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Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 230 pounds
-Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
-Position: Tight End
Read MoreWritten By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Indiana head coach Tom Allen and offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike DeBord will have their hands full in trying to replace the production from former tight end Ian Thomas. As alluded to in our positional preview, Thomas will graduate in May and pursue an NFL career. Analysts project him to be selected anywhere between the third and fifth round of the NFL Draft in April. Ian Thomas’ size and athleticism make him an intriguing pro prospect, as well as a difficult player for Indiana to replace.
After seeing former IU tight end Danny Friend catch just seven passes during Kevin Wilson’s final year as coach, Hoosier football fans rejoiced upon learning Mike DeBord took more advantage of the position in the passing game. The results spoke for themselves as Thomas compiled 25 catches for 276 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, former walk-on Ryan Wattercutter added 12 catches for 69 yards. Indiana will continue to utilize their tight ends in the passing game and especially in the red zone. Wattercutter will return to IU as a redshirt senior this season. He will be joined by redshirt sophomore Shaun Bonner, redshirt junior Austin Dorris, and redhirt freshman Peyton Hendershot. Which Hoosier tight end will step and deliver in 2018?
Read MoreWritten By Rylie Kyhn
With the new offensive coordinator and tight end coach Mike DeBord’s system being put in
place in 2017, the tight end position saw more action last season than in previous years. Going
into the Hoosiers 2017 season there was a big name everyone was talking about to watch for
on the offensive side of the ball, Ian Thomas. At 6’5’’ 250 pounds, they looked for him to be an
incredible weapon at the tight end position. Thomas added an important element to the
Hoosiers offense last season, leading the team in average yards per reception and scoring 5
touchdowns during his senior season. Thomas graduates in May and will look to pursue a
career in the NFL, and the Hoosiers will look to fill the starting tight end position.
Written By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)
Kevin Wilson had some dynamic offenses at Indiana, there’s no other way of putting that. Wilson featured a pass-happy offense at first that slowly developed into a balanced attack capable of putting every team in the Big Ten on watch for a given weekend. The offense was not as successful last year due to a lackluster running game, but the passing game was still solid, checking in at 23rd in the country according to the S&P+. Despite the decent numbers on offense last season and the insane numbers that Wilson put up on O during his tenure, there was one gripe that was legitimate from year to year. What was it? Throw the ball to the tight ends!
Read MoreWritten By Alex Compton (@Alexncompton)
The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off has begun! There are now 85 days until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2017 season against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The summer is flying by and we are already two weeks into our countdown. Today’s countdown takes a look at #85 Ryan Watercutter.
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The tight ends at Indiana caught 10 total passes and their usage, or lack there of, drove Hoosier fans insane. The good news is that Tom Allen brought in Mike DeBord whose tight ends caught a combined 45 passes at Tennessee last season. The talent at the position is not the problem. IU will have five good ones entering spring practice and another joining the squad when the freshmen arrive on campus. Could this deep, but under utilized group be the answer to some of IU’s offensive woes that flared in 2016?
Read MoreHere are the award winners from the 2016 Indiana Football Team Banquet:
Read MoreOur position previews continue today as we take a look at an often overlooked but critical group for IU’s offense: tight end. IU’s tight end coach James Patton knows what good linemen and tight ends look like. He coached with Kevin Johns at Northwestern and worked with Kevin Wilson at Oklahoma. Patton oversaw a line that featured a total of five All-Americans and future NFL draft picks. He’s been at IU for four seasons and works as the tight end, fullbacks and offensive recruiting coordinator. While they may not have been stars in college, recent IU tight ends like Ted Bolser, Anthony Corsaro and Michael Cooper have been valuable members of some of the Big Ten’s best offenses. Tight ends aren’t just responsible for receiving and they aren’t used only as extra run blockers. Rather, the position requires flexibility and versatility. It requires strength along with quickness. Or toughness mixed with great hands. The Hoosiers have to replace the underrated Michael Cooper but the six guys that remain hope to form a strong group that can help IU’s attack remain at the top of the Big Ten.
Read MoreThere are now 85 days remaining until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2016 season in Miami against the Florida International Golden Panthers. Join us each day for each part of our 100-day countdown to the opener! This time around, it is Ryan Watercutter’s turn!
-Height: 6’2”
-Weight: 227 pounds
-Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
-Position: Tight End
The Hoosier Huddle countdown rolls on as we reach #46! For the first time since 2006, this number belongs to a player that doesn’t have the last name of “Replogle”. #46 is a record-setting athlete and multi-sport star at Bishop Dwenger High School, redshirt freshman Ryan Watercutter.
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