Few WR rooms in college football are as talented as Indiana's. The Hoosiers have plenty of size, speed, and athleticism to go around, and the WR depth in Bloomington figures to be a major strength for Curt Cignetti and company as they embark on their title-defending season.
Leading the pack is junior Charlie Becker. Becker burst onto the scene last season and played a key role in helping lead Indiana to a historic National Championship. The Nashville native actually didn't even make his first start of the season until Indiana's 8th game against UCLA on October 25. But after that, Becker showcased an eye-popping skill set that made him one of the best wideouts in all of college football.
Over Indiana's final 7 games of the season, Becker racked up 27 catches for 522 yards and three touchdowns. He came up with several clutch catches during Indiana's CFP run, and it's safe to say that the Hoosiers wouldn't have won it all without him. In total, Becker totaled 34 catches for 679 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season.
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With both Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt off to the NFL, Becker figures to take on a leading role in the Hoosier WR room this season. Taking on a starting role from the beginning, Becker could be in line to post some big numbers.
Becker is already receiving high praise from several media outlets, most notably being heralded as the No. 4 WR in the country by ESPN. As the hype continues to roll in, Becker now finds himself on the Biletnikoff Award watch list––and he is in a perfect position to contend for that crown.
Charlie Becker is in a great spot to contend for the Biletnikoff Award
The Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football’s most outstanding FBS receiver on an annual basis. Winners from recent seasons include Ja'Marr Chase (2019), DeVonta Smith (2020), Marvin Harrison Jr (2023), Travis Hunter (2024), and Makai Lemon (2025).
Heading into the 2026 season, there will be several top-tier receivers battling for the title of college football's best pass-catcher. While big names such as Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Texas' Cam Coleman could be considered early frontrunners, Becker is in a strong position to make a run.
Owning a 6'4" 207-pound frame, Becker excels at bringing down contested catches and back should throws. That makes him a big-play threat on every snap.
He also has a knack for coming up with big plays in the biggest moments. According to ESPN Research, Becker picked up first downs or touchdowns on 85.3% of his catches last season. That was the best in college football among all Power 4 wide receivers.
If Becker is going to make a push for this prestigious award, he needs to put forth some big games early. As previously mentioned, he didn't burst onto the scene until the second half of last season. Starting the season with soldi performances in the non-conference and early conference slate while also delivering in the biggest matchups against the likes of Ohio State and Michigan could lead to Becker making a serious push for the Belitnikoff. But at the very least, Hoosier fans can expect a significant step up from the numbers Becker posted last season.
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