Spring Ball Chatter: Wide Receivers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Walt Bell and wide receivers Cam Camper and Emery Simmons met with the media on Tuesday (April 5) to give an update on spring practice.

Below is a partial transcript of the press conference and video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.

Walt Bell | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
On how his first spring has gone to this point...
WB: I think we had a great pre-spring, in terms of the preparation, the video and the installs, everything that you would need. We had a great pre-spring going into spring. A good five or six days of repeating day one, two and three installs, just to make sure we are all on the same page. I think we have grown from there.

I think from a grasp standpoint, any time that operationally that is some improvement that needs to be made. Wideouts with the new system and new terminology, understanding how to get to open grass and get on their spots. I have been really proud of the offensive line and have been really proud of how well we have run the ball at times, not all the time.

Right now, it is identifying the guys that we can count on, learning the base fundamentals and techniques within the schemes and really learning how to operate the way we want to operate.

On all of the new faces on offense...
WB: I think it goes two ways. Number one, it creates unbelievable competition, and that is ultimately what you want at every single position. Number two, I think because it creates competition you are able to get the best out of everybody. Number three, because guys are moving around they are having to learn conceptually as opposed to 'this is my spot.' That has been everywhere with all 11 guys. Obviously, we have been rotating a bunch of quarterbacks, rotating a bunch of wideouts, rotating tight ends, I mean every single position guy has had to learn the whole part, conceptually, simply because we are trying to identify who can do what. To me, that is what spring really is, trying to identify what ultimately is going to allow us to be at our best on gameday, on Saturday in the fall.

On what he has seen from Cam Camper so far this spring...
WB: I think the biggest thing with Cam is his diligence. Cam is unbelievably committed to being the best player that he can be mentally, physically, the way he takes care of his body. We call him Coach Cam because he is literally in almost every staff meeting we have. If he is not in class, he is with us. I don't know if I have seen a newcomer receiver be as invested in the process of improving as we have.

I am incredibly proud of him. He is an unbelievable worker on and off the field. He is always extremely prepared. He takes pride in his performance, and I think he has a chance to be a really good football player for us.

Cam Camper | WR | Jr.
On putting in the extra effort on the field...
CC: That is how I came up. Everything wasn't just given to me and I feel like I need to put the extra work in. I just want to be able to make plays for my team. I have always felt like I am the underdog, so I feel like I have to take the extra steps to be successful.

On his path to Indiana...
CC: When I was younger, I was kind of undersized and I hit a late growth spurt when I got to high school. I decided to take the [junior college] route and there you just have to [put in the work]. And, that is how I was brought up, you just have to get it.

Emery Simmons | WR | Sr.
On what led him to transferring to Indiana...
ES: At North Carolina, it just felt like it was time for me to make a different move and find somewhere else to go. I felt like my playing time and my role was decreasing a little bit, so I felt like I needed to transition to another place. I only have two more years of eligibility left and I just want to make the best of those years. I felt like Indiana was the place to do it. I already had a relationship with Coach Allen, and I know he is really big on faith, and that is something that me and my family stand behind one hundred percent. That was just one thing and being that I was committed here coming out of high school, I already had a relationship with the place. I just felt like, 'don't even waste any time, you already know the head man and you have a relationship with the place already, so why not?' And I am loving every bit of it.

On what he would hope his coaches said about him...
ES: I feel like my coaches would say that I carry myself like a professional on and off the field. I strive to carry a professional mindset, because at the end of the day that's the end goal for all of us. All of the boys on the team, that is the end goal for us. We want to get to that next level, so I try to carry myself and have a professional mindset on and off the field. I come in extra early and try to go over extra stuff, look at extra plays for the day, come in and watch extra film. Off the field, I am really laid back, chill. I don't really do too much; I just hang out. I have a dog, so I hang out with my dog, and hang out with some teammates here and there, but for the most part I am a homebody, so I like to stay around and just chill with my dog and play games. Other than that, I am in my playbook. I would hope the coaches would say I had a professional mindset, and he is a hard worker, he doesn't really talk too much -- I really don't talk a lot -- but when I do talk I feel like it is heard. A hard worker that likes to keep his nose down and work.

Indiana University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Cam Camper

Emery Simmons

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