3/24/2023 football Edit

Tom Allen wants continual growth from pass catchers: 'Produce from day one'

Mason Williams • TheHoosier

Senior Writer

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The first official day of spring may have come and gone this past week, but Indiana football's early-year preparations are well underway ahead of this upcoming fall.

Spring practice presents a wealth of opportunities to get familiar with new faces across the board. Transfers, incoming recruits, and new staff members are taking the opportunities presented to them to build what hopes to be a winning chemistry. Along with it, that fresh crop is looking to rise to the top of the depth chart come the fall opener this September, hoping to standout above the rest.

In particular, the group of pass catchers figures to be one of intrigue with this iteration of Indiana's roster, where youth and fresh faces line the rooms of the wide receivers and tight ends nearly top to bottom.

"A continual growth has to be there," Allen said following Thursday's open practice. "I'm looking for consistency every day."

On the mend from a torn ACL last season, Cam Camper is set to lead a group of wideouts looking to make a jump in 2023.

Looking specifically at the wide receiver position, the room features a couple familiar faces in Andison Coby and Cam Camper, whose season ended early due to a torn ACL. Before the injury, however, he was one of the Big Ten's most efficient and targeted receivers. Beyond those two though? That's where an abundance of opportunity comes to the forefront.

Could that mean we'll see some younger options like Kamryn Perry or Omar Cooper Jr. become meaningful elements to the offense?

"Omar, he's been consistent (with making plays) and Cam is so dynamic and explosive, we see him as a guy to be able to be in that slot position there and find multiple ways to get him the ball," Allen said. "Those guys have made progress like they needed to."

Does Donaven McCulley take the next step and continue to evolve as a quarterback turned receiving threat? Where does a transfer like E.J. Williams find himself in the fold, and are there more on the way over the summer? How often is Jaylin Lucas split out wide versus starting in the backfield?

That aforementioned intrigue also means a lot of questions, some of which Allen doesn't straight away have an answer to just yet. Seeing as how they've only had a handful of opportunities to work together as a group in an organized setting, it's understandable as to why that's the case. He'll have a better sense of it following the spring, as would any coach.

"You just learn how to practice in this setting, you know, having 15 days," Allen continued. "You're not preparing for a game. There's a grind component to it that you have to work through."

The opportunity to get on the field is just as valuable as the chance to be seen by Allen, and for Allen to be able to key in on those who have made the most progress. This is the time to expose something – either mentally or physically – that needs worked on before the true season begins in the fall, so there's no time to take things easy.

"I want those young guys to learn how to do that because I think we play a physical, long season," Allen said. "You've got to be able to produce from day one."

Without DJ Matthews or Emery Simmons on his side, Camper and Coby are two of the only returning key contributors from a season ago on the outside.

Another element of the passing game to keep an eye out on this spring? The tight end group. Which after the departure of AJ Barner to the transfer portal, is perhaps the most wide open position on the proverbial depth chart. The group isn't fully healthy due to post-season surgeries, but there's a definite focus to find production from the position to help the offense in all facets.

Aaron Steinfeldt, Tre Walker, and Brody Foley (in limited capacity) have all shown a vying fight for the position, Allen says. The more competition, the better.

"Need that room to step up," Allen said. "We're going to continue to try and find ways to make that really a very effective room for us."

As for what the player who eventually wins out at the position may have to offer, Allen mentioned in detail how he envisions the group helping out the on-field product this fall.

"We categorize them as in-line guys and flex guys," Allen said with regards to whether his perfect tight end is more of a receiving threat or an offensive line extension. "The ideal situation is a guy that can do both, create those explosive plays and you can move them inside and then they can block effectively in the Big Ten. That's a unique skillset, hard to find.

"Right now, we feel like Brody kind of gives us the best of both of those," Allen said. "But Sam West has really kind of been a pleasant surprise to me."

West was a high school quarterback and never really spent time at tight end, but has shown positive signs in his transition to a new position this spring. Allen says he's a big athlete who "moves well" and has put on a lot of "good weight," but their focus with him is trying to get him brought along and adjusted to the necessary physicality to be proficient in the conference.

Gone are the days of having a Peyton Hendershot or Barner as a comfort blanket on the end of the offensive line. So, given the uniqueness of finding their skillsets in one complete package, the Hoosiers may have to attempt to make it up in aggregate.

"We like to use 11 and 12 personnel, so that gives us a chance to get multiple of those guys out there," Allen said. "Peyton was kind of that guy to be able to do both in and out of the box, and I feel like that's what we're looking for."