Inside or Out, Luke Timian Looms as IU’s Receiving Difference-Maker
3/26/2018 11:05:00 AM | Football
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Don't tell Luke Timian he can't. Indiana's fifth-year senior receiver knows better, for one thing. He doesn't want to hear it, for another.
Check that. Maybe he does. Motivation, after all, is a wonderful thing.
The former walk-on has spent his time as a Hoosier proving doubters wrong and making defensive backs pay.
Yes, Timian earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition last season (that's what happens when you catch 68 passes, but only average 8.7 yards per reception), but he can do so much more.
This fall, he might get the chance to prove it.
During Saturday's scrimmage, Timian showed potential by playing outside receiver, and if part of that was due to IU's lack of receiving depth right now, don't be fooled.
He can be a deep threat.
"Absolutely I can play outside," he says. "I can see why people would label me as a possession receiver after last year. That was my role. I didn't run a lot of deep routes. Those went to Simmie (Cobbs). I'm sure that will change"
Timian showed go-deep potential in limited doses during his first two seasons as a Hoosier, when he averaged 15.6 yards a catch in a limited role.
Last year was his first as a starter, and with the big-play Cobbs demanding deep-ball attention, Timian spent most of his time helping the Hoosiers move the chains.
He says he's fine with doing that again, or expanding his role.
"A couple more practices and I'll feel right at home at that outside spot. It's been a while since I've been out there."
Timian understands the spring necessity as well as the fall possibility.
"I've gotten so many reps at the slot, and we don't have that many guys (at receiver) right now. They're trying to move me around and put me in different places.
"It's about getting comfortable there."
Comfort comes from adjusting to the difference in defensive coverage. Slot receivers generally get room to break off the line of scrimmage. Outside receivers often face defensive backs close enough to hug.
"You get a lot of press man coverages (as an outside receiver)," Timian says, "so you've got to work different releases.
"In the slot, you usually get the guy five yards off. It's different with a guy right up in your grill. It's about making more competitive catches out there."
Coach Tom Allen sees promise in Timian mixing slot and outside receiving duties.
"He can do both. He's a guy who is very effective in the slot. He does a great job of getting in and out of breaks and getting open."
Timian reflects a versatility Allen seeks in all his receivers.
"We like for our guys not to be pigeonholed. That they have the skill set to do both. We have some receivers dinged up and not going live. We put him out there to see what he can do, but he makes a lot of plays."
Still, Allen has a bigger goal for Timian, and it goes way beyond catching passes.
"To me, it's leadership. He and I have sat down. He's such a good player. He makes so many plays and does so many things right. My challenge to him is now lead. Don't just be taking care of you.
"He does a great job of taking care of Luke, which is step No. 1, but as senior, I need him to pull guys with him.
"He's a quiet guy. He's such a great example of doing the little things right, and he practices so hard and does everything right. I have to have him pulling guys with him, and not just in the receiver room. I'm talking beyond that for the whole offense and the team. To me, that's the next step for him, to really affect this team as a leader."
Timian embraces leadership responsibility, which is what you want from a senior playmaker.
"I have to step up as a leader. I'm taking that seriously."
Football seriousness was ingrained in him through his Texas high school football days. The state produces some of the most talented players and fiercely contested games in the nation.
Then there's the fan passion that helps generate it.
Timian saw that first hand while playing for Texas state power Southlake Carroll High School, which won the 2011 5A state title while he was there.
"Wow, it's intense," he says. "We had 10,000 to 12,000 at our home games. You get used to playing on a big stage at a young age, which is good for guys going to the next level.
"They take it very serious in Texas."
As for the high level of play, Timian says, "I learned a lot of things playing against that kind of competition. That has translated to this level. Every week you're going against a guy who is committed to TCU, Texas A&M, Texas. You learn to play with the best at an early age."
All that helped Timian overcome the challenges of a first college season at Oklahoma State that didn't work out. He redshirted, transferred to Indiana, barely played his first season, saw limited action in his second, all while paying his own way as a walk-on.
A scholarship came just before last season, and Timian made the most of it, just as he made the most of his action during last Saturday's scrimmage, and, in truth, in every spring practice.
Veteran cornerback A'Shon Riggins has seen that first hand.
"I haven't had a chance to guard him this spring," Riggins says, "but he's fast and quick. I like going against him. (Fellow cornerback Andre Brown Jr.) likes going against him. He's one of our top receivers. It's a great matchup for us."
Most of the time, those matchups come in silence.
"I don't trash talk to him," Riggins says. "When I talk, I talk to the defense."
Talk or not, the Hoosiers have high hopes of achieving the break-through record that didn't happen last season.
"We're very optimistic," Timian says. "On the offensive line, everyone is back. We have experience at quarterback, running back and receiver.
"We've got some young guys on defense, but we're bringing in a really good recruiting class. We're bringing in some athletes.
"This will be a team that will fly around, make some plays and not be scared to attack anyone."
Inside or out, Timian figures to be at the forefront of that attack.
That could make all the difference.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Don't tell Luke Timian he can't. Indiana's fifth-year senior receiver knows better, for one thing. He doesn't want to hear it, for another.
Check that. Maybe he does. Motivation, after all, is a wonderful thing.
The former walk-on has spent his time as a Hoosier proving doubters wrong and making defensive backs pay.
Yes, Timian earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition last season (that's what happens when you catch 68 passes, but only average 8.7 yards per reception), but he can do so much more.
This fall, he might get the chance to prove it.
During Saturday's scrimmage, Timian showed potential by playing outside receiver, and if part of that was due to IU's lack of receiving depth right now, don't be fooled.
He can be a deep threat.
"Absolutely I can play outside," he says. "I can see why people would label me as a possession receiver after last year. That was my role. I didn't run a lot of deep routes. Those went to Simmie (Cobbs). I'm sure that will change"
Timian showed go-deep potential in limited doses during his first two seasons as a Hoosier, when he averaged 15.6 yards a catch in a limited role.
Last year was his first as a starter, and with the big-play Cobbs demanding deep-ball attention, Timian spent most of his time helping the Hoosiers move the chains.
He says he's fine with doing that again, or expanding his role.
"A couple more practices and I'll feel right at home at that outside spot. It's been a while since I've been out there."
Timian understands the spring necessity as well as the fall possibility.
"I've gotten so many reps at the slot, and we don't have that many guys (at receiver) right now. They're trying to move me around and put me in different places.
"It's about getting comfortable there."
Comfort comes from adjusting to the difference in defensive coverage. Slot receivers generally get room to break off the line of scrimmage. Outside receivers often face defensive backs close enough to hug.
"You get a lot of press man coverages (as an outside receiver)," Timian says, "so you've got to work different releases.
"In the slot, you usually get the guy five yards off. It's different with a guy right up in your grill. It's about making more competitive catches out there."
Coach Tom Allen sees promise in Timian mixing slot and outside receiving duties.
"He can do both. He's a guy who is very effective in the slot. He does a great job of getting in and out of breaks and getting open."
Timian reflects a versatility Allen seeks in all his receivers.
"We like for our guys not to be pigeonholed. That they have the skill set to do both. We have some receivers dinged up and not going live. We put him out there to see what he can do, but he makes a lot of plays."
Still, Allen has a bigger goal for Timian, and it goes way beyond catching passes.
"To me, it's leadership. He and I have sat down. He's such a good player. He makes so many plays and does so many things right. My challenge to him is now lead. Don't just be taking care of you.
"He does a great job of taking care of Luke, which is step No. 1, but as senior, I need him to pull guys with him.
"He's a quiet guy. He's such a great example of doing the little things right, and he practices so hard and does everything right. I have to have him pulling guys with him, and not just in the receiver room. I'm talking beyond that for the whole offense and the team. To me, that's the next step for him, to really affect this team as a leader."
Timian embraces leadership responsibility, which is what you want from a senior playmaker.
"I have to step up as a leader. I'm taking that seriously."
Football seriousness was ingrained in him through his Texas high school football days. The state produces some of the most talented players and fiercely contested games in the nation.
Then there's the fan passion that helps generate it.
Timian saw that first hand while playing for Texas state power Southlake Carroll High School, which won the 2011 5A state title while he was there.
"Wow, it's intense," he says. "We had 10,000 to 12,000 at our home games. You get used to playing on a big stage at a young age, which is good for guys going to the next level.
"They take it very serious in Texas."
As for the high level of play, Timian says, "I learned a lot of things playing against that kind of competition. That has translated to this level. Every week you're going against a guy who is committed to TCU, Texas A&M, Texas. You learn to play with the best at an early age."
All that helped Timian overcome the challenges of a first college season at Oklahoma State that didn't work out. He redshirted, transferred to Indiana, barely played his first season, saw limited action in his second, all while paying his own way as a walk-on.
A scholarship came just before last season, and Timian made the most of it, just as he made the most of his action during last Saturday's scrimmage, and, in truth, in every spring practice.
Veteran cornerback A'Shon Riggins has seen that first hand.
"I haven't had a chance to guard him this spring," Riggins says, "but he's fast and quick. I like going against him. (Fellow cornerback Andre Brown Jr.) likes going against him. He's one of our top receivers. It's a great matchup for us."
Most of the time, those matchups come in silence.
"I don't trash talk to him," Riggins says. "When I talk, I talk to the defense."
Talk or not, the Hoosiers have high hopes of achieving the break-through record that didn't happen last season.
"We're very optimistic," Timian says. "On the offensive line, everyone is back. We have experience at quarterback, running back and receiver.
"We've got some young guys on defense, but we're bringing in a really good recruiting class. We're bringing in some athletes.
"This will be a team that will fly around, make some plays and not be scared to attack anyone."
Inside or out, Timian figures to be at the forefront of that attack.
That could make all the difference.
Players Mentioned
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FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 3 (Indiana State)
Wednesday, September 10