From the moment Charlie Becker left his unofficial visit to Indiana, he knew where he wanted to play college football.
Becker and his parents took that unofficial visit on May 26, three weeks before his official visit. And after spending time with head coach Tom Allen and his staff, and touring IU’s campus and facilities, the class of 2024 wide receiver was sold.
He had trouble saying no to the other schools recruiting him, so he didn’t immediately commit. But Becker knew IU was the right fit after the unofficial visit.
“When we left after about five hours I said, ‘So, Charlie, what do you think?’ And he said, ‘That’s it. I’m done. This is it. This is where I want to play.’ Which blew me away, right away,” his father, Dave, said. “As a father to see your son know exactly where it is — in his heart, he knew exactly where he wanted to be — it was great. It was the best feeling.”
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Nashville native announced his commitment to Indiana on June 22.
The approach Allen and his staff take to coaching is what swung Becker toward IU more than anything else. He bought into the “LEO” mantra, and liked Allen’s commitment to developing his players off the field just as much as on-field.
“He was saying that he had transfers come in, and he would bring him into his office and they’d be like, ‘Am I in trouble?’ Because they never talked to the head coach at all (before), let alone get called into his office. But he’s really developing his players to be more than a football player; to be a better man,” Becker said. “It’s really unique.”
Despite living in SEC country, Becker grew up on Big Ten football. Dave played linebacker at Ohio State in 1995, so the family watches Ohio State games every week. Charlie said his favorite current wide receiver to watch and study is Marvin Harrison Jr.
So when his recruiting process began, the allure of playing in the Big Ten was strong.
“At first I was thinking — since we’re in Tennessee — I was like, ‘Yeah, there’s no way it gets colder than Tennessee.’ I wanted to stay (in a) warmer area,” Becker said. “But the more I looked at it, the more I think I would have fun and be a big playmaker on the field, and looking at the coaches and all that, I think the biggest thing was Indiana and the Big Ten.”
IU-Ohio State games will feel different now for the family, but Dave assured he’d love to go back to Ohio Stadium in IU gear and see Charlie’s Hoosiers win.
Given the family’s background in football, Becker has played the game as long as he can remember. His older brother, Cole, plays linebacker at Appalachian State. Charlie played linebacker, as well, when he was younger, but moved to wide receiver when he hit a growth spurt.
He’s come to love the chance to make big plays at wide receiver. He said his favorite part of playing the position is scoring touchdowns, and getting to celebrate. He doesn’t showboat, he clarified, as he normally just points to the sky. But those moments stick with him.
Becker recalled his first start at Father Ryan High, his third game overall as a sophomore. He had nerves to shake at first, but went on to score multiple touchdowns and make some highlight-reel plays. After one of the touchdowns, the fans chanted, “He’s a sophomore” at the other team. That game was when Charlie and Dave both realized he was good enough to play at the next level.
Dave coached Charlie’s teams into middle school, and remained involved as he moved up to high school. Plenty of recruits come to college as “coach’s kids,” but fewer have parents that experienced college football first-hand and understand the game at that high level. Dave watched film with both Charlie and Cole at home three times a week, and it made a difference on Friday nights.
“It was very helpful. He really understands defense. As a wide receiver, I’ve got to understand their coverage. When I look out there, is it Cover 3, Cover 2, so I can base my route off that,” Charlie said. “He’s been super helpful. It really makes a difference.”
Becker brings a diverse skill set to wide receiver. With his size — and his experience playing basketball through his sophomore year — he can climb the ladder and win jump balls. He can make savvy plays, like finding a soft spot in a zone defense and sitting on it. His highlight tape displays those traits, route-running potential, and kick returning success.
Dave noted that Charlie’s speed is one of his biggest weapons.
“He’s got long strides, and he’s extremely fast. Runs an upper 4.3-4.4 (40-yard dash). That can be kind of misleading seeing him out there. He’s long, lanky, and fast. He’s going to be exciting,” Dave said. “I think what he needs to — and what he will continue, what he has been working on the last year is the exploding out of his cuts, the crispness of his route-running, and continuing to educate himself on football IQ in general, understanding what the quarterback is looking for and doing.”
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