Sophomore wide receiver Davion Chandler is making the most of his receptions so far in his young college career.
He’s making a bit too much of those opportunities once he reaches the end zone.
The Indianapolis native has two catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns so far as a Hoosier.
The 5-foot-11 and 182-pound Chandler was on everyone’s radar as a breakout player in 2026, and he appears primed to make a big impact this season.
That is, if he cleans up one aspect of his game.
“Got Davion Chandler involved,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said Saturday after Indiana’s 52-16 win over North Texas. “Now he’s not supposed to spike the ball. Trying to look for reasons to play him, he’s giving me reasons not to. I mean, that’s youth.”
Cignetti cracked a smile after that one. He’s serious, but he’s also sending a message.
JOSH HOOVER IS COOKING 🧑🍳
He hits his Davion Chandler for his 4TH TD of the game for @IndianaFootball! pic.twitter.com/diVy4H6on4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 5, 2026
Is the 65-year-old coach really that old school?
No, not really. For Cignetti, it isn’t so much about the celebration. Indiana’s players celebrate plenty.
For him it’s more about the “look at me” mindset he sees when players spike the ball or celebrate on their own in other ways.
He’s had similar issues with other players in the past, including safety Amare Ferrell’s celebration of an interception against UCLA in 2024 when he ran to the end zone, and safety Louis Moore’s similar celebration of his own pick against Kennesaw State in 2025.
Ferrell and Moore stayed out of Cignetti’s doghouse after he let them hear it, and Chandler is not likely to spike the ball again.
The players come to realize their head coach wants the players to celebrate as a team rather than as individuals.
“I didn’t see it, but if he spiked the ball, I could have told you Cig was going to be mad,” linebacker Isaiah Jones said. “I can tell you if anyone spikes the ball, spins the ball, does a dance, and coach Cig sees it, you’re going to get it on the sideline.”
Cignetti did indeed talk to Chandler on the sideline after the play.
“I think Davion should have known that,” Jones said. “He should know what he’s going to get when Coach Cig catches him around the stadium. But, yeah, that’s not what we believe in. You know, celebrate with your teammates. Celebrate with the guys that that helped you get to where you are. He wants you to celebrate with the team. The individual celebration — that’s that’s not who we are.”
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