Newly-appointed quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson wasted no time diving into 2017 quarterback Dresser Winn's film and getting in contact with the 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect from Dresden, Tennessee.
Watson visited Winn Dec. 5 as part of his first time on the recruiting trail for IU to see him throw. IU's staff liked what they saw in Winn on film and jumped at the chance to see him up close.
"Coach Watson said I was one of the first guys he watched on film," Winn said. "He came to see me, and it wasn't long after he got promoted. So I guess that's a good thing. I love the facilities there, and I think it would be a good place to be."
IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns began recruiting Winn last spring and gradually passed things off to IU director of recruiting Carter Whitson to maintain a strong relationship. Winn visited Bloomington Nov. 12 to see Indiana play Penn State and said he enjoyed the trip.
The time with Watson only reaffirmed Winn's interest in the Hoosiers.
"You could definitely tell that Coach Watson has been there and done that," Winn said. "He was talking about Teddy Bridgewater and how he coached him (at Louisville). He was telling me that the ball was really popping out of my hands. He could see it. And he was telling me to roll out and stuff to see if the athletic ability was there after watching on film."
New Indiana head coach Tom Allen expressed interest in adding a 2017 quarterback who has the mobility to extend plays when the passing option isn't immediately available. That doesn't mean a scrambling quarterback by any means, but it does mean his future passer needs to be comfortable moving around.
Winn fits the bill.
The 2015 Tennessee Mr. Football winner and 2016 semifinalist for the same award led Dresden High School on an undefeated State Championship run, culminating in 62-27 win over Greenback in the Tennessee 1A state championship game. Winn had five passing touchdowns and a rushing score in his town's first state championship win.
The three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) put up video game numbers at quarterback the past two seasons. He racked up 3,818 passing yards and 51 touchdowns as a senior after accounting for 3,369 passing yards and 44 scores as a junior.
He wrestled with the idea of playing baseball in college but opted to stick with football in the early fall. He made it a goal to follow up his Mr. Football season with a state title and did just that, proving his decision to be a smart one.
"Going to football practice every day, it can be bad," Winn said. "But I found this year, especially winning the state championship, that I love football. I love baseball, but football is something I can't give up."
Even though Kevin Wilson was the head coach at Indiana when the Hoosiers initially started recruiting Winn, he said Wilson's resignation and Allen's promotion doesn't impact his recruiting.
Indiana offers a chance to play in the Big Ten under strong leadership with Allen, Winn said. That's just as attractive as ever.
"They recovered really quickly," Winn said. "I think Coach Allen will be a really good fit for them, and Coach Watson is going to be a good quarterbacks coach with Coach Johns still doing all that he does. It's not going to affect my recruiting at all."
Winn doesn't have an Indiana offer as it stands but has options in Akron, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico State and Tennessee Tech, among others. Now that his state championship title run is over, he plans to take a few visits and give his decision the time it needs.
Then again, an Indiana offer could change things entirely.
"Indiana comes from the Big Ten, and that's something I really want to do," Winn said. "If I get that offer, I wouldn't wait much longer. I'd wait, but it wouldn't be long."
