‘This dude’s a gamer’: Charlie Becker’s effort to build a connection with Josh Hoover pays off immediately

Charlie Becker at IU football practice.

At the beginning of the 2025 season, Charlie Becker was just a young, former three-star recruit who added depth to a loaded receiver room at Indiana.

By the end of it, he was a national champion, a fan favorite and a football hero in Bloomington.

He snuck under the radar in the first half of the season, but exploded in the second half and into the playoffs. He finished his sophomore campaign with 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns. His relationship with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and roommate Fernando Mendoza grew into an unstoppable connection.

Becker identifies his 2026 mindset in simple terms. None of what happened matters anymore.

“To be honest, I don’t really remember last year,” Becker said on Tuesday. “We’re just focused on the here and now.”

Much is different in 2026. Mendoza is now in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. Becker can’t fly under the radar. His expectations are sky-high after the 2025 breakout.

Now atop the depth chart at wide receiver for the reigning national champions, Becker has taken on new responsibilities. The most important: leading the charge in the wideout room to build the connection with new quarterback Josh Hoover.

“As soon as the season ends, you’re getting prepared, talking with the other quarterbacks, and just starting to build that connection,” Becker said. “All the receivers catch jugs every day. We catch anywhere from 100 to 200 balls. We’re just trying to stay prepared. We’re throwing with Josh outside of practices and keeping that connection strong.”

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said the Hoosiers’ passing game was further along during fall camp than either of the previous two seasons. Becker and Hoover are big reasons why. Indiana’s 52-16 Week 1 win against North Texas showcased the passing game’s success.

Hoover was an ultra-efficient 13-for-16 passing for 231 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. His top target on the day? Becker.

“Charlie B. from Nashville, Tennessee” hauled in four receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns. The first, a leaping grab in the back of the end zone as blood streamed down Hoover’s face. The second, a 35-yard one-on-one jump ball down the sideline.

“This dude’s a gamer,” Hoover said of Becker postgame. “He’s got a different look in his eye when he’s out there. It’s fun for a quarterback to look out there and see a guy like that that’s just so competitive and wants to make plays. That’s what he does best.”

Becker and Hoover’s connection sparked what was, without a doubt, Indiana’s best passing performance in a season-opener under Cignetti.

In Indiana’s 2025 opener, Mendoza went 18-for-31 with 193 yards and no touchdown passes. In the 2024 opener, Kurtis Rourke went 15-for-24 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Against North Texas in 2026, Indiana put up 52 points on 46 plays and only possessed the ball for 22 minutes and 38 seconds.

The complementary nature of Becker and Hoover’s relationship is not just one way, either. Becker raves about his quarterback’s work ethic.

“Josh’s preparation for games has been unbelievable,” Becker said. “I’ve seen him [at the facility] 24/7. He is really trying to read his opponents, read the defense, break down film, and gain any slight advantage he can on his opponents. Also, his leadership has been a huge point for our offense. He does a great job of commanding us, taking control, getting the boys going when we need to get going, and telling us that’s not good enough when we’re not practicing great.”

With Becker and Hoover at the helm, Indiana’s passing offense has the potential to become a real threat this season. Not to forget, the prowess of Nick Marsh and Davion Chandler, who also scored touchdowns in Week 1, poses challenges as well. Tyler Morris, Shazz Preston and Brock Schott all also got involved in the passing attack. The offensive line allowed for a mostly clean pocket all game. The run game complements it, too.

That smoothness does not come by mistake. It has been in development since the moment the 2025 season ended. Extra throws, extra reps on the jugs machine and extra time together have helped IU’s passing game flourish early this season. They were necessary steps to meet a high standard. They required action and initiative.

Hoover and Becker made sure they took those steps together.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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