Bennett, defense have work cut out for them

For the first time in school history, IU has four 1,000-yard receivers on its roster at the same time.

Seniors Kofi Hughes and Ted Bolser, along with juniors Shane Wynn and Cody Latimer, have more than 5,000 combined career receiving yards and 42 receiving
touchdowns.

Despite the collective and individual achievements of IU’s receiving core, the most accomplished receiver on the field Saturday, in terms of statistics, will not be donning cream and crimson.

Penn State wide receiver Allen Robinson has had 106 receptions, 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. Despite being suspended for the first half of the Nittany Lions’ season opener and having a bye last week, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound junior has 448 receiving yards, which ranks 17th in the country.

IU Coach Kevin Wilson said Robinson has a good skill set that Wilson said might make him the best wide receiver in the Big Ten. Wilson said some of Robinson’s talent as a football player stems from his past as a basketball player.

Robinson was the captain of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Michigan) basketball team his senior year. He averaged 23.7 points per game in the 2010-11 season and was an honorable mention all-state player in Class A.

“I think (he) was a very talented basketball player in high school,” Wilson said. “He does have some substance, so he can make competitive plays.”

Lining up across from Penn State’s top wide receiver will be the nation’s leader in pass breakups, IU junior cornerback Tim Bennett.

Bennett has 10 breakups, including one touchdown-saving deflection this season. The Columbus, Ga. native is tied for 11th in the Big Ten with seven tackles per game.
IU Defensive Coordinator Doug Mallory said Bennett has been one of IU’s best defenders through the Hoosiers’ first four games.

Bennett saw action in 11 games last season after transferring from Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, and he started three times. He made the full-time transition from safety to cornerback, where he has become a staple defender for the Hoosiers.

The junior earned defensive player of the week honors after the Navy game, following a career-high 12 tackles and a touchdown-saving pass breakup.

Bennett will have his work cut out for him as he looks to shut down Robinson, who has five receptions of at least 40 yards this season.

“He’s got great leaps and great speed and very dynamic, his ability to adjust on the ball and make plays in space and all that,” Wilson said of Robinson. “He’s a quality complete football player receiver.

“There might be faster guys, there might be bigger guys, but when he puts it all together, he’s one of the better receivers in the country.”

Follow reporter Andy Wittry on Twitter @AndyWittryIDS.