Indiana’s early unbeaten run has put plenty of Hoosiers in the spotlight, and three names are already climbing the NFL draft conversation.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid updated his top 50 prospect rankings on Thursday, and Indiana wide receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, along with offensive lineman Carter Smith, all made the list. Becker is the highest-rated of the group at No. 8 overall and the No. 2 receiver in the class. Marsh sits at No. 26 overall as the fourth-ranked receiver, while Smith checks in at No. 44 overall and No. 2 among offensive guards.
Becker has become one of the biggest risers in college football over the past year, and he’s backed up the hype through four games. The 6-foot-4 receiver has 19 catches for 370 yards and six touchdowns, good for a jaw-dropping 19.5 yards per grab.
He’s built like an NFL problem: track speed, a huge catch radius, a strong vertical leap and a knack for winning contested balls. That last part may be his best calling card.
What’s making scouts even more interested is the growth in his route tree. A year ago, a lot of Becker’s damage came on vertical shots and back-shoulder throws from Fernando Mendoza.
Those plays are still there, but Indiana has also started using him more underneath and in the middle of the field. His route running still has room to sharpen, but the early signs this season have been encouraging.
That kind of profile doesn’t come around often. Passing Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State as the top receiver in the class would be a massive climb, but Becker has a real shot to land in the top 10.
Marsh brings a different flavor, but he’s giving Indiana another receiver who could hear his name called early. The Michigan State transfer isn’t quite the same downfield weapon as Becker, yet he’s a physical, well-rounded target with solid speed, dependable hands and strong route-running traits.
His toughness shows up in one-on-one situations, and he’s already flashed his ability to finish difficult catches. His first catch as a Hoosier was a one-handed, back-shoulder touchdown in the season opener. Through four games, Marsh has 16 receptions for 221 yards and three scores.
He also just turned 20 on Thursday, so there’s still room for his game to grow. As his timing with quarterback Josh Hoover keeps building, he should get more chances to show what he can do.
Another detail NFL teams will notice: his blocking. Marsh has helped spring several big runs this season, and that fits the standard Curt Cignetti expects from his receivers.
Smith may not draw the same buzz as the two wideouts, but he’s become one of the most dependable linemen in the country. Sometimes the loudest thing an offensive lineman can do is stay quiet, and that’s basically Smith’s game.
He isn’t the type to routinely blow defenders off the ball or send them flying, but he is steady, clean and hard to beat. He rarely loses in pass protection and gives Indiana real value in the run game, too. His numbers reflect that reliability: a 0% pressure rate and a 0% blown run block rate across 221 snaps.
At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Smith also looks like a possible interior fit at the next level. For an Indiana offense loaded with playmakers, having that kind of stability up front has mattered just as much as the fireworks outside.
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