Indiana University Athletics
SPRING SESSIONS: Spring Practice No. 7 – Student-Athlete Media Session
4/3/2025 1:55:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Three Indiana football student-athletes met with the media following Spring Practice No. 7 on Thursday (April 3) inside Memorial Stadium. Redshirt-junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., redshirt-junior defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker and redshirt-senior wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. each spoke at the podium.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the media session can be found at the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Omar Cooper Jr. | R-Jr. | WR
On working with new quarterback Fernando Mendoza...
OC: Fernando, he has a really good spin on the ball. We are still trying to build that connection, as well. Fernando, he is learning the offense really well and just starting [to see everything click]. Like today, we started really connecting -- all of the receivers. The difference [between Fernando and Kurtis Rourke], I wouldn't say much. They are both really good quarterbacks.
On what his focus was in the offseason...
OC: Really, everything, honestly. Just because, at the receiver position, there is so much you can learn. Right now, I focused on top of the routes and getting better getting out of the routes. Then, also, just learning the defensive schemes so when I am out there, I am not just loose in the mind ... trying to understand [what the defense is doing] and know what works best against that defense.
On the loss of Tyler Morris to injury this spring...
OC: It's really tough. Tyler was a really good player for us, and he was going to do well in the slot position for us this year. It makes us have to work harder, take more reps and learn more about the offense to play inside and outside. It sucks for Tyler and the whole receiver group, but it helps us to learn the slot and outside and be able to rotate.
Tyrique Tucker| R-Jr. | DL
On what he took away from playing with James Carpenter the last couple seasons...
TT: I learned how to be a leader and kind of lead by example to the best of my abilities. I feel like I worked hard to be in this position. I just have to keep going, day-in and day-out and just have to keep putting the work in. I feel like he led the way for me -- [James] and CJ [West] really set the standard, so I feel like I have a standard to uphold day-in and day-out and just get better every day of spring ball.
On his confidence entering the spring...
TT: I am pretty confident. I know I can do it in the Big Ten [after last season], so now I just have to go out there and let the world see -- have that season, that breakout season that I feel like I can have.
On what he is working to improve entering next season...
TT: Just have to keep grinding day-in and day-out. Me and Mikail go out there and craft during the offseason. We call is "craft season". We go out there and we work. You feel like if you just keep putting the work in, you have to trust the process, too. I feel like everything comes with the process. We just have to keep getting reps and reps. Our guys, the [offensive] line, gets us better and we get them better. It is like a battle every day and that is the competition out there in spring ball. I feel like we are in a good spot.
E.J. Williams Jr. | R-Sr.+ | WR
On deciding to come back after entering the portal...
EW: Going into the portal, I didn't really want to go into the portal to start off with, but it was like a team rule that coach Cignetti has that guys that redshirt can't be a part of the team, so I understood that. I wanted to do what was best for me, so I decided to go into the portal. I happened to be on a visit at one school and coach Cig reached out to me and we had a good talk, and I decided I was going to come back.
On what is going to help him be successful this season...
EW: Really, the focal point for me is to stay health, stay in the training room and be able to prehab. Then, just hone in on learning concepts and not just one position, learning the defense so you can think clear while you are out there running routes, and just make everything polished at the top of routes and releases. And hone in on blocking in the run game, too.
On what last season was like for him...
EW: It was definitely mixed emotions. Of course, I want to be part of something special like that here at IU, knowing our past and our record and stuff the year before. It was a good feeling seeing my guys like Coop [Omar Cooper Jr.], Elijah [Sarratt], Myles Price, Miles Cross, Ke'Shawn [Williams] make the plays I knew they had made in practice that I was seeing every. All in all, I was happy to see them have that success that I know they had put the work in to have.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conferences, while video of the media session can be found at the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Omar Cooper Jr. | R-Jr. | WR
On working with new quarterback Fernando Mendoza...
OC: Fernando, he has a really good spin on the ball. We are still trying to build that connection, as well. Fernando, he is learning the offense really well and just starting [to see everything click]. Like today, we started really connecting -- all of the receivers. The difference [between Fernando and Kurtis Rourke], I wouldn't say much. They are both really good quarterbacks.
On what his focus was in the offseason...
OC: Really, everything, honestly. Just because, at the receiver position, there is so much you can learn. Right now, I focused on top of the routes and getting better getting out of the routes. Then, also, just learning the defensive schemes so when I am out there, I am not just loose in the mind ... trying to understand [what the defense is doing] and know what works best against that defense.
On the loss of Tyler Morris to injury this spring...
OC: It's really tough. Tyler was a really good player for us, and he was going to do well in the slot position for us this year. It makes us have to work harder, take more reps and learn more about the offense to play inside and outside. It sucks for Tyler and the whole receiver group, but it helps us to learn the slot and outside and be able to rotate.
Tyrique Tucker| R-Jr. | DL
On what he took away from playing with James Carpenter the last couple seasons...
TT: I learned how to be a leader and kind of lead by example to the best of my abilities. I feel like I worked hard to be in this position. I just have to keep going, day-in and day-out and just have to keep putting the work in. I feel like he led the way for me -- [James] and CJ [West] really set the standard, so I feel like I have a standard to uphold day-in and day-out and just get better every day of spring ball.
On his confidence entering the spring...
TT: I am pretty confident. I know I can do it in the Big Ten [after last season], so now I just have to go out there and let the world see -- have that season, that breakout season that I feel like I can have.
On what he is working to improve entering next season...
TT: Just have to keep grinding day-in and day-out. Me and Mikail go out there and craft during the offseason. We call is "craft season". We go out there and we work. You feel like if you just keep putting the work in, you have to trust the process, too. I feel like everything comes with the process. We just have to keep getting reps and reps. Our guys, the [offensive] line, gets us better and we get them better. It is like a battle every day and that is the competition out there in spring ball. I feel like we are in a good spot.
E.J. Williams Jr. | R-Sr.+ | WR
On deciding to come back after entering the portal...
EW: Going into the portal, I didn't really want to go into the portal to start off with, but it was like a team rule that coach Cignetti has that guys that redshirt can't be a part of the team, so I understood that. I wanted to do what was best for me, so I decided to go into the portal. I happened to be on a visit at one school and coach Cig reached out to me and we had a good talk, and I decided I was going to come back.
On what is going to help him be successful this season...
EW: Really, the focal point for me is to stay health, stay in the training room and be able to prehab. Then, just hone in on learning concepts and not just one position, learning the defense so you can think clear while you are out there running routes, and just make everything polished at the top of routes and releases. And hone in on blocking in the run game, too.
On what last season was like for him...
EW: It was definitely mixed emotions. Of course, I want to be part of something special like that here at IU, knowing our past and our record and stuff the year before. It was a good feeling seeing my guys like Coop [Omar Cooper Jr.], Elijah [Sarratt], Myles Price, Miles Cross, Ke'Shawn [Williams] make the plays I knew they had made in practice that I was seeing every. All in all, I was happy to see them have that success that I know they had put the work in to have.
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