After Disappearing Under Kevin Wilson, the Tight End Position Should Remerge Under Mike DeBord
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Tight end ian Thomas is ready for a breakout senior season Image: Sammy Jacobs HoosierHuddle.com
Written By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)
Kevin Wilson had some dynamic offenses at Indiana, there’s no other way of putting that. Wilson featured a pass-happy offense at first that slowly developed into a balanced attack capable of putting every team in the Big Ten on watch for a given weekend. The offense was not as successful last year due to a lackluster running game, but the passing game was still solid, checking in at 23rd in the country according to the S&P+. Despite the decent numbers on offense last season and the insane numbers that Wilson put up on O during his tenure, there was one gripe that was legitimate from year to year. What was it? Throw the ball to the tight ends!
Indiana has had some good tight ends over the years, but Kevin Wilson just never had an offense that suited their skills very well at all. Tom Allen has promised to utilize the group more since he took over as head coach, and brining in Mike DeBord as offensive coordinator makes the claim more believable. Before we dive in to the group, I just want to remind you that likely starter Danny Friend has moved to tackle for his final season. He had offseason surgery and just hasn’t gotten the mobility that he needs to play tight end back. Friend was pretty much exclusively a blocking tight end anyways, so brining him in for some extra protection will likely be his role this season. With that being said, this piece will focus on the rest of the tight end group, as Friend’s role is still somewhat uncertain at this point.
Potential Starter
Ian Thomas
If you’re looking for one guy on the entire team to have a breakout season, my pick would be Ian Thomas. I felt this way all offseason, as Tom Allen, Richard Lagow, and those around the program have been absolutely raving about his camp. Now with the news of Danny Friend switching to tackle, I feel even more strongly that Thomas is ready to become a huge part of Indiana’s success this year. He and Lagow have become very close, and hopefully that chemistry pays off on the field for the Hoosiers. Indiana needs to utilize the tight ends more this season, and throwing the ball to #80 would be a great start.
Although Thomas only caught three passes last year (two in Foster Farms Bowl), I do believe he has the ability to be a difference maker for IU this season. He looked really really good in the spring game if you remember, and now that he is the #1 option at tight end, there is no reason why he can’t catch 20 passes this year with a few going for scores. Thomas is a very balanced tight end, so even when he isn’t running routes, he’ll still be on the field.
Key Depth
Austin Dorris
With Friend’s switch, Austin Dorris is now your clear-cut #2 tight end. He has been quietly waiting behind some guys over the past few seasons, and now should have the chance to show what he’s got. Dorris is the most athletic guy of the group, so that definitely plays in his favor, but you’ll have to be able to block effectively as well to play in Mike DeBord’s offense. Dorris appeared in seven games last year for IU without a catch, but I do still think he is talented enough to contribute meaningful snaps. The former high school quarterback should give defenses a different look, and I think you have to keep your eye out for him this season.
Ryan Watercutter
If you missed it, Ryan Watercutter was the latest IU walk-on to receive a scholarship from Tom Allen. All he did over his two years so far was just grind it out. He outworked everyone on the scout team, so much so that he was named offensive scout team player of the year last year even after switching from linebacker during camp. He dominated in high school as well, putting up insane numbers as a linebacker and a tight end at Bishop Dwenger in Fort Wayne. Here’s his bio from IUHoosiers.com: "Played for head coach Chris Svarczkopf at Bishop Dwenger High School ... Indiana Associated Press All-State as a junior and senior ... Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 and All-State as a junior and senior ... three-time all-conference and 2013 first team All-Northeast Indiana selection ... two-time team MVP led Bishop Dwenger to the 2013 state championship game ... posted 93 tackles and seven interceptions ... caught 71 passes for 1,191 yards and totaled 11 touchdowns ... holds school records for most receptions and most receiving yards ... ranks second all-time with 17 INTs ... three-year football and two-year basketball letter winner."
Sleeper
Shaun Bonner
Shaun Bonner was one of IU’s more interesting commitments in the 2016 class. The tight end from Georgia wasn’t ranked, and had just one other offer to Georgia Southern. Despite both of those things, former head man Kevin Wilson saw something in him that made him want Bonner in Bloomington. #88 redshirted his freshman year last year and will have four years left to play beginning 6 days from today against Ohio State. He has good size at 6’3” 250, and the thing I like about him the most is his play style. He is a classic hand in the ground tight end who will most likely be used in bigger sets with another tight end. Bonner was scout team player of the week once last year for the Rutgers game, so he definitely could see the field and make a few plays.
Outlook
This is one of the most interesting units on the entire team. Indiana hasn’t used the tight end well over the last few seasons, and with a new staff saying they will, it is going to be interesting to see who steps up. The group as a whole is 5 guys deep with incoming freshman Peyton Hendershot, and returns just THREE catches as a unit. That is obviously an issue, but there are guys in the group that should be able to step up and make some plays. Ian Thomas is my pick for offensive breakout player of the year, while the 3-4 guys behind him all have the talent to help this offense move down the field. Tom Allen and Mike DeBord have made a promise to use the TE’s more, but it is now up to these guys to prove that they deserve the usage in an offense with so many deadly weapons.