2024 Position Preview: Wide Receivers

As the 2024 season inches closer, let's take a closer look at the WR position, the most anticipated group on the roster.

The position most Indiana fans are eager to see on the field is the wide receiver position. The Hoosiers have six WRs in the room on their final years of eligibility, as well as a QB in Kurtis Rourke who is on his year. So Indiana needs to maximize this threatening passing attack in 2024, and if maximized, it could be the phase that determines the ceiling of Curt Cignetti's first season in Bloomington. 

The good news for Indiana is that its opposing pass defenses aren’t expected to be too strong, averaging a ranking of 47th in the nation last season in passing yards allowed. Also, Mike Shanahan’s JMU passing offense ended the 2023 season ranked 6th in success rate (53.6%), compared to Indiana’s 52nd-ranked passing success rate. And, with the retainments of Carter Smith and Mike Katic (at center) and the addition of Trey Wedig, Indiana’s OL is set at pass-blocking pinpoints in ways the program hasn’t seen since late-era Kevin Wilson. 

The Hoosiers brought in four WRs through the transfer portal, but what the WR room benefits from more than any other position that was reshaped through the portal this offseason is that 1.) there was already decent talent in the room, and 2.) two of the four WRs brought in have P4 experience so there isn’t as much concern about translation of talent.

Aside from expected growing pains from the QBs during the Spring Game in April, there is little reason to believe this WR corps won’t show out in big ways this season. So what might it look like?