'Humble and hungry': Charlie Becker has taken advantage of opportunities, providing another big play wideout to Indiana offense

Charlie Becker was expected to play a role for Indiana this season — but to what extent was still to be determined. Heading into the summer, Indiana needed some additional depth in the wide receiver room after a departures to key players and a notable injury headlined the group. It was Curt Cignetti who consistently made it known the improvement that Becker had made heading into his second summer with the team.

“I’ve seen Becker take a step,” Cignetti said in the spring. “I’m excited about his future. I like Becker … He gives good effort every day. He’s made some plays down the field. He’s tough.”

Playing behind All-American Elijah Sarratt and fellow standout Omar Cooper Jr was already known, then the health of EJ Williams sustained throughout the summer and fall, leading to a question of where Becker would land on the depth chart, and when he’d make that impact on the field.

Through the first three games of the season, Becker totaled just four catches. So with little impact made in the non-conference, he became a bit of an afterthought. A few more weeks passed and little was shown on the field.

Then, his first moment arrived. When Indiana needed a big play early in its win against Maryland, it was Becker who stepped up with a 52-yard reception to set up Indiana’s second score of the game and helping gain momentum in what would be another blowout win.

That’s when things turned, however. With Sarratt going down with a hamstring injury early in the game, and Becker’s big play, it opened the door for his first career start at Penn State the following week.

Becker turned in seven receptions for 110 yards — both team-highs. His big play ability down the field that Cignetti mentioned in the spring was out in full force again. After two-straight three-and-outs, Becker had a 53-yarder on the first play of Indiana’s third possession. IU would convert just two plays later for a touchdown.

But, his big play ability wasn’t over after that. His circus catch — now overshadowed by the eventual game-winning catch by Omar Cooper — set the Hoosiers up on the PSU seven yard line. Cooper scored two three plays later. It led to being named Indiana’s Offensive Player of the Game.

“Becker has taken advantage of his opportunities before the Penn State game, and really proud of him to come up big the way he did in that game,” Cignetti said after the Penn State win. “I thought he just showed a lot right there. We knew he had skills. He was long. He’s always done a great job on special teams. He made some good catches when he had a chance to play this season. But in that venue to make those plays — he was the offensive player of the game. Really proud of him, and now let’s stay humble and hungry and build on it.”

Staying humble and hungry is exactly what he did. And, his big play ability wasn’t just a one-time performance or a flash in the pan. He backed it up with a five reception and 108-yard game, including a 48-yard touchdown, against Wisconsin.

On the season, he’s now up to 19 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think I’ve grown a lot,” Becker said. “It helps having probably the best wide receiver coach in the country in Coach (Mike) Shanahan. Especially last year, learning from Elijah and Coop, Myles Price on the Vikings, and all those guys from last year. And learning from these guys this year, it’s been so helpful in my personal growth.”

Becker is now one of four Indiana receivers to have more than 350 yards this season — and his emergence at the end of the year is only an added boost to an already extremely explosive Indiana offense.

“I call him Chuck, but Chuck has been fantastic. He’s Alberto’s and I’s roommate, along with some other guys,” Fernando Mendoza said last week. “But we’ve seen the work that Chuck’s put through, through catching balls for us at 7 AM on random Sunday summer mornings, on random Sunday spring mornings. And just his work ethic and what it’s all accumulated to is so special to see that he’s making huge plays on the field, getting a lot of targets, getting a lot of catches, and really contributing to our already elite receiving core.”

“Our coaches have done a great job preparing me for these kind of moments,” Becker added. ” … It just means a lot to be able to come out here and show what I can do.”

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