After an Off-Season of Hard Work Austin Dorris is Running Better and Ready to Roll in 2018

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After an Off-Season of Hard Work Austin Dorris is Running Better and Ready to Roll in 2018

Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

Austin Dorris, a three-star tight end, joined the Hoosiers as part of the 2015 recruiting class. Dorris played both quarterback and tight end at Shadyside High School in Ohio. Earning a first team all-state selection and Ohio Valley Player of the Year honors, Dorris racked up 1,100 yards passing and 1,250 yards rushing as a senior. The versatile, 6-foot-5 athlete was also a three-year letter winner in basketball and baseball. Dorris redshirted his first year in Bloomington. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Dorris appeared in seven games while earning an Academic All-Big Ten selection.

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Austin Dorris Readying for the Spotlight

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Austin Dorris Readying for the Spotlight

Written By Alex Compton (@alexncompton)

After a redshirt year and two years serving as a depth guy, Austin Dorris is now one of just two upperclassmen at tight end, joining Ryan Watercutter at the position. After Mike DeBord was hired, he emphasized getting the tight ends more involved in Indiana’s passing game, and it was met with mixed results. Probable NFL Draft selection Ian Thomas was a solid asset in the passing game last year catching 25 balls for 376 yards and 5 touchdowns, but no other tight end caught a ball last year besides Watercutter, who tallied 12 of them for a total of 69 yards. Tight end has been an overlooked position at Indiana for a while now, as no guy has gone over 400 yards in a year since Ted Bolser in 2012.

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Spring Practice 2018 Position Battle: Tight End

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Spring Practice 2018 Position Battle: Tight End

Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

Indiana head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike DeBord will have their hands full in trying to replace the production from former tight end Ian Thomas. As alluded to in our positional preview, Thomas will graduate in May and pursue an NFL career. Analysts project him to be selected anywhere between the third and fifth round of the NFL Draft in April. Ian Thomas’ size and athleticism make him an intriguing pro prospect, as well as a difficult player for Indiana to replace.

After seeing former IU tight end Danny Friend catch just seven passes during Kevin Wilson’s final year as coach, Hoosier football fans rejoiced upon learning Mike DeBord took more advantage of the position in the passing game. The results spoke for themselves as Thomas compiled 25 catches for 276 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, former walk-on Ryan Wattercutter added 12 catches for 69 yards. Indiana will continue to utilize their tight ends in the passing game and especially in the red zone. Wattercutter will return to IU as a redshirt senior this season. He will be joined by redshirt sophomore Shaun Bonner, redshirt junior Austin Dorris, and redhirt freshman Peyton Hendershot. Which Hoosier tight end will step and deliver in 2018? 

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Spring Practice 2018 Position Preview: Tight End

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Spring Practice 2018 Position Preview: Tight End

Written By Rylie Kyhn

With the new offensive coordinator and tight end coach Mike DeBord’s system being put in
place in 2017, the tight end position saw more action last season than in previous years. Going
into the Hoosiers 2017 season there was a big name everyone was talking about to watch for
on the offensive side of the ball, Ian Thomas. At 6’5’’ 250 pounds, they looked for him to be an
incredible weapon at the tight end position. Thomas added an important element to the
Hoosiers offense last season, leading the team in average yards per reception and scoring 5
touchdowns during his senior season. Thomas graduates in May and will look to pursue a
career in the NFL, and the Hoosiers will look to fill the starting tight end position.

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After Disappearing Under Kevin Wilson, the Tight End Position Should Remerge Under Mike DeBord

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After Disappearing Under Kevin Wilson, the Tight End Position Should Remerge Under Mike DeBord

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! 

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2017 Spring Practice Preview: Tight Ends

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2017 Spring Practice Preview: Tight Ends

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The tight ends at Indiana caught 10 total passes and their usage, or lack there of, drove Hoosier fans insane. The good news is that Tom Allen brought in Mike DeBord whose tight ends caught a combined 45 passes at Tennessee last season. The talent at the position is not the problem. IU will have five good ones entering spring practice and another joining the squad when the freshmen arrive on campus. Could this deep, but under utilized group be the answer to some of IU’s offensive woes that flared in 2016?

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2016 Tight Ends Preview: Surrounded by Stars, Hoosier Tight Ends Fly Under the Radar

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2016 Tight Ends Preview: Surrounded by Stars, Hoosier Tight Ends Fly Under the Radar

Our position previews continue today as we take a look at an often overlooked but critical group for IU’s offense: tight end. IU’s tight end coach James Patton knows what good linemen and tight ends look like. He coached with Kevin Johns at Northwestern and worked with Kevin Wilson at Oklahoma. Patton oversaw a line that featured a total of five All-Americans and future NFL draft picks. He’s been at IU for four seasons and works as the tight end, fullbacks and offensive recruiting coordinator. While they may not have been stars in college, recent IU tight ends like Ted Bolser, Anthony Corsaro and Michael Cooper have been valuable members of some of the Big Ten’s best offenses. Tight ends aren’t just responsible for receiving and they aren’t used only as extra run blockers. Rather, the position requires flexibility and versatility. It requires strength along with quickness. Or toughness mixed with great hands. The Hoosiers have to replace the underrated Michael Cooper but the six guys that remain hope to form a strong group that can help IU’s attack remain at the top of the Big Ten.

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Countdown to Kickoff: 83 Days (Austin Dorris)

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Countdown to Kickoff: 83 Days (Austin Dorris)

#83 

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown rolls on! There are now only 83 days remaining until the 2016 season kicks off in Miami as IU will take on Florida International. Our profile today focuses on a redshirt freshman that has some very enticing potential: tight end Austin Dorris.

Austin Dorris (Redshirt Freshman)

-Height: 6’5”
-Weight: 247 pounds
-Hometown: Shadyside, Ohio (Shadyside High School)
-Position: Tight End

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