Indiana Football: Nick Westbrook named one of college football’s most underrated

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: Nick Westbrook #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers catches a 19-yard touchdown pass over Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: Nick Westbrook #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers catches a 19-yard touchdown pass over Jeffrey Okudah #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 6, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Another Indiana football player received national preseason recognition as one of the most underrated players in college football.

The Indiana football program is coming into this season as an underrated team in the Big Ten but just may have some of the best talent in the conference.

Fifth year Indiana wide receiver Nick Westbrook was recently added to Athlon Sport’s Top 50 Underrated players list for this upcoming 2019 season.

After a stellar sophomore season in which Hoosier fans saw the 6-foot-3, 216 pound receiver haul in 54 passes for 995 yards, and six touchdowns, he missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL during the opening kickoff in week one against Ohio State.

Receiving a medical redshirt by the NCAA, he rebounded in 2018 during his junior campaign, finishing second on the team with 42 receptions for 540 yards, along with four touchdowns. He also started all twelve games on the season and became a leader on the field.

The fifth year player has a knack for playing his best games when they’re needed the most in his Indiana career.

Last year Westbrook brought in five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in an away matchup against one of the nation’s best teams in No. 3 Ohio State. He also provided a quality four catch, 84-yard performance against the stellar defense of No. 4 Michigan in Ann Arbor.

For the second season in a row, Westbrook was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, an annual award that is presented to the top receiver in that College Football season. Expect to see Westbrook to go out and produce consistently as one of Indiana’s top returning wide receivers, and one of the most skilled in the Big Ten.

As a starter and one of the most experienced players on the Indiana Football roster, Hoosier fans should expect Westbrook to continue to develop his skills and return to his top form after another summer and offseason of workouts.