Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Football coaches constantly preach the “next man up” mentality when discussing their depth charts. It can be a bit of a callous way to view the physical toll the game of football has on one’s body, but that is not to say there is no truth in the cliché.

Take Indiana’s Emery Simmons for example.

Indiana’s season kicked off this year and it took little time before it was clear that DJ Matthews and Cam Camper would be the top guys for this Hoosiers roster. The duo joined forces to lead Indiana down the field in their 4th quarter comeback in the opener against Illinois, and they have received the bulk of the target share ever since.

But when Matthews went down with an injury and Camper an illness, Indiana needed someone to step up: Emery Simmons has answered the bell.

“I think the biggest thing is taking advantage of opportunities,” said offensive coordinator Walt Bell on Simmons. “Emery has had to play a bunch of plays and he’s done a really nice job.”

It is no surprise at all to the staff that he has been the man to emerge from the rest.

“That’s a young man that prepares,” continued Bell. “If you just saw the notes that he took in meetings…he prepares the right way, and he’s put himself in position to make the most of his opportunity, and I couldn’t be happier for him because he’s a great kid.”

Tom Allen has seen it in him all along. While Simmons started his career at the University of North Carolina before transferring to the Hoosiers before this season, Indiana recruited him hard as a part of the 2019 class. Allen loved the former 4-star prospect’s speed and dedication to his craft.

“He's playing the way I expected him to play,” said Allen. “He's a guy we recruited the first time around, wanted him here several years ago and finally got him here. He's just such a worker. The way he is every rep is exactly how he practices every single day.”

19 of Simmons’ 28 receptions and 213 of his 305 receiving yards have come in the last three games, all since Matthews and Camper have been limited in their ability to play. He is blossoming into the receiver Allen always believed he could be at a time where he has been desperately needed. As Matthews and Camper return, this time he has been able to serve as the top guy should prove valuable.

“Really excited for and happy for Emery,” concluded Allen. “He's just a great young man that I really have a lot of confidence in. And he's now playing at the level that I expected him to.”

Simmons credits his breakout to his consistency on the field.

“For the most part is just being consistent. I just know whenever I'm on the field, I just trying to be a reliable target for my quarterback. I want him to trust me, I want my team to trust me.” Simmons explained.

So far this season Simmons is IU’s second leading receiver with 28 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown.

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