A year ago, Dave Becker would attend Indiana's games not sure which version of his son, Charlie, he would see afterward. Charlie Becker was working hard and gained a bigger role on special teams. He had impressed coach Curt Cignetti and Indiana's assistants, validating their decision to keep him from the previous staff's recruiting class. But he was stuck in a wide receiver room with future first-round NFL draft pick Omar Cooper Jr. and the highly productive Elijah Sarratt. Becker even lived with Fernando Mendoza, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL draft pick.
As October rolled along, Becker wasn't on the field much with the offense. "He was getting a little frustrated," Dave Becker recalled. "I just kept telling him, 'Buddy, just hang in there. It'll come.'" The father proved right, and the son capitalized more than any other college football player in the past calendar year. Becker became Mendoza's go-to target during the stretch run and throughout the postseason. On May 11, he stood on the South Lawn at the White House, thanking the president for welcoming the national-champion Hoosiers.
In 13 games across two seasons, Becker has gone from role player to one of Indiana's frontmen. He has 57 receptions for 1,051 yards and 11 touchdowns, and ranks fourth nationally in touchdown catches (8) through the first half of the 2026 season. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid lists the 6-foot-4 Becker as his No. 8 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver behind Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith.
"It's been fun seeing Charlie be on billboards and be the face of Indiana," Dave Becker said. "It's a joy, it's a blessing, it's hilarious." Becker was a three-star recruit from Nashville, rated No. 185 among wide receivers. When Indiana fired Tom Allen and hired Cignetti, recruits were left in limbo. Becker reached out to offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, and Cignetti kept him, citing his athletic bloodlines and potential to develop.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing