Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 1 Day (Whop Philyor)

Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

We did it. We made it 295 days without IU football, for the first time in our lifetime… and hopefully the last. Tomorrow we wake up to an IU football gameday we did not expect to see in 2020. Indiana kicks off against Penn State at 3:30ET at The Rock.

Today we feature star wide receiver Whop Philyor, who will return wearing the number one jersey for his senior season.

Name – Whop Philyor

Position – Wide Receiver (Senior)

Hometown – Tampa, Florida (Plant HS)

Height – 5’11”

Weight – 180 pounds

Philyor has stood out since the day he stepped on the field in 2017 and quickly became a fan favorite with his swag and NFL-grade talent in making big plays.

In three years, Philyor has 126 receptions, 1572 yards, nine touchdowns, six 100-yard games and 5 double-digit reception games. Only twelve other Hoosiers have reached 125 catches and 1500 yards in the history of IU football.

Philyor is coming off a huge junior season that earned him IU offensive player of the year. He finished with a whopping 70 catches for 1,002 yards, that made him the seventh IU football player ever to surpass the 1,000 yard mark in a single season. He also holds the record for double-digit catch games with his three in 2019.

“Whop is a guy that has earned touches and we will be looking to get him the ball,” new OC Nick Sheridan said.  With his instant impact he brings to the field, he has also earned a target on his back. The double team and a shortened season will be the biggest barriers Philyor will fight to overcome and crush more records in 2020.

This preseason the Tampa, Florida product was named to the Maxwell Award and Biletnikoff award watch lists. In an unpredictable season, the only thing that is certain is Whop Philyor will leave his everything on the football field in his final season at IU.

“We’re ready.  We ain’t playing.  We’re on a mission this year