Charlie Becker went from three-star to the face of Indiana - ESPN

A year ago, Dave Becker would attend Indiana's games, not sure what version of his son, Charlie, he would see afterward.

Charlie Becker was working hard and gained an increased role on special teams. He had impressed coach Curt Cignetti and Indiana's assistants behind the scenes, validating their decision to retain him from the previous staff's recruiting class. But he was also stuck in a wide receiver room with future first-round NFL draft pick Omar Cooper Jr. and the highly productive Elijah Sarratt, who had starred for Cignetti at both James Madison and IU.

Becker even lived with Fernando Mendoza, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL draft pick. But as October rolled along, Becker wasn't on the field much with the offense.

«He was getting a little frustrated,» Dave Becker recalled. «He said, 'I just want my chance. I want my opportunity to be out there.' And I just kept telling him, 'Buddy, just hang in there. It'll come. I promise you, it'll happen. You'll have your shot.'»

The father proved to be right, and the son capitalized, perhaps more than any other college football player in the past calendar year. Charlie Becker became Mendoza's go-to target during the stretch run and throughout the postseason.

On this date in 2025, Becker had four career receptions. On May 11, he was standing on the South Lawn at the White House, thanking the president for welcoming the national-champion Hoosiers.

«That was pretty crazy,» Charlie Becker said. «Not gonna lie.»

In 13 games, covering two seasons, Becker has gone from role player, best known as Mendoza's housemate/buddy, to one of the frontmen for Indiana, both during the national championship run and now the encore season. He has 57 receptions for 1,051 yards and