Indiana University Athletics
SPRING SESSIONS: Spring Practice No. 7
4/9/2026 1:30:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The Indiana football program hosted a media session in the Don Croftcheck Team Room inside Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium following the seventh spring practice of 2026 on Thursday (April 9). Wide receiver Charlie Becker and running back Khobie Martin, along with head coach Curt Cignetti all talked following practice.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening statement:
CC: Practice seven in the books, dud scrimmage Saturday, which will make eight, and making what I think, good progress as a team.
On his thoughts about how Khobie Martin has progressed in his time at IU…
CC: I really like what he's done on the field. He's improving. Coach (John) Miller and Justice Ellison do a great job in that room with those running backs. I like that running back group.
Turbo (Richard), Khobie, and (Lee) Beebe will be back. The freshmen are running hard. (Sean( Cuono has missed the last two practices, but Khobie Martin has really taken a step. He's improved as much, or more so, as anyone in that first recruiting class. And every time he has an opportunity, he takes advantage of it. He practices really hard. He runs with good pad level. He's a load. Does a nice job catching, but it's important to me, very consistent. I Really like him a lot.
On how he saw Tyler Morris attack his rehab and what he has seen from him so far…
CC: Knees are tough, they take a while. It's a process. I think it was real tentative early on in the spring, and I think he's starting to gain confidence. It shows up, like today, it showed up. He also returned punts at Michigan, and did a nice job catching the ball, which that's the number one job criteria for punt return, make sure he plays while looking at the football. He's a real smart guy that can run a lot of positions.
Charlie Becker | WR | Jr.
On how the chemistry is coming along with Josh Hoover…
CB: As soon as last season was over, Josh and I were texting, being like, hey, we had a little break, so he's like as soon as you guys get back let's get right to it. And after every workout, we've been throwing and just trying to build that connection that me and Fernando had. Josh is also one of the hardest workers I've met. He throws so much, I don't know how he does it, my arm would fall off. He texts me probably every day asking if we want to throw just to be able to build that connection, which is good.
On his message to the younger players looking to get back on the field and the value of Special Teams...
CB: Absolutely, I think special teams is super, super important. In football, it's one of the three teams, and I think just trying to make sure sure you do your job correctly on special teams allows you to gain trust in the coaches. After you gain trust, they're going to put you on the field, in your position, defense or offense. And you just have to continue to build that trust.
Khobie Martin | RB | R-So.
On what he has been working to improve so far this spring…
KM: So far, I've been working on my speed and my leadership as well. I'm trying to be one of those guys on our team that brings everybody together, lifts the spirit up, gets everybody going, bringing that juice, speed, and strength as well. I feel like strength is one of the areas I wanted to work on as well. So, I'm getting my diet right, making sure I take care of my body. Your body's one of the most important things, being active, so If I take care of my body, everything else can follow through as well.
On his reflection from his time as a prospect with the previous staff to winning a national championship…
KM: We talk about this all the time. What a blessing God has given us to just be able to be in that position. Committed to coach Allen, I didn't really know what was going to happen, they were coming off a losing season. Head coaches, especially nowadays, coaches, they switch up a little bit. And so, we heard Coach Cig coming in, it was just like, okay, this is a dude who will help us and lead us to become a winning team. Obviously, we just won a national championship, and so it was a great decision to stay at IU.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the media session can be found in the links above or at IUHoosiers.com/watch.
Curt Cignetti | Head Coach
Opening statement:
CC: Practice seven in the books, dud scrimmage Saturday, which will make eight, and making what I think, good progress as a team.
On his thoughts about how Khobie Martin has progressed in his time at IU…
CC: I really like what he's done on the field. He's improving. Coach (John) Miller and Justice Ellison do a great job in that room with those running backs. I like that running back group.
Turbo (Richard), Khobie, and (Lee) Beebe will be back. The freshmen are running hard. (Sean( Cuono has missed the last two practices, but Khobie Martin has really taken a step. He's improved as much, or more so, as anyone in that first recruiting class. And every time he has an opportunity, he takes advantage of it. He practices really hard. He runs with good pad level. He's a load. Does a nice job catching, but it's important to me, very consistent. I Really like him a lot.
On how he saw Tyler Morris attack his rehab and what he has seen from him so far…
CC: Knees are tough, they take a while. It's a process. I think it was real tentative early on in the spring, and I think he's starting to gain confidence. It shows up, like today, it showed up. He also returned punts at Michigan, and did a nice job catching the ball, which that's the number one job criteria for punt return, make sure he plays while looking at the football. He's a real smart guy that can run a lot of positions.
Charlie Becker | WR | Jr.
On how the chemistry is coming along with Josh Hoover…
CB: As soon as last season was over, Josh and I were texting, being like, hey, we had a little break, so he's like as soon as you guys get back let's get right to it. And after every workout, we've been throwing and just trying to build that connection that me and Fernando had. Josh is also one of the hardest workers I've met. He throws so much, I don't know how he does it, my arm would fall off. He texts me probably every day asking if we want to throw just to be able to build that connection, which is good.
On his message to the younger players looking to get back on the field and the value of Special Teams...
CB: Absolutely, I think special teams is super, super important. In football, it's one of the three teams, and I think just trying to make sure sure you do your job correctly on special teams allows you to gain trust in the coaches. After you gain trust, they're going to put you on the field, in your position, defense or offense. And you just have to continue to build that trust.
Khobie Martin | RB | R-So.
On what he has been working to improve so far this spring…
KM: So far, I've been working on my speed and my leadership as well. I'm trying to be one of those guys on our team that brings everybody together, lifts the spirit up, gets everybody going, bringing that juice, speed, and strength as well. I feel like strength is one of the areas I wanted to work on as well. So, I'm getting my diet right, making sure I take care of my body. Your body's one of the most important things, being active, so If I take care of my body, everything else can follow through as well.
On his reflection from his time as a prospect with the previous staff to winning a national championship…
KM: We talk about this all the time. What a blessing God has given us to just be able to be in that position. Committed to coach Allen, I didn't really know what was going to happen, they were coming off a losing season. Head coaches, especially nowadays, coaches, they switch up a little bit. And so, we heard Coach Cig coming in, it was just like, okay, this is a dude who will help us and lead us to become a winning team. Obviously, we just won a national championship, and so it was a great decision to stay at IU.
#NeverDaunted
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballFB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 09
FB: Charlie Becker - Spring Practice No. 7
Thursday, April 09
FB: Khobie Martin - Spring Practice No. 7
Thursday, April 09
FB: Isaiah Jones - Spring Practice No. 6
Tuesday, April 07