Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers came into the 2016 season with an inordinate amount of depth at the wide receiver position, after just two games that depth is going to be put to the test. After one offensive play Saturday, the Hoosiers lost Simmie Cobbs to a significant ankle injury that he underwent surgery to repair on Tuesday morning and will land him on the sidelines a significant amount of time, if not the rest of the season. So with Cobbs’ future in doubt whom should IU fans look for to step up and fill the role?
The Logical Answer
The logical answer here is sophomore Nick Westbrook, who has picked up the slack over the first two contests when Cobbs missed the first game due to suspension and was injured early on in the second.
Westbrook, out of Lake Mary, Florida, is similar in size to Cobbs at 6’3” and can play much of the same style as Cobbs as well. Through two games so far this season Westbrook has nine catches for 203 yards and two scores. He probably has more speed than Cobbs, but Wilson said Westbrook is “just maturing. He was more physical (Saturday). Last week he had better maybe numbers as far as catches but he wasn't as physical. Today he physically played a lot more competitive and played harder, and that was good to see.”
Westbrook looks to be ready to step up saying “Coach is always saying next guy up, someone always has to be there whenever somebody is down or somebody gets hurt. I took the most out of my opportunity and did the most of what I could do” after the game Saturday.
The Elder Statesmen (Ricky Jones and Mitchell Paige)
Indiana loses one of its starters, however the other two starting wide outs are not too shabby. Redshirt seniors Ricky Jones and Mitchell Paige have both proved themselves to be quality Big Ten receivers.
Paige, while a different style of receiver than Cobbs, can make up for some of the production lost. He is a go-to-guy in the slot and has started to become more comfortable with quarterback Richard Lagow. So far on the 2016 season, Paige has eight catches for 105 yards. He can become a much bigger part of this offense if necessary.
Ricky Jones, however, needs to use this opportunity to prove that last year was not just a flash in the pan. Jones finished second on the team a year ago in receiving yards with 906 and found himself on the preseason Bilitkinoff Award watch list, but has yet to get going this year. Through two games Jones has just three catches for 18 yards. That just is not good enough. Jones does posses the ability to be both a possession receiver and a player who can stretch the field over the top.
From The Bench (Donavan Hale, Luke Timian, Marqui Hawkins and Mike Majette)
These are three names that Hoosier fans should be familiar with, but who have not seen as much of the field as others. All three of these players bring their own skill set to the receiver or running back position.
Donavan Hale is a tremendous athlete with great hands, who deserves a shot to get the ball more often. So far he has one catch for 18 yards in 2016. He is a bigger body who can muscle up defensive backs and run past linebackers.
Luke Timian has made himself a legend in Bloomington despite just two career touchdowns and a seven catches, but this kid can play and play well when the lights are brightest. He’s not afraid to go over the middle and can catch the deep ball as well. Currently, Timian is the third leading receiver behind Westbrook and Paige.
Hopes were high surrounding Marqui Hawkins when he transferred to Indiana from UAB, but injuries and a lack of production has buried him on the depth chart. He has appeared in both games this season, but has yet to catch a ball as a Hoosier. Is he ready to step up or will he continue to be passed up by players around him?
Running back Mike Majette has looked very good this season catching the ball out of the backfield with two catches for 54 yards. IU may not want to move him into the slot, but he can be a real weapon on screen and swing passes out of the backfield with his ability to make defenders whiff and get up the field.
Do You Burn A Redshirt Year? (Kiante Enis, Phil Benker, Jonah Morris, and Taysir Mack)
Indiana brought in a bunch of talented freshman receivers as part of the 2016 signing class. The biggest question is, does the staff want to burn a year of eligibility. There are many factors that go into answering that question. A couple of them is, how much will said player actually help the team and are they ready to handle life in the Big Ten?
Kiante Enis came to Indiana as a running back, but moved to slot receiver during fall camp to shore up depth there. He is a tremendous athlete and can be a difference maker if given a chance.
Phil Benker is more of an outside receiver who can stretch the field and give IU a shot at the homerun ball. Physically at 6’2” 203-pounds, Benker looks ready to be given a shot, but will it worth is year to be eased into playing time.
Jonah Morris missed some time during camp with a lower body injury, which set him back. Before the injury he looked like one of the true freshmen that could crack the lineup. I would expect him to be a last resort of sorts for the staff.
Taysir Mack, out of New York, has big play ability and good hands. He had a very good fall camp, but at only 187-pounds is he physically ready for the 10-game grind IU has to close out the season.
Waiting in The Wings (Camion Patrick)
There is one player that Hoosier Nation has been clamoring to see more than any other and that is Camion Patrick. The player Wilson called the best on the team after last year’s win at Purdue. Patrick was supposed to start the year at running back, but suffered a knee injury that required surgery early in spring practice. He is still nursing his way back to full-health, but when he is ready he will likely see more time at receiver than running back in order to avoid the pounding on his knee. If and when Camion comes back, he will add a home run threat to the offense, a guy who can make a play anytime it is needed. If he lives up to the billing, Patrick will take this offense to a new level and give them another playmaker on the outside.
