Best WR's in the Country?

From LaMond Pope | The Journal Gazette

BLOOMINGTON – Ben Chappell smiled as the question was asked: Does he think Indiana has the best group of receivers in the Big Ten?

“I think it might be the best in the nation, personally,” Chappell said. “I’m a little biased.”

Whether he’s biased or not, the statistics are impressive. The combined yardage of Tandon Doss (962), Terrance Turner (443) and North Side graduate Damarlo Belcher (770) is the sixth most for a returning trio nationally (2,175). Their combined 184 receptions rank fifth nationally.

“It’s good to have that (status) in the preseason,” Turner said. “Hopefully it will lead to some wins and people can remember us as the group that led Indiana to our dream goal.”

Doss pointed to depth as the strength of the group. Expect Harding graduate Dre Muhammad and freshman Duwyce Wilson, who was redshirted last year, to be among those playing large roles.

“We are truly a group,” Belcher said. “We all believe in each other. We all know we can make plays.”

No one on Indiana’s roster made more plays than Doss. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media after leading the Hoosiers in yards and catches (77). He finished tied with Belcher for the team lead in touchdown catches with five.

“He’s a really good route runner,” Turner said. “He’s a fast guy and big for his size. To have that speed and size is an added bonus for him. And he has really good hands. He has the whole package.”

Juniors Doss and Belcher are two of the six Hoosiers who have played since they were true freshmen in the last three years.

Belcher used his size (6-foot-5) and strength (215 pounds) to haul in 61 passes.

“Jump balls, ain’t nobody going to jump with him,” Doss said. “He’s a great catcher, got great hands. And his after-yard moves, he’s a little flashy.”

Turner is the veteran of the group. The senior had 46 catches last season, including his first career touchdown.

“He’s a great leader,” Belcher said. “When I came here freshman year, I didn’t know anything. He helped me out a lot.”

It’s a role he enjoys.

“It’s easy to get juiced up on Saturdays, but during practice, there are days you don’t feel like running 100 routes. To be the group we want to be, we have to do that,” Turner said. “I tell them to keep their heads straight, stay focused.”

Like Turner, Muhammad provides an inside target.

“He’s a very crisp route runner,” Doss said. “When I run my routes, I’ll watch him and take stuff from him.”

Wilson, who is 6-foot-3, is more of a deep threat. Chappell called him the darkhorse of the group. Tyler Adetona and Jamonne Chester are also listed as backups on IU’s preseason depth chart.

It all adds up to lofty expectations.

“It puts pressure on you that you like,” Turner said. “It’s a good pressure.”