Kevin Wright Wanted to Develop Tight End Depth, the Hoosiers Have that Heading into 2020

Peyton Hendershot had a record breaking 2019 Image: Amanda Pavelka, Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana tight ends coach Kevin Wright has only seen IU practice four times. However, he knows exactly what his mission for that position group is and that is to build depth. “Our big emphasis for spring was just to try to develop depth. You didn't have Peyton (Hendershot) out there so it gave everybody the opportunity really to get equal reps.”

The Hoosiers entered spring practice without their best tight end Peyton Hendershot who was suspended from the team due to an arrest in February but has been back with the team in a modified role according to Tom Allen. Having Hendershot back will be a sigh of relief as the redshirt junior set school records for receptions (52) and yards (622) in 2019, but there are players ready to step up to help take some pressure off of Hendershot.

An injury or suspension opens the door for other players to get a chance. Redshirt sophomore Turon Ivy, who played in 11 games and caught three passes for 24 yards, was one of the young players that started to grab Kevin Wright’s attention.

“You got a chance to see a guy like TJ Ivy do some different things,” Wright said “he did play a little bit last year so I was able to watch him on tape, but not to see it up close and personal. I felt like TJ had a good spring.”

The Hoosiers also return redshirt freshman Gary Cooper who took advantage of the four game red shirt rule and made two catches last year.

“His skill set is probably totally different than anybody else in the room just because of the speed factor,” Wright spoke of Copper, “in testing I think he was one of the top four or five guys on our team in regards to speed. He's not quite as big, but I think with quickness and speed, it helps make him a different type of player that we can plug and play with.”

The Hoosiers have three more tight ends with experience on a college field.

Junior Matt Bjorson was Hendershot’s understudy last season and came up with some timely catches, including a touchdown at Nebraska. In total, Bjorson made seven catches for 36 yards in 2019. “I think you see the older guys like Matt Bjorson who really stepped up during spring practice. He was thrust into the position of being THE guy” Wright said.

Ryan Barnes, who enters his redshirt sophomore season with five games under his belt, was having a solid spring session before things were shut down and just adds to the tight end room.

The newest Hoosier tight end is graduate transfer Khameron Taylor who comes in from the University of South Alabama.

“I think that what we've found in Kham was a guy that had predominately been a blocker in the offense he was in and also who is a really good athlete who has the potential I think to catch the football. You'll have to talk to him a little bit about that. I told him he's probably not going to block power very much like he did at his previous school. He's going to have to block. Don't get me wrong. I think you'll see some of the athleticism that when you watch the tape you see. I think as far as fitting into our room, he fits as the guy that has that hybrid ability” Wright said of Taylor.

When and if he Hoosiers hit the field in 2020 a position that was largely dormant before 2019, will have the unique mix of experience, talent, youth in a group that can go six deep.