Indiana's wide receiver history features several exceptional players, including a talented wide receiver named Elijah Sarratt.
Dec 6, 2025; Indiana polis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Elijah Sarratt runs against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first quarter during the 2025 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images With five All-Americans, eight first-team All-Big Ten selections, and 16 NFL Draft picks, Indiana has never had a problem coming up with tremendous college football wide receivers. Some have been special, some have earned more decorations than others, but there have been plenty of great ones in the school's history.
- Indiana's wide receiver history has hidden gems among the ten greatest- Pete Pihos is an 'old school' pick who needs more recognition. Nov 10, 2007; Evanston, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver James Hardy runs past Northwestern Wildcats linebackers Prince Kwateng , Eddie Simpson and Adam Kadela during the third quarter at Ryan Field. Northwestern beat Indiana 31-28.
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-Imagn Images | Jerry Lai-Imagn ImagesFirst Team All-American , College Football Hall of Fame , Pro Football Hall of Fame Pihos was an All-American at two positions, fullback and end. And that's the problem. He was a great all-around player - and will get more credit as one of the top Indiana players of all-time - but he wasn't necessarily the best wide receiver.
He played positionless football, so it is difficult to pencil him into just one position. His time at IU was interrupted by World War II, but he was part of the 9-0-1 1945 team that won a Big Ten title. He is the only former IU player in both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Oct 23, 2004; Columbus, OH, USA;Indiana Hoosiers #19 Courtney Roby attempts a catch in the second quarter against Ohio State University #6 Tyler Everett and #21 Nate Salley in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium. The pass fell incomplete. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images Copyright 2004 by Matthew Emmons | Matthew Emmons-Imagn ImagesThird-Round NFL Draft Pick, 2nd Team All-Big Ten , Second in IU history for receiving yards.
Roby was the best player on a stretch of bad IU teams. He led the Hoosiers in receiving yards from 2002-04 and finished his career second on the all-time receiving yards list in program history. He was also an excellent returner, accounting for 567 return yards. His talent shone through the fog of Bloomington enough to be a third-round NFL Draft pick.
First Team All-Big Ten , Second Team All-Big Ten , 1984 First Round NFL Draft Pick Duane Gunn was a weapon for the early 80's Hoosiers. He is still fifth on the Hoosiers' career receiving yards list and he was a terrific kick returner with 735 career return yards. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, Gunn put together a career that saw him picked 23rd overall in the 1984 NFL Draft.
First Team All-American , First Team All-Big Ten , 7th Round NFL Draft Pick Jones still sits third in career receiving yards in IU history, and his 1,265-yard season in 1987 is the most yards an IU wide receiver has had in a single season. He helped lead IU to two bowl games. In the 1988 Peach Bowl, Jones made seven catches for 150 yards and scored a touchdown.
Malinchak can be lost to the history books, but he led the Big Ten in touchdown receptions in 1964 and 1965. He led the Hoosiers in receiving in each of his three seasons at IU. Nov 8, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. makes a catch in the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images, and his legacy will last a long time. Cooper's journey from a four-star in-state commit to a first-round NFL draft pick is as impressive as any. After showing some promise in 2023, Cooper broke out in 2024. He showed off his clutch gene with catches on money downs and in the red zone.
In 2025, Cooper led the Hoosiers in receiving yards en route to a national championship. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. make an unreal play for a go-ahead TD vs. Penn State with 36 seconds left. Oct 18, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Elijah Sarratt catches a pass for a touchdown against Michigan State Spartans defensive back Aydan West during the second half at Memorial Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn ImagesSecond Team All-Big Ten , Third Team All-Big Ten , Fourth Round NFL Draft Pick Nicknamed 'Waffle House', Elijah Sarratt became one of the most dependable wide receivers in Hoosier history. His ability to make contested catches is unmatched. His journey from FCS St. Francis to James Madison to Indiana, Sarratt was a star at every level.
Sarratt only spent two seasons at IU, but he's third in school history with 23 receiving touchdowns. His 15 touchdowns in 2025 led all of college footballLewis was the leading receiver on some very good Indiana teams in the 1990's. He was part of two bowl seasons, and he still holds the Indiana record for the most receiving yards in a bowl game with 177 . He is fourth on Indiana's career receiving yards list with 2,324.
In 1993, he finished with 55 catches for 1,058 yards and seven touchdowns. Before Fernando Mendoza, Lewis was Indiana's last first-round selection in an NFL Draft. Nov 10, 2007; Evanston, IL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver James Hardy makes a catch against Northwestern Wildcats safety Reggie McPherson during the third quarter at Ryan Field. Northwestern beat Indiana 31-28.
Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-Imagn Images | Jerry Lai-Imagn ImagesSecond Team All-American , First Team All-Big Ten , Second Team All-Big Ten , Second Round NFL Draft Pick James Hardy is still the Hoosiers' career leader in touchdown catches with 36. He will go down as one of the greatest players in Indiana football history.
His 2,770 career receiving yards and 36 receiving touchdowns are records that haven't been close to being touched, even with IU's success on offense this century. He is at the top of nearly every receiving category in the IU record book, and his performance in the 2007 season while leading IU to their first bowl game in over a decade will forever be memorable.
👉3x All-Big TenButcher was a key part of the 1967 Hoosier team dubbed the 'Cardiac Kids' as they rolled their way to a Big Ten championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Butcher had 10 receiving touchdowns in each of his three seasons with the Hoosiers. In 1969, he came up with his best season of the three with 37 catches for 537 yards and 10 scores to finish off an amazing career.
Remembering the era, his career receiving touchdown record stood for nearly 40 years before being broken in 2007.
Please follow us on Google to support us Indiana Hoosiers Wide Receiver History Pete Pihos
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
After Indiana purge, Trump sets sights on Louisiana’s Bill CassidySen. Bill Cassidy fights for political survival in Louisiana's GOP primary as Trump and allies back Rep. Julia Letlow to unseat the incumbent.
Read more »
Apple TV’s Forgotten 9-Part War Drama Is One of Its Best Hidden GemsApple TV's 9-part epic Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa, is a hidden gem that deserves a second season.
Read more »
Hidden Gem No More: How San Sebastián Found Its Sweet SpotAfter 73 editions, SSIFF has quietly become one of the most respected names on the global film fest circuit, and as its longtime director prepares to step down, it has never looked stronger.
Read more »
The Hidden Strength of Queen Camilla and the Strategy to Isolate the House of YorkA detailed examination of Queen Camilla's strategic influence over King Charles III and her alleged campaign to remove Prince Andrew and the York family from royal prominence to protect the monarchy.
Read more »