After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season.
We conclude with the quarterback and wide receiver rooms.
THE COACHES
Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan joined Curt Cignetti in 2016 and has been coaching his wide receivers ever since. Four of Shanahan’s receivers from the last two seasons are on active NFL rosters to open the 2026 campaign.
2026 marks the return of quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri, who left ahead of the 2025 season to be the offensive coordinator at UCLA. Sunseri has been with Cignetti since he started coaching the quarterbacks at James Madison in 2021. He guided Kurtis Rourke in 2024.
Shanahan and Sunseri were college teammates at Pitt.
THE MAIN MEN
There’s no question who the starting quarterback will be.
Josh Hoover (6-foot-2, 205) has been locked into the role since the spring. In four years he finished No. 3 on TCU’s all-time completions list (771) and ranked No. 4 on career charts at TCU for passing yards (9,629), touchdown passes (71), total offense yards (9,619) and points responsible for (474).
The three starters at wide receiver are fairly clear as well.
Charlie Becker (6-foot-4, 208) is one of the hottest receivers in the nation after a dominant back half to the 2025 campaign. Becker is a serious vertical threat with track star speed — and he has great hands.
Nick Marsh (6-foot-3, 210) is still just 19 but already has 100 career receptions and 1,311 yards in two seasons at Michigan State. Marsh combines size and athleticism to physically dominate defensive backs.
Tyler Morris (5-foot-11, 185) is back from injury after missing the entire 2025 season. The three-year Michigan receiver will man the slot. He has posted 39 receptions for 470 yards and three scores for his career.
THE COMPETITION
The quarterback competition occurred primarily for the backup role, as veteran Grant Wilson and up-and-comer Tyler Cherry took turns with the No. 2 snaps throughout the spring and fall camp. Wilson will open the season as the backup, but Cherry, a former 4-star recruit, is coming along and should see the field as well.
At receiver there was never much question about Becker and Marsh being the starters on the outside, and a strong spring got the staff comfortable Morris was fully recovered from his knee injury. Tulane transfer Shazz Preston and second-year Davion Chandler pushed the most for roles, and they’ll both see plenty of snaps. Lebron Bond and Jackson Wasserstrom are in the mix as well.
A YOUNG PICK TO CLICK
Chandler has consistently generated the most buzz throughout the offseason. The Indianapolis product (Lawrence North H.S.) appeared in seven games as a freshman, and his first collegiate catch went for a 65-yard touchdown at Purdue. Chandler is a quick-twitch athlete who can consistently create separation, and he’s got the raw speed to finish plays after the catch. He can play inside or out for the Hoosiers.
CONCERNS
The concern you hear is whether Hoover can live up to Fernando Mendoza. Let’s just be clear: No one can live up to 16-0, Big Ten champion, National Champion, Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The most legitimate concern when comparing Hoover and Mendoza is whether Hoover can consistently rise to occasion with the game on the line like Mendoza did at Iowa, at Oregon, at Penn State, and throughout the postseason. Those kind of moments, and his ability to limit turnovers will define Hoover’s season.
There are no real concerns in the receiver room. We’re on the record suggesting IU might be better at wide receiver in 2026 despite having two 2025 starters chosen in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft, and two more who ended up in NFL camps.
Becker and Marsh are both getting first round NFL Draft attention. Obviously if either Becker or Marsh went down to injury it would be a major loss, but every team has those concerns with their stars.
BOLD PREDICTION
We’re already on the record with Hoover. Our 12-game regular season projection, based on Cignetti’s track record with quarterbacks, is as follows: 69.3% completion percentage, 3,036 yards, 29 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 174 QB rating.
With the receivers, we’ll say Morris has more receptions in 2026 than his combined career total to date of 39.
THE OUTLOOK
You know by now, Cignetti loves production over potential, and in Hoover and these receivers, he’s got loads of high-level college production. The Hoosiers are going to put tons of points on the board in 2026.
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