Redshirt Freshmen Receivers Omar Cooper and Kamryn Perry Coming into Their Own

Photo: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times, USA TODAY Sports

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Heading into the 2022 season there were two really intriguing true freshman wide receivers that could have been labeled as sleeper picks to be a breakout star for the offense. However, that never materialized as both Omar Cooper and Kamryn Perry retained their redshirt seasons and played a combined five games with zero catches. The Hoosiers are hoping that they can have the break out seasons that fans envisioned in 2023.

Spring practice is a time for growth for younger players and both Cooper and Perry are experiencing their first spring session with IU.

“The maturity when you go from a true freshman to a redshirt freshman, but it's still march for spring ball and so coming to us in the summer last year that does make a difference.” Tom Allen explained. “So just learning how to practice in this setting. You have 15 days you are not preparing for a game. There's a grind component to it that you have to work through and I have four straight weeks, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday now. You want to stress our guys because you want to be able to expose things in from the mental perspective mostly, and then the physical part as well, but I want those young guys to learn how to do that because if you play a lot of physical long seasons, you got to be able to produce from day one all the way to the finish.”

Cooper was wasted last season being used early in the year on kickoff returns and rarely saw snaps at the receiver position, but it is still game experience. The former four-star recruit out of Lawrence North in Indianapolis has started to get noticed by Allen this spring.

“They make plays, especially Omar. He's been consistent with that” Allen said after practice on Tuesday.

Perry, at 5’9”, is smaller than the 6’1” Cooper, but his speed and quickness makes him an ideal weapon for the Hoosiers to use all over the field.

“Kam is so dynamic and explosive. (We) see him as a guy who would be able to be in a slot position there and multiple ways to once again get him the ball as well.” Allen said.

The Hoosiers lost several receivers in the offseason to graduation and the transfer portal, so having Cooper and Perry progress and be contributors in the passing game is vital to IU’s success on offense.

“Those guys have made progress like they needed to, but it's just a continual growth has to be there and it's and I'm looking for consistency every day.” Allen explained.

The Hoosiers will hold their sixth practice of the spring session on Saturday and fans will have a chance at a “sneak peak” at the Hoosiers on April 15th during their Spring Football Event.