Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- There’s versatility and then there’s Charlie Becker versatility.
If the standout veteran receiver seems like he’s all over the field, if not the commercial airwaves (think Bloomington’s Curry Auto Center or BuffaLouie’s at the Gables Double Decker hamburger to raise money for ALS and Huddle For Hope), it’s because he is. While you don’t see him on defense -- yet -- he dominates offense and special teams.
Most of his acclaim comes as one of the Big Ten’s best receivers. He’s caught 50 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, with a long of 79 yards.
The result -- Becker’s a target for every defense he faces. He doesn’t see it that way, referring to teammates Nick Marsh, Shazz Preston, Tyler Morris and Davion Chandler as equal receiving threats.
“We have talent all over our offense,” he says. “It starts up front with our O-line. They’ve done a fantastic job of protecting the quarterback. It doesn’t matter who’s back there, (quarterbacks Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson), they’ve done a fantastic job of going through reads.
“Shazz does a great job, Tyler, Nick and then guys like Davion. Those guys make me look good. Without them, I wouldn’t be much of anything.”
Punt return was added to Becker’s duties early in the season to ensure ball security, and he’s been flawless at that. However, he hasn’t made punt return the weapon it was last season, when Johnathan Brady returned 21 punts for a 16.5 average with one touchdown and a long of 91 yards, or two years ago, when Myles Price returned 23 punts for an average of 12.6 yards per return with a long of 65.
Becker has returned two punts for an average of 12.5 yards. He’s fair caught many more. He’s also stayed away from several punts to let them roll to a stop.
If you think punt returner is easy, Becker says, think again.
“It’s tough. That’s a hard position. I went into it thinking if I ever got the opportunity, I’m taking one to the crib, but getting back there, I’m really focused on securing the ball and giving the offense position to be successful.”
Mission accomplished, but as head coach Curt Cignetti says, “We’d like to get more out of that unit.”
So would Becker.
“I’m starting to build a little more confidence so when I get my opportunities, I’m going to take them.”
Opportunity might arise on Saturday, when the No. 6/5 Hoosiers (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten) host No. 15/14 USC (7-2, 4-2) at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
Maximizing those opportunities, Becker says, starts when the punt reaches its highest height.
“When the ball is at its peak,” he says, “is when I’m able to peek the return and see how the hold ups (blocks) are and if there’s a guy in my face or not. A lot of times it comes down to feel. If you feel an opening, if you see the guys are doing a good job of holding up, and our guys do a fantastic job of that, then you try to make a play happen.”
Film work is a big part of that.
“The first thing is securing the ball,” he says. “Watching film and seeing our guys do a fantastic job of holding up gives me more confidence to be able to return these and put our offense in better positions.”
IU is coming off a much-needed bye week after playing for nine straight weeks.
“It came at a perfect time,” Becker says. “I know a lot of the guys, after a lot of weeks of football, are a little banged up, a little bruised.
“We were able to get in the treatment room. (Coach Cignetti) did a great job of settling us down and giving our bodies time to rest. A lot of guys took advantage of that and were able to get in the treatment room.”
Players got last weekend off, allowing some to return home. In Becker’s case, that meant Nashville, Tenn.
“That was a lot of fun. I got to see my parents.”
One big Hoosier topic is who will start at quarterback. Josh Hoover and Grant Wilson are getting work this week. An official starter announcement won’t come until Saturday.
Hoover has started all season but has been banged up recently. It affected his play against Ohio State and then Michigan. A big hit near the end of the first half against Minnesota resulted in Wilson playing in the second half. Wilson led the Hoosiers to an overtime victory, with a huge 33-yard, end-of-regulation completion to Becker to set up the overtime-forcing field goal, and then the 25-yard game-winning TD pass to Becker in overtime.
For the season, Hoover completes 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,860 yards, 19 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wilson, who is in his seventh college season, completes 59.1 percent of his passes for 230 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
“Both of them work super hard,” Becker says. “Both are getting a lot of reps. It doesn’t matter who’s out there. We put a lot of trust in our quarterbacks. We know they know exactly what to do. It’s our job to make it work.”
As far as any differences between the two, Becker adds, “It’s about the same. It’s my job to catch the ball and get open for them.”
Becker says he’s been working with Wilson since the start of last season, a process he’s also done with Hoover and last year’s starter and Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.
“We’d always be going out throwing. Seeing (Wilson) go out and ball is a lot of fun.”
USC allows 24.2 points, which ranks 15th in the Big Ten. It also allows 221.2 passing yards and 124.8 rushing yards. Some might see that as vulnerability IU can exploit. Becker sees the challenge.
“They have a great defense. Their D-line is fantastic. They really get to the quarterback, which as wide receivers that just makes us need to get open faster just so they don't get to the quarterback. Their linebackers do a good job of stopping their run, and their secondary does a good job of stopping the pass.
“It's going to be a good challenge for our offense. I'm excited.”
IU has fallen to No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Twelve teams make the playoffs. The Hoosiers have qualified for the last two playoffs and won last season’s national championship. They need to win their three final games to ensure making the Big Ten title game for the second straight year.
Becker says the team is not focused on that “at all.”
“We’re really focused on USC. We have to focus on USC and if the Big Ten championship comes, we’ll focus on that.”