Following an up-and-down home opener against Old Dominion, in which Indiana’s talented wide receiver corps was quiet, fans were wondering what had happened to the explosive air attack that they had been used to all last season. It seems as though the Hoosiers’ wide receiver room was equally unsatisfied with their performance against ODU as they quickly got back on track Saturday against Kennesaw State.
In their second drive of the game, all three of IU’s star wideouts got involved and helped move the chains. First it was EJ Williams Jr., who caught a dart from Fernando Mendoza for 14 yards. Then, it was Elijah Sarratt’s turn, catching a 13-yard strike. Finally, it was Omar Cooper Jr.’s turn, catching a quick strike and then turning upfield for a gain of 40 yards. This set up Indiana’s first touchdown of the day and became emblematic of how the game was going to go for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers ended the game with a whopping 280 passing yards and 5 touchdowns.
When asked if there was an emphasis on the passing game in practice leading up to the game, starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza said, “I owe them, I think that [we] really put in the extra work to get that timing, and really had more intentionality this week… so I think that that extra work, that preparation, that intentionality really [helped] and [we] gotta keep on doing that to keep the momentum going.”
That extra work was especially evident in the connection between Mendoza and receiver Elijah Sarratt. The duo combined for 97 yards and 3 touchdowns, Sarratt’s first hat trick since his JMU days. When asked about how their chemistry has grown since week 1, Mendoza said, “He’s Waffle House [he’s always open], I didn’t target him enough the first game and evidently I think I targeted him enough today.”
After the game, Sarratt spoke on the connection as well saying that Mendoza, “is only going to get better each week.” However it was really fellow receiver E.J. Williams who Sarratt wanted to talk about. Williams, who ended the day with 27 yards and a touchdown has become a fixture of the Hoosiers’ offense. When asked what has allowed Williams to take that next step, Sarratt said, “He’s healthy. That’s all it is. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best receivers in the nation. I tell him that he’s one of the most talented, gifted receivers I’ve ever seen and it’s just a matter of him staying on the field. Everything that he wants is going to come his way for sure. He’s my dawg.”
This receiving corps also had a huge impact in the run blocking game on Saturday. Perhaps no play illustrates this more than Omar Cooper Jr.’s 75-yard touchdown run. “It was a reverse, we had some really good blocking, the O linemen did well, Elijah Sarratt, he secured the defensive end, and then both our tight ends Holden Staes and Riley [Nowakowski] they were both blocking downfield so I really appreciate them and they helped me get the job done.” Cooper said after the game.
While this statement performance by the wide receivers was a welcome sight to Indiana fans, the receivers themselves are far from satisfied. “I wouldn’t say [I’m satisfied], cause we still gotta to continue to work, because we still missed some plays. So just making sure that we keep getting better everyday and trust whatever the coach calls and go out there and execute.” Cooper Jr. said after the game.
The Hoosiers will have one more opportunity to continue to get better before Big 10 play begins, as they face off against Indiana State next Friday.