The 2024 IU football team had four receivers who would go on to make an NFL roster: Ke’Shawn Williams, Myles Price, Omar Cooper, Jr., and Elijah Sarratt.
A fifth, E.J. Williams, just signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad, and a sixth, Charlie Becker, appears certain to get drafted next spring.
That wide receiver room was loaded.
“We were so deep, we were probably 10 deep,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said Thursday on his radio show. “Donaven McCulley couldn’t get on the field.”
10? At least eight. Don’t forget about Miles Cross
While he has some clear talent this year, IU coach Curt Cignetti doesn’t believe he has near the depth at wideout in 2026 as he had in 2024.
And that means his top guys have to be as versatile and reliable as possible.
“We can’t get some of these new guys enough reps right now,” Cignetti said. “Like we can’t get Shazz Preston enough reps. And even Nick Marsh. Because what we did this past game was we moved Nick around a little bit. We played some guys some different spots, and the more we can do that, it’s going to really help us down the road. We’ve begun moving guys around already, but we need the two new ones, Nick and Shazz Preston, to learn every position.”
Cignetti’s comments likely explain at least in part why Preston started over Marsh against Howard, but also why Preston, Marsh and Davion Chandler were all still on the field in a a 55-0 game in the fourth quarter. None of them have game experience in this system, and all of them are going to be needed.
So in a game where the outcome was never going to be in doubt, Preston played 34 more snaps in week two compared to week one, and Chandler played 29 more.
The need for reps doesn’t entirely explain the various scenarios we saw play out against Howard.
Marsh’s snap count dropped by 13, and Cignetti intimated he’s still looking for more consistency from the Michigan State transfer.
“Nick’s new and he’s still learning. We’re still trying to work some kinks out day-in and day-out in terms of practice standards,” Cignetti said. “I can say the same thing about Shazz Preston, who has ability and talent.”
Those public remarks about Marsh and Preston bring to mind similar statements by Cignetti about McCulley in 2024. McCulley was IU’s leading receiver in 2023 before Cignetti arrived, but because of the depth, he barely saw the field in 2024.
IU has no such luxury in 2026, so Cignetti and receivers coach/offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan will have to utilize a different approach with Marsh and Preston to bring them up to the standard.
Cignetti also said second-year receiver Lebron Bond has been out with an injury for the last week and missed the game against Howard.
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