Receivers Hughes, Latimer and Wynn return to lead offense

IU’s leading three receivers ranked in the top 10 for receptions and yards per game in the conference last season.

The trio is comprises senior Kofi Hughes and juniors Cody Latimer and Shane Wynn.
This was the first time one Big Ten team had three representatives on both lists since the Big Ten started cataloging receiving statistics in 2004.

Purdue senior cornerback Ricardo Allen, who has been named Second Team All-Big Ten three times, said besides his group of receivers at West Lafayette, the Hoosier trio is the best in the conference.

“If I had to say another team, I would say IU,” Allen said. “They compete on a daily basis and they have the stats to prove it.”

IU senior safety Greg Heban said going against the offense in practice every day is making IU’s defense better, and he said he agrees the receiving corps is the best in the conference.

“Yeah, I do,” Heban said. “Going against them every day, all three of those guys, they’re just the best in the Big Ten…They are all freak athletes, and if I was any other defense, I wouldn’t want to go against our defense.”

Last year, the trio accounted for 162 receptions, 2,104 yards and 15 touchdowns, about half of the total offensive production for last year’s 14 players who caught passes.

Latimer was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and Wynn was named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media following their feats in 2012. This year, Latimer was named to the Biletnikoff Award Preseason watch list, the award given
annually to the country’s top receiver.

Hughes, the senior leader of the group, said IU has a bevy of other players at the receiver position who can make plays.

“And besides those three names, we have Duwyce Wilson, Isaiah Roundtree, Nick Stoner and Ricky Jones,” Hughes said. “Those guys can start anywhere in the Big Ten. Just because of the depth we have on this team, if I have to go out or Cody has to go out, we’re not skipping a beat at all.”

Along with wide receiver depth, IU’s passing attack will also feature senior tight end Ted Bolser, who was named to the Mackey Award Preseason watch list, the award given annually to the nation’s best tight end.

IU Coach Kevin Wilson doesn’t focus on getting the three receivers touches, he said the go-to man is the open man.

“I think we got three guys who can deliver,” Wilson said. “They’ll have some stats, have some numbers. But it’s not trying to get Kofi (Hughes) a big year, or Cody Latimer a big year, it kind of just happens in the process.”

From speedster Wynn, who stands at 5-foot-7, to jump ball threat Latimer who towers at 6-foot-3, each player brings a distinct set of skills to the field, Heban said.

“Cody (Latimer)’s definitely got the size and the hands. He’s a great receiver,” Heban said. “Shane (Wynn) obviously has got the speed. And I think Kofi (Hughes)’s biggest asset is his route running…I think they all three bring something different to the table, and having all three of those combines into one great corps.”

Purdue’s Allen isn’t the only defensive player around the Big Ten who thinks the trio is a tough bunch to handle.

Penn State safety Malcolm Willis is the most experienced Nittany Lion in the defensive backfield and says the Hoosiers passing game turns heads. Willis is also a friend of Wynn, whom he said he has tremendous respect for.

“They’re definitely a tough group,” Willis said. “Those guys, especially a guy like Shane Wynn — I’m actually good friends with Shane — he might be one of the toughest guys to cover in the slot that I’ve played against or that I’ve seen. Those three guys are a big problem to handle.”

Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer