https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/top-10-wide-receivers-indiana-football-history
this one was a bit harder than RBs
You can always find room for a solid debate in these types of things if you want to get particular, but I think I agree with this.
Nice read...although not sure the yards for Ernie is accurate.
Hardy was a monster at WR but part of his gaudy stats was due to being far and away the best/most dependable target on an otherwise average team. His height and ability to catch contested balls was often used like a cheat code.
Even if we get WRs as talented as Hardy, we are too balanced for any WR to get close to Hardy's numbers. Plus, the transfer portal reduces the numbers of players actually here for 3 or more years. On the flip side, if we keep playing 16 games a year, we will have more games to get the numbers up.
@hurryinghoosiers I took his numbers from th IU record book. Sports reference did not count bowl game yards, IU does.
My favorite as a kid was Ernie Jones.
Very happy today's young fans now have the opportunity to grow their IU fandom with these elite WRs that Indiana keeps churning out.
How high could Charlie B climb with a standout year this year?
https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/top-10-wide-receivers-indiana-football-history
this one was a bit harder than RBs
WRs are tough. Indiana's had some damn good ones over the years. Probably our best overall position group.
I'd find a place for Tandon Doss in my top 10. 2x 1st team ABT. Gunn, Buther & Malinchek shared that distinction, I believe.
Also Pihos, who I think finished 4th in the Heisman voting his SR year (?) playing FB. 2nd team AA behind either Davis/Blanchard at FB (can't keep them straight) I have the feeling that he was more of a TE in college as we know the position today....but I could be wrong. Don't think he was split out like WRs today. I know he had a brilliant pro career as a receiver. I think he was a WR in the pros(?). He ended up being badly demented in his last years. Very sad story there.
Rob Turner at least needs some HM. He was a hell of a talent.
I agree with Hoosiers' evaluation of Hardy. I would have him lower on the list.
I'd have Duane Gunn higher on the list. I think the best physical specimen at the position (I'd have Rob Turner as #2). He just had a second gear to him and was hard as a rock. Averaged over 21 yards per catch his last year. Unfortunately ended up being indicted on federal racketeering charges.
I think there's some recency bias with Cooper and Sarratt. Great players, but so were the other guys.
Well I looked and a couple of errors there....Malinchek was only once 1st team ABT....Pihos was only 8th in the Heisman voting....but he was 1st team AA in '43 (2nd in '45 behind Blanchard at FB)
@mushroomgod Good points. Finding a spot for Pihos is really tough because of the Era. I still think RB is IU's best position in history, though. WR had some greats, but RB's best were better
@mushroomgod Good points. Finding a spot for Pihos is really tough because of the Era. I still think RB is IU's best position in history, though. WR had some greats, but RB's best were better
Yes, probably so. I need to look at your RB list....
@mushroomgod https://www.si.com/college/indiana/football/top-10-running-backs-in-indiana-football-history
Well, everybody knows the answer is Ernie Jones.
Who was ranked second and third?
Guess Ill go read it.
(Read it, enjoyed it! Pretty fair list. Probably agree with recency bias on Sarratt and Coop, but maybe 11-2, and 16-0 with a national title should rank a receiver higher. Its a team sport!)