‘I’m one of 11’: IU football’s Charlie Becker aims to be the ultimate teammate ahead of the 2026 season

Charlie Becker catches a pass at IU football practice.

In the first half of the 2025 season, Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker was hidden from the college football world.

Becker, then a true sophomore, only had seven receptions for 157 yards in the first nine games of the season. Most of his playing time came in late-game blowouts or one-off snaps here and there.

Ahead of him on the depth chart were Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper and EJ Williams. Three NFL players. Two All-Americans. Fourteen combined years of college football experience.

Following an injury to Sarratt, Becker was elevated into a starting role ahead of Indiana’s matchup against Penn State in Happy Valley. He caught seven passes for 118 yards in heroic fashion to help beat the Nittany Lions for the first time at Beaver Stadium.

Becker was no longer a former three-star recruit who could add depth to the Hoosiers’ wideout room. He became “Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee” and captured the nation’s attention.

From the Penn State game until the clock hit zero in the national championship seven games later, Becker had 27 catches for 522 yards and three touchdowns.

“Last year I put in the work, and I’m just happy that I was able to get that opportunity,” Becker said Thursday. “Coach Shanahan does such a great job of making sure that everyone in the receiving room knows what to do at every single position so that when their number does get called, they’ll be able to go out there and make plays. I’m super thankful to Coach Shanahan for that.”

Becker’s perception in the college football world has changed. He became one of the best receivers in college football. His name is now commonplace and his expectations are sky-high for 2026. He is no longer hidden.

All of that is outside noise to the young star.

“I wouldn’t say my life has necessarily changed,” Becker said. “I think I’ve always been the same person before or after football. I think I will always be the same person. I’m extremely blessed that I’ve been put in this position. I actually have to remember that I’m one of 11 out there.”

Rather than looking at what others say about him ahead of the 2026 season, Becker has focused on internal developments: confidence and leadership.

“I think as I get older and as I continue to grow and know more about the offense and am able to read defenses and just seeing kind of how I’ve improved, I think my confidence has also gone up and just being able to trust myself and trust my teaching,” Becker explained.

With higher confidence comes better leadership. It stems from his time a season ago, when he looked up to the veterans on the depth chart.

“I feel like yesterday I was sitting there with Elijah and EJ and Coop and all these guys that were teaching me how to become a leader and just kind of getting bits and pieces from each one of them,” Becker said. “They were such great leaders and they taught me so much, so just being able to take pieces from them and put it into my own leadership and kind of help out these younger guys and try to make them as good and the best men that they can be.”

Becker will be featured in a wide receiver room and an offense with immense talent in Bloomington.

Sarratt, Cooper and Williams are off to the NFL, but Indiana reloaded. Nick Marsh will line up opposite Becker as one of the top additions from the transfer portal in the country. Shazz Preston poses a speed threat with versatility. Tyler Morris can provide electricity in the slot. Indiana has plenty of young wideouts who can follow in Becker’s steps as well.

“We’ve got weapons all over now,” Becker said. “With Turbo [Richard], Khobie [Martin], and Lee [Beebe Jr.], our running backs, I mean, shoot, those guys are some studs. Our O-line, just a bunch of dogs, ballers. Josh [Hoover] is a beast. I mean, really look at our offense. Where do you see a hole?”

The college football world expects Becker to build on his 2025 performances.

He just considers himself a piece of a larger challenge for opponents.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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