Written by: Amanda Pavelka (@AmandaPavelka3)
One of the youngest position groups for the Indiana Hoosiers lies in the tight ends. In his third year of coaching at Indiana, Nick Sheridan, the man responsible for reeling in Michael Penix, transitioned from quarterbacks to tight ends. With the expertise of strength and conditioning staff David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea, Sheridan has done a fine job developing the youthful, talented group of five so far.
-Peyton Hendershot- 6’4”/255 pounds - Redshirt Sophomore
The returning starter from North Salem, Indiana is looking for a breakout year. Hendershot suffered an injury his freshman year, taking the medical redshirt in 2017 after appearing in four games. At his first opportunity, he bounced back and made his presence known in last season when he most famously carried a career-high 32-yard touchdown against No. 3 Ohio State and sealed the road win against Rutgers with a 25-yard reception on fourth down. Hendershot’s 2018 stat line reads: 15 receptions, 163 yards, two touchdowns, a pair of tackles, one for loss, and a blocked punt. With a productive year under his belt and an added 10 pounds, he’s capable of adapting as a more confident hybrid to new offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer’s scheme quite well.
-Matt Bjorson- 6’3”/249 pounds - Sophomore
As a freshman, Matt Bjorson showed flashes of potential early-on with his 15-yard catch in the season-opener at Florida International and a pair of catches totaling 31 yards against Ball State. In total, he secured five catches for 53 yards in the 12 games he played. Bjorson has made some great plays in fall camp and is has the potential to really contribute on offense. He comes back for his sophomore year 12 pounds bigger, more powerful, beaming confidence— expect to see more receptions and blocks as a product of his hard work in the offseason.
-TJ Ivy- 6’5”/ 257 pounds - Redshirt Freshman
TJ Ivy was forced to take the bench his freshman season, and remains one of the most talented Hoosiers whose potential has yet to be tapped. Ivy’s size and impressive high school resume qualifies him for number three tight end, although it is very possible he could earn more play time if he takes advantage of the chance to prove himself early-on this season. Ivy’s added 10 pounds in the offseason and presents like a Big Ten tight end. He’s on the list of players I’m most excited to see take the field in the upcoming season.
-Ryan Barnes- 6’4”/ 249 pounds - Redshirt Freshman
A walk-on from Noblesville, Indiana, Ryan Barnes joined the team and has been a contributing member of the scout team. Barnes was awarded offensive scout team player of the week twice, for games against Virginia and Iowa and was also special team scout player of the week against Michigan last season. Barnes did not waste time pursuing his dream to play college football in the offseason— he put on 23 pounds. With a competitive tight-end group, there just is not room for Barnes— expect him to contribute behind the scenes this season.
-Gary Cooper- 6’2”/ 235 pounds - Freshman
To redshirt or not to redshirt Gary Cooper will be one of the biggest decisions for the tight ends group in the 2019 season. Cooper may be the most versatile tight end in the group— his sturdy frame and speedy catching could be lethal for Indiana’s opponents. Ranked No. 13 hybrid tight end by ESPN, Cooper makes the future of Indiana football look bright, but with the competition at the tight end spot, a redshirt could be a smart move. Either way, he has four games to decide what’s best for Cooper and Indiana football.
