Countdown to 2018 IUFB Kickoff: 88 Days (Shaun Bonner)

Written By Rylie Kyhn

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: #88- Shaun Bonner

Height: 6’3’’
Weight: 256 pounds
Hometown: Moultrie, Georgia
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Position: Tight End

A a late add to Indiana’s 2016 recruiting class under Coach Kevin Wilson, but a good one no
doubt. Shaun Bonner is a tight end out of Georgia with good hands and a strong build. Bonner
was originally committed to Georgia Southern but then flipped his commitment to Indiana the
final Sunday before National Signing Day.

He played on varsity three years, 2014-2016, under coach T. Rush Propst on a team that won
back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015. As a junior, he played in 15 games and
posted 22 receptions for 175 yards and was named second team all-region and helped the team
go undefeated in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Bonner played at tight end on the number
one ranked team in Georgia and was one of the top recruits on the team finishing with
impressive numbers. As a senior he played in fourteen games with 30 receptions for 314 yards
averaging 10.5 yards per reception and was named first team all-region.

As a Hoosier, he redshirted the 2016 season and made a strong debut in the 2017 Cream and
Crimson game. Quarterback Richard Lagow connected with Bonner on a few crucial plays and
he was the only tight end on the Cream team which gave him a lot of exposure to the offense.
He played in eleven games last season, primarily on special teams but saw time at tight end in
the win over Georgia Southern. He is a strong blocker with good hands, makes consistent plays,
and is one of the more underrated players on the offensive side of the ball.

Throughout spring practice this year he turned a few heads and put himself on the radar of
players to watch for. At 6’3’’, 250 pounds he has a similar build to Ian Thomas, the previous
starting tight end, and the size and strength to be a dominant player in Coach Debord’s offense
in upcoming seasons. The Hoosiers have quite a bit of depth at tight end, so this summer and
pre-season will be the time for him to step up and showcase his abilities to earn himself field
time.