Unlike for the first two installments of this series, we now have the benefit of the
official depth chart. There were a few surprises. The biggest, and the one that is relevant to what I have previously written, is that true freshman
Tevin Coleman is listed as the starting running back rather than
Stephen Houston. I'm sure both will get plenty of opportunities, but given Houston's proficiency last year, I'm very excited to see Coleman in action Saturday. But, back to the receivers:
The starters:
Kofi Hughes: Hughes will be suspended for one game because of some unspecified rules violation, and it's been presumed but not confirmed that the game will be the ISU game. Hughes is listed at the top of the depth chart regardless. A fine high school quarterback at Cathedral in Indianapolis, Hughes, a junior, led IU with 536 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 172 yards on 12 attempts.
Cody Latimer: Latimer played from the outset as a true freshman, and gained 141 yards and scored 2 touchdowns on 12 catches. His two touchdowns were good enough for third on the team. Hopefully that will not be the case in 2012.
Shane Wynn: Wynn, a 5-7 burner who also saw action as a true freshmen, caught 19 balls for 197 yards and also rushed for 37 yards. Wynn is in his second season as IU's primary kickoff returner, and he excelled there, averaging 21.1 yards per return and taking the opening kickoff against Illinois for a 99 yard touchdown.
Ted Bolser (tight end): Bolser was fantastic as a freshman in 2010, with 407 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. He took a step back last season with 165 yards and one touchdown. A return to 2011 form (obviously
Ben Chappell helped back then) would be nice.
The others:
Duwyce Wilson: Wilson struggled with minor and major injuries last season. After cathcing 32 balls for 488 yards and 3 TDs as a freshman, Wilson played in only six of IU's 12 games last season, catching 17 passes for 217 yards. Wilson did lead IU with 3 touchdown catches, but missed the final three games with a torn ACL.
Nick Stoner: Is this a familar theme? Stoner played as a true freshman last season, and while he didn't catch a pass, he ran the ball twice for 10 yards. He also played a role in the return game and is listed as the first string punt returner in the initial depth chart.
Jamonne Chester: Chester, a redshirt junior, is IU's second-leading returning receiver with 240 yards and 21 catches. He hasn't yet found the endzone.
Charles Love III: Love, a fifth year senior, is listed as the second string tight end, although he has been more of a blocking tight end/special teams player. He has never caught a pass and missed all of 2011 with an injury. He does have one 15 yard kickoff return.
The Freshmen:
Kevin Davis: Davis is from Warren Central in Indianapolis. The 5-11, three star prospect also had offers from Purdue, Cincinnati, and Arkansas. He gained 846 yards and scored 11 TDs as a senior.
Ricky Jones: Jones, who is 5-10 and from Sarasota, Florida, was a two star prospect, but Rivals says he had offers from Stanford, Illinois, Clemson, and others.
Caleb Cornett: Cornett is from Ben Davis in Indianapolis, where he gained 740 yards and scored 6 TDs as a senior. He was a three star recruit.
IU's passing game was bad last year, in large part because of the revolving door at quarterback and the difficulty of replacing Ben Chappell. There aren't any proven superstars in this group, yet I feel pretty good about the depth. Hughes is very good and versatile, and in addition to the listed starters at WR, Duwyce Wilson has a ton of potential and hopefully will emerge the way we have all hoped he would. Of the nine Hoosiers who gained at least 141 receiving yards, seven return (only Damarlo Belcher and Dre Muhammad are gone). While Wilson has been critical of the effort from the receivers at times during the spring, this strikes me as a position that can be a strength.
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