021 sophomore season and has spent the last two years with the Hoosiers. He has been a solid depth piece, appearing in all 24 games that he has been a part of the program. He has made 10 starts at Indiana, totaling 2 touchdowns in his career and 23 receptions for 278 yards. Typically seen as a good separator, Coby has struggled with drops at times but brings good experience and is a deep-ball threat. 

Omar Cooper Jr – Redshirt Sophomore 6’1 195

Just as Cooper was beginning to get going last season he was injured in the Wisconsin game, so it will be interesting to see if he picks right up where he left off before the injury. He now has 13 games of experience under his belt and a couple starts, totaling 13 receptions for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. The former 4-star prospect out of Indianapolis is an exciting guy to serve as a depth piece and all eyes will be on if he can really blossom under the new coaching staff.

Kamryn Perry – Redshirt Sophomore 5’9 165

Kamryn Perry is a speedster that has just not gotten the reps to this point in his career to see all he is truly capable of. So far, he has appeared in 10 games and made his first career reception last year against Maryland. Speed has been an issue of Indiana teams in the past, so we will be on the lookout to see if he brings the quick-twitch burst that has been lacking from the Hoosiers receivers in the past.

Depth

Derrick Bohler – Redshirt Freshman 6’1 195

Bohler did not see any game action last season as a true freshman after being a 3-star recruit out of Miami Palmetto High School in Florida. He will continue to work his way up the depth chart behind many experienced, older players this season.

Derin McCulley – Redshirt Senior 6’0 170

McCulley transferred from Ball State in the summer of 2023 after appearing in 9 games with the Cardinals. He switched from defensive back to wide receiver in 2022 at Ball State and saw mostly special teams work last year for the Hoosiers.

The Walk Ons

Brady Simmons

Eli Jochem

Camden Jordan

Jackson Wasserstrom