IU Receiving Recruits Are Big Ten’s Best

So how good a football recruiter is Kevin Wilson. It’s hard to know for sure other than you can’t judge him on this class. That’s true for every first-year coach. You get hired and you’re in scramble mode to retain some of the recruits from the previous coach and try to find new ones -- either guys who haven’t committed or guys who are committed.

In fact, Wilson and his staff talked to several in-state high school players who had already committed to other programs to see if there was any interest in the Hoosiers. At that late date, mid January, there was not.

Still, they took a shot.

Wilson’s first class ranked with that of Purdue and Northwestern at the bottom of the Big Ten rankings. Of course, with nine conference schools ranked in the top 50 nationally, that doesn’t mean IU’s class lacks talent.

In fact, Rivals.com analyst Mike Farrell rates IU’s group of receivers as the best in the Big Ten. The main reason is Shane Wynn, a dynamic playmaker out of Cleveland. In high school he was coached by Ted Ginn Sr., the father of Ted Ginn the former Ohio State standout now in the NFL.

Wynn was a late get, which means credit goes to Wilson and his staff more the previous coach Bill Lynch and his staff.

At 5-7 and 165 pounds, Wynn isn’t the biggest guy in the world, but he’s shifty and elusive and a great returner. In fact, he returned nine kicks for touchdowns as a senior. Rivals rates him as the No. 62 receiver nationally. He’s very fast. He’s won two straight state track titles as a member of Glenville High School’s 800-meter and 400-meter relays.

Still, Wynn wasn’t the highest rated state of Ohio receiver. That honor went to Cody Latimer of Dayton. He played receiver and defensive back in high school. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, he’s in more of the big-receiver mold IU has targeted in recent years.

As a senior he caught 42 passes for 722 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 372 yareds and six TDs. On defense he had 89 tackles and four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He’s rated as the. No. 49 receiving prospect nationally.

IU also signed receiver Jay McCants out of Cincinnati. At 6-4 and 195 pounds, he also plays basketball. He caught 34 passes for 413 yards and six TDs last season.

So what exactly did Rivals’ Farrell have to say about IU’s receiver group?

Glad you asked.

“Indiana’s last-second grab of Glenville stuff Shane Wynn puts it over the top ans he’s teamed with Cody Latimer… Wynn’s high ranking in the receiver category puts Indiana over the top.

The Hoosiers didn’t rate nearly as well at the other positions according to Farrell. Their next highest-rated position was at defensive tackle, linebacker and defensive back. They rated sixth in the conference.

So what does all this mean? We’ll know in a couple of years when we see these guys in action.