Indiana University Athletics
Spring Update: Depth at Wide Receiver
3/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 31, 2007
The Hoosiers saw six wideouts catch more than 20 passes and go for more than 200 yards in 2006, and five of the six return for the spring of 2007, with only graduated senior Jahkeen Gilmore gone from the group.
Hardy is the unquestioned leader of the group after posting his second consecutive All-Big Ten campaign. He hauled in 51 passes for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, and his 20 career touchdowns are tied with Ernie Jones (1984-87) for second on the all-time list, while he trails only Jade Butcher (1967-69), who leads the list with 30 TD grabs.
The Fort Wayne, Ind., native had two of the best single-game performances in school history in 2006, lighting up Big Ten opponents Iowa and Michigan State. Against the Hawkeyes, he made eight catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns to become the first Hoosier since Duane Gunn (Oct. 8, 1983) to record three TD receptions in a game. He followed that up by becoming the first player in Indiana history and just the 11th player in Big Ten history to pick up four touchdown receptions in a game against Michigan State. That made him just the second player in school history (Butcher) to post two games with three touchdown receptions.
Right behind Hardy is sophomore James Bailey, who finished second on the team with 40 receptions on the season, going over 400 yards. Also posting an impressive season was redshirt freshman Nick Polk, who was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American after grabbing 32 passes for 326 yards and one score on the season.
True freshman Ray Fisher had an impressive debut in his college career, racking up 215 yards and 24 catches and showing on many occasions the speed and elusiveness that are his greatest strengths. Redshirt freshman Andrew Means also notched 20 receptions on the season, averaging 13.1 per catch and scoring one touchdown on the year. Sophomore Brandon Walker-Roby and redshirt freshman Terrance Turner should also compete for playing time.
