Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Fall Camp Edition - Wide Receivers
8/15/2022 3:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As the third week of fall camp began, the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Adam Henry and selected wide receivers spoke to the media on Monday (August 15) inside Memorial Stadium.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Adam Henry | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
On how his group has progressed through camp…
AH: It's getting better each and every day. There's a lot of work ahead of us, but we just continue to take small steps to get what we need to be accomplished. Thus far, I'm pretty happy at what we're doing and confident. We still have a long way to go, it's a long process, but I'm pleased because these guys work they go out there and they try to do what you asked them to do.
On Omar Cooper's growth this summer…
AH: He's progressed well. I got here and he was a guy that was signed here, so, just getting to know him. And, he has a good football IQ, better than what I thought, I didn't really know. But as far as picking up the offense and doing what we're doing, I'm very pleased where he's at, at this point. Now one time I told him it was probably after five practices, I was like 'you're doing a good job' and then that day he didn't practice so well so I said, 'I'm going to stop telling you you're doing a good job'. But he has a tremendous upside, and he's a guy who listens, he takes notes, and again this is as a transfer of playing receiver and just the details of it, of being a trained receiver. For him, he has a large upside, but I like his football IQ.
On Cam Camper's adjustment and where he has impressed…
AH: He's the one we call 'Coach Cam' so he's always around the offices, always trying to learn the offense and all the intricate details. He's a guy who doesn't say much, he just shows up, and goes to work. He works hard, he practices, he doesn't say much. If he has questions, he'll ask. But he's like a coach, we call him 'Coach Cam'. At some point in time, he's going to come through the door and say, 'what's going on'. So, I'm very pleased. He made a great catch in one-on-ones the other day, two days ago, a one-handed catch. So, he's a guy that's progressing and continuing to get better. He had a couple good blocks in practice, also, sticking his face in there, and then blocking with his hands and being violent. So, he's kind of the guy that can go and play receiver but he's also a good blocker.
On how Donaven McCulley's transition to receiver is going…
AH: I'm pleased where he's at. Again, it's all new for him and transitioning to the receiver [position] because you learn you're not just dropping back [a few steps]. You're running and you're running. So, the thing is as a receiver you have to run and then you've got to run some more. Then you run, then you run some more. When you're tired, you've got to run and run some more. And then when you think you're tired you've got to keep running. So, it's one of those things you have to keep doing over and over and you have to train yourself for it. So, for him, he's a big body. He's very athletic. He has a good catch radius where you can put it up and really go and get it. It's just the little details that he's learning. He knows the conceptual thought process of the routes and what to do but it's the little things in getting open. You can't always use your body because you're bigger than everyone to get open. And at times you have to beat them with your feet instead of your body. So, for him he's progressing steadily, and he'll ask questions and for him he has a tremendous ceiling also. With a body like that, he can make plays.
D.J. Matthews Jr. | Gr.+ | WR
On returning from injury…
DM: I have sore days and at first it was mentally [tough]. I had to battle a lot of mental stuff so I could get back out there and get comfortable playing my game.
On when he felt comfortable after returning from injury…
DM: Yesterday. Yesterday was that day. I came out and I felt really great. I felt like myself again. I was still battling out of a slump [early in fall camp. So, just telling my teammates continually 'I'm trying to get back, you know, I'm trying to get back. I'm trying to get back to myself. I want to feel better.' Just praying and stuff and then yesterday just I came out and felt like myself. Today I just stacked another day and felt like myself again.
On why he decided to take a sixth year…
DM: It was a tough decision. I was telling my parents that pretty much I was done. But the relationship I built with Coach Allen is very strong and he just helped me through my whole process, with religion, he made sure I was a man of God and a man of my word and then on top of that, my children. I never want to quit. My children look up to me. I'm their hero, so when they get older, they're going to see the trials and tribulations that I went through and all of adversity that I faced. I don't ever want them to see that I quit anything. Finish out no matter the outcome.
On taking more of a leadership role in the wide receivers room…
DM: I just have to be me. I've got to be me. I'm not the type of guy to be yelling at people or trying to make sure everybody is doing everything right. If I see something, I'll point it out. If people have questions, I help them. Not all the time do I know the answers, so they help me too. It's just building a bond and building trust with one another and that's just what we've been doing as a unit, just growing closer to each other. Guys come over and we hang out.
Donaven McCulley | So. | WR
On his decision to switch from quarterback to wide receiver…
DM: I've always wanted to play receiver. That's just always what I've seen myself as. In high school, I had to play quarterback. That's just what I did. Then coming to college and playing quarterback, it didn't go so well the first year, but it is what it is. When I went to talk to Coach Allen about the decision, he wanted to know why, and I told him why and he was onboard with it.
On summer training and fall camp…
DM: When I first went to wide receiver it was weird running routes because I wasn't really used to it. But just working with Coach Henry every day is getting easier. I need to work on getting in and out of my routes but I'm getting better and that was the biggest thing for me.
On if his quarterback play will help him as a wide receiver…
DM: It definitely helps because when the quarterback scrambles, I know where he wants to throw the ball, so it makes it pretty easy.
If he's able to help the quarterbacks despite transitioning to wide receiver…
DM: I try to get in their ear and see what they want me to do. At the end of the day, they're throwing the ball so I try to do what they want me to and just see if I can get open easier for them.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the full media sessions can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Adam Henry | Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
On how his group has progressed through camp…
AH: It's getting better each and every day. There's a lot of work ahead of us, but we just continue to take small steps to get what we need to be accomplished. Thus far, I'm pretty happy at what we're doing and confident. We still have a long way to go, it's a long process, but I'm pleased because these guys work they go out there and they try to do what you asked them to do.
On Omar Cooper's growth this summer…
AH: He's progressed well. I got here and he was a guy that was signed here, so, just getting to know him. And, he has a good football IQ, better than what I thought, I didn't really know. But as far as picking up the offense and doing what we're doing, I'm very pleased where he's at, at this point. Now one time I told him it was probably after five practices, I was like 'you're doing a good job' and then that day he didn't practice so well so I said, 'I'm going to stop telling you you're doing a good job'. But he has a tremendous upside, and he's a guy who listens, he takes notes, and again this is as a transfer of playing receiver and just the details of it, of being a trained receiver. For him, he has a large upside, but I like his football IQ.
On Cam Camper's adjustment and where he has impressed…
AH: He's the one we call 'Coach Cam' so he's always around the offices, always trying to learn the offense and all the intricate details. He's a guy who doesn't say much, he just shows up, and goes to work. He works hard, he practices, he doesn't say much. If he has questions, he'll ask. But he's like a coach, we call him 'Coach Cam'. At some point in time, he's going to come through the door and say, 'what's going on'. So, I'm very pleased. He made a great catch in one-on-ones the other day, two days ago, a one-handed catch. So, he's a guy that's progressing and continuing to get better. He had a couple good blocks in practice, also, sticking his face in there, and then blocking with his hands and being violent. So, he's kind of the guy that can go and play receiver but he's also a good blocker.
On how Donaven McCulley's transition to receiver is going…
AH: I'm pleased where he's at. Again, it's all new for him and transitioning to the receiver [position] because you learn you're not just dropping back [a few steps]. You're running and you're running. So, the thing is as a receiver you have to run and then you've got to run some more. Then you run, then you run some more. When you're tired, you've got to run and run some more. And then when you think you're tired you've got to keep running. So, it's one of those things you have to keep doing over and over and you have to train yourself for it. So, for him, he's a big body. He's very athletic. He has a good catch radius where you can put it up and really go and get it. It's just the little details that he's learning. He knows the conceptual thought process of the routes and what to do but it's the little things in getting open. You can't always use your body because you're bigger than everyone to get open. And at times you have to beat them with your feet instead of your body. So, for him he's progressing steadily, and he'll ask questions and for him he has a tremendous ceiling also. With a body like that, he can make plays.
D.J. Matthews Jr. | Gr.+ | WR
On returning from injury…
DM: I have sore days and at first it was mentally [tough]. I had to battle a lot of mental stuff so I could get back out there and get comfortable playing my game.
On when he felt comfortable after returning from injury…
DM: Yesterday. Yesterday was that day. I came out and I felt really great. I felt like myself again. I was still battling out of a slump [early in fall camp. So, just telling my teammates continually 'I'm trying to get back, you know, I'm trying to get back. I'm trying to get back to myself. I want to feel better.' Just praying and stuff and then yesterday just I came out and felt like myself. Today I just stacked another day and felt like myself again.
On why he decided to take a sixth year…
DM: It was a tough decision. I was telling my parents that pretty much I was done. But the relationship I built with Coach Allen is very strong and he just helped me through my whole process, with religion, he made sure I was a man of God and a man of my word and then on top of that, my children. I never want to quit. My children look up to me. I'm their hero, so when they get older, they're going to see the trials and tribulations that I went through and all of adversity that I faced. I don't ever want them to see that I quit anything. Finish out no matter the outcome.
On taking more of a leadership role in the wide receivers room…
DM: I just have to be me. I've got to be me. I'm not the type of guy to be yelling at people or trying to make sure everybody is doing everything right. If I see something, I'll point it out. If people have questions, I help them. Not all the time do I know the answers, so they help me too. It's just building a bond and building trust with one another and that's just what we've been doing as a unit, just growing closer to each other. Guys come over and we hang out.
Donaven McCulley | So. | WR
On his decision to switch from quarterback to wide receiver…
DM: I've always wanted to play receiver. That's just always what I've seen myself as. In high school, I had to play quarterback. That's just what I did. Then coming to college and playing quarterback, it didn't go so well the first year, but it is what it is. When I went to talk to Coach Allen about the decision, he wanted to know why, and I told him why and he was onboard with it.
On summer training and fall camp…
DM: When I first went to wide receiver it was weird running routes because I wasn't really used to it. But just working with Coach Henry every day is getting easier. I need to work on getting in and out of my routes but I'm getting better and that was the biggest thing for me.
On if his quarterback play will help him as a wide receiver…
DM: It definitely helps because when the quarterback scrambles, I know where he wants to throw the ball, so it makes it pretty easy.
If he's able to help the quarterbacks despite transitioning to wide receiver…
DM: I try to get in their ear and see what they want me to do. At the end of the day, they're throwing the ball so I try to do what they want me to and just see if I can get open easier for them.
Players Mentioned
FB: Week 10 (at Maryland) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, October 27
FB: Week 9 (UCLA) - Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, October 25
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 9 (UCLA)
Thursday, October 23
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 9 (UCLA)
Wednesday, October 22