2018 DT Camden Lilly Learning About Indiana

Camden Lilly has gotten a good taste of Indiana football already this season.

The class of 2018 defensive tackle out of Whiteland, Indiana, visited Bloomington to watch the Hoosiers play both Wake Forest and Nebraska. The trips came after initially starting a relationship with defensive line coach Mark Hagen and company at a camp during the summer.

"Indiana was great," Lilly said of his trips. "This has honestly been the best football experience I think I've ever had."

Lilly has also sparked interest from Central Michigan and has had limited contact with Ball State so far. He's still waiting on other schools to get involved later on this year and into his final summer of high school.

"Right now I'm just trying to get more attention," he said. "The offers can come. If a team wants a hard-working player that's willing to work, that's what I am."

IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns was the most recent IU coach to show interest in Lilly, who plays both at the defensive end and defensive tackle spots. At about 265 pounds, he's projected more as a defensive tackle at the next level.

Being able to see Indiana play up close twice gave Lilly more confidence that he could hold his own against college players. Physically, he said he's right on track and can squat 605 pounds.

"It was good seeing the offensive linemen and the defensive linemen's size and seeing I'm relatively close to the same size as them," he said. "It makes me more confident in my potential."

Lilly said he expects to be hearing from coaches more frequently once his junior year is wrapped up. He's in no rush and is still trying to figure out what different schools have to offer.

On the field, he said he mad a significant jump as a junior. He said his all-around game is more complete and that he's working to fine tune some aspects of his game going into the winter.

As he goes, he hopes to hear more from Indiana.

"I feel like I would have a great opportunity to play there," he said. "It's obviously a program on the rise at this point. I feel like they could be a top-25 team within a couple years. It would be a great fit."