Countdown to 2018 IUFB Kickoff: 15 Days (Nick Westbrook)

/
Countdown-3.png

Written By Lauralys Shallow

Countdown to Kickoff: #15- Nick Westbrook

Height: 6’3’”

Weight: 215 pounds

Hometown: Lake Mary, FL (Lake Mary High School)

Class/Position: Redshirt-Junior/Wide Receiver

Nick Westbrook is not only considered IU’s best wide receiver, but he is also considered one of the best wide receivers in all of the country heading into this season. Westbrook was on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the second year in a row. The award recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver.

Westbrook will return to the field after suffering an ACL injury on the first play of the 2017 campaign. In the 2016 season, Westbrook averaged 18.4 yards per catch, garnering 54 receptions for 995 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers ranked him second in the Big Ten in yardage (38th nationally), third in average per catch (T-27th nationally) and seventh in receptions.

Westbrook is an explosive playmaker. He led the conference with seven 40-plus yard receptions, tied for first with two 70-yarders and finished second with two 60-yarders in his 2016 season. Westbrook had three 100-yard games.

I expect Westbrook to start as a wide out for the Hoosiers. Westbrook led IU in yardage, TDs and yards per reception in 2016. Last year, Westbrook ran down the field once before his season ended. Westbrook has been a no-contact player throughout spring practices and has taken the rehabilitation process seriously. I expect Westbrook to be 100 percent come first kickoff of the 2018 campaign.

Getting Westbrook back is huge for IU, especially given that Simmie Cobbs Jr. is now a Washington Redskin. Cobbs was the leading receiver last year. Westbrook and senior Luke Timian are going to be the core of the receivers. Timian had 68 receptions, averaging 5.7 per game last year.

Westbrook is elusive, getting out of breaks quickly and dropping his defender. He is one of the most talented players in all of college football, and I am interested to see how he responds to all of the hype leading into his comeback season.