Spring Practice 2020 Position Preview – Wide Receivers
/
Written by Nathan Comp (@NathanComp1)
The receiver room will feature what is likely the most talented player on Indiana’s entire roster, Whop Philyor. Philyor announced his return for his senior year after the Gator Bowl loss stating, “unfinished business.” This article will highlight Philyor along with his other receiving counterparts, some of which may be new faces for Hoosier fans after growing accustomed to Donovan Hale and Nick Westbrook on the outside every snap.
Whop Philyor, Senior 5’11 178lbs
As previously mentioned, the headliner of this group, not so coincidentally wearing the #1 jersey, will be Whop Philyor. Philyor had a breakout 2019 season where he caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns. His season-long outbreak earned him second team All-Big Ten (coaches), third-team All-Big Ten (media), and Biletnikoff Award Watch List honors.
He enters 2020 with 126 receptions, 1,572 yards, nine touchdowns, six 100-yard games and five double-digit catch games. He became the 13th Hoosier to reach 125 receptions and 1,500 yards. Philyor is the program’s leader in double-figure catch games, shares seventh in 100-yard games, is 15th in catches, and 20th in yardage.
Always a charismatic individual, Whop has clearly shown he can bring the energy on the field too. He should be the focal point of all defensive coordinators scheming against Indiana in 2020.
Ty Fryfogle, Senior 6’2 204lbs
Supersize me! Ty Fryfogle has been on the field and making plays since his freshman year in 2017. Now a senior, Fryfogle will take over the full-time duty of the holes left with the graduations of Nick Westbrook and Donovan Hale. He’s proven himself a capable deep threat receiver and an even better fade target when in the redzone.
Fryfogle enters 2020 with 75 receptions and 998 yards. He is on pace to become the 47th Hoosier with 1,000 yards and the 28th with 1,000 yards and 100 catches. He finished third on the team in 2020 with 45 receptions for 604 yards and three touchdowns, appearing in all 13 games (12 starts). He earned offensive player of the week honors on the road against Nebraska in a game in which he collected 75 yards on four receptions, one going for a touchdown.
David Ellis, Sophomore 6’0 207lbs
If Whop is the most versatile athlete in the receiver’s room, then David Ellis is a close second. In his true freshman campaign, Ellis showed his versatility to line up anywhere on the field. He returned kicks, lined up in the backfield as a running back, and in the slot as a receiver, appearing in all 13 games. His best game as a receiver came in the loss at Penn State when Ellis took over the slot receiver responsibilities after Whop Philyor took a blow to the helmet. He posted seven receptions for 85 yards against the top-ten Nittany Lions that afternoon.
In 2020, keep an eye out for where new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan has Ellis lined up. We should expect similar offensive systems as to 2019, but fortunately for Ellis his versatility should allow him to see the field no matter the system.
Miles Marshall, Redshirt Sophomore 6’4 210lbs
After appearing in just one game and redshirting his 2018 freshman year, Marshall was able to see the field more in 2019. The redshirt freshman tallied 16 receptions for 196 yards and a touchdown on the year. His best game came in the regular season finale, where he caught four passes for 49 yards (both career-highs) against the Boilermakers in West Lafayette.
At 6’4 and 210 pounds, Marshall’s time is now. Donovan Hale and Nick Westbrook have moved on, and Marshall is the perfect fit to replace their production on the outside…
Jordan Jakes, Redshirt Freshman 6’5 210lbs
…but if it isn’t Miles Marshall that will fill Westbrook and Hale’s shoes, it will be Jakes. Or, more likely, it’ll be a combination of the two. Though he redshirted the 2019 season without having seen the field, Jakes has similar size along the outside and is a proven winner (never lost a high school game). The high school dual-sport athlete flashed his speed by participating in track and field in football’s off season. Coming out of high school, he was ranked the number 18 prospect in the state of Maryland by Rivals.
Jacolby Hewitt, Redshirt Sophomore 6’1 205lbs
Hewitt’s impact for the Hoosiers is yet to be seen. After redshirting his 2018 freshman season, Jacolby was unable to see the field in 2019 after suffering an ACL injury in June before the season started. Hewitt was ranked the 29th best prospect from the state of Tennessee by ESPN when originally recruited. The early enrollee earned scout team player of the week honors in 2018 against Penn State.
Da’Shaun Brown, Redshirt Freshman 6’2 180lbs
Da’Shaun Brown’s potential impact is also yet to be seen. The 2019 recruit redshirted the 2019 season but joined the team with an impressive high school resume, albeit at the quarterback position. Brown was ranked the number 1 prospect in Wisconsin by Rivals and the number 30 athlete nationally by 247Sports. Brown was a two0time offensive scout team player of the week this past year against Maryland and Northwestern.
Other Walk Ons
- Luke Shayotovich: My personal pick for walk-on most likely to breakout as he reminds me too much of Mitchell Paige… played in 4 games in 2019. Made his debut and caught his first pass against Eastern Illinois. Offensive scout team player of the week (Rutgers) and special teams scout team player of the week (Nebraska).
- Christian Harris: College of Dupage Illinois transfer, redshirted the 2019 season. Appeared in 3 games (@Neb, NW, Mich). Offensive scout team player of the week (OSU) and special teams player of the week (BSU).
- Justin Berry: 2019 Academic All-Big Ten selection. Appeared on special teams in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
- Bryan Parker: College of Dupage Illinois transfer. Redshirted the 2019 season after joining the program in fall camp.
- McCall Ray: Special teams scout player of the week against Connecticut.
- Cam Wilson: 2018 Illinois State transfer. Three career appearances (BSU, Eastern Illinois, Rutgers). Offensive scout team player of the week (Nebraska) and special teams player of the week (Northwestern, Maryland in 2018).