IU

IU wide receiver Ricky Jones small but (hopefully) mighty

Zach Osterman zach.osterman@indystar.com

BLOOMINGTON That a redshirt junior wide receiver with three career catches in the midst of a position change is “grandpa” to his position mates illustrates perfectly the question marks for Indiana at that position.

So there’s Ricky Jones for you — himself in many ways a rookie, yet also the de facto captain of the wide receiver meeting room.

Regaining offensive balance that eluded Indiana through most of last season means retooling a passing attack that never really clicked into gear. Even before Nate Sudfeld’s injury, there were problems with timing, chemistry and dropped passes.

Jones is at the center of that retooling. Recruited out of Florida as a nimble slot receiver, he might’ve played significant snaps as a freshman, but for a broken ankle. Three years later, he’s moved to the outside, where he’ll start Saturday.

“It’s definitely different,” Jones said. “When you’re playing (in the slot), you work with a lot of space, trying to fill out different zones and find different ways to catch the ball. But outside, it’s more man press (coverage) and different things like that.”

The position of boundary receiver — or split end, or flanker, or whatever you want to call it — is a coveted one in Indiana’s offense. Because when Sudfeld wants to throw a deep ball, he throws it very well.

Ricky Jones aims to improve IU’s passing offense

Ask Kofi Hughes and Cody Latimer, who together tallied more than 1,800 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns and a couple of ESPN top play nominations in 2013. Not all of their catches came from Sudfeld, but nobody worked the sideline better.

“Nate loves to throw to the sideline, so I have no problem playing out there,” Jones said Monday, grinning.

At 5-10, 185 pounds, Jones has to play that position differently than his old teammates.

Coaches moved Shane Wynn outside last season, away from his favored slot role. They sent Jones out with him.

Jones’ ankle hadn’t fully healed by his redshirt freshman season, and he toiled behind veteran teammates. He played in all 12 games last season but finished with just 58 total receiving yards.

IU preview: Storylines, newcomers, predictions

But while Wynn made the move in the spotlight, Jones got to learn the position without any pressure.

“I just sat down with (offensive coordinator Kevin Johns) and learned how to get off the press, work different techniques,” Jones said.

Despite his size, the athleticism and quickness Jones brings to the boundary encourage coach Kevin Wilson, who said his junior wideout “doesn’t play tiny.”

Johns said Jones is one of IU’s strongest receivers, mitigating some concerns about his size. And he is willing to toss out one Latimer comparison.

“Ricky can certainly hold his own,” Johns said. “He’s an outstanding route runner, and I think, more than anything else, he’s developed some really strong hands. Cody Latimer-strong.”

The key, Wilson said, is maximizing Jones’ talents.

“What he gives you is that speed that sometimes the big guy doesn’t have. So the big guy can make the jump ball, but the smaller guy can separate,” Wilson said. “Bottom line, you just kind of find those routes that he likes.”

He’s not a prototypical outside receiver, the kind Sudfeld regularly targeted two years ago. But his coaches see that as a positive.

Finally healthy, playing a position different from the one envisioned for him originally, “grandpa” is ready to help fix IU’s passing game.

“Every night, it’s hard to sleep, just realizing that I’m gonna be finally back out there 100 percent, being able to play,” Jones said. “I’m ready.”

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (0-0) at INDIANA (0-0)

4 p.m. Saturday, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington

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ESPNEWS

IU radio network (107.5 FM and 1070-WFNI)

Line: N/A.

Three storylines:

>> Nate Sudfeld is healthy, and chemistry appears to have returned to the passing game. Indiana will need a balanced offense to compete for a bowl berth in 2015.

IU QB Nate Sudfeld feels urgency heading into senior year

>> Likely Southern Illinois starting quarterback Mark Iannotti threw three touchdown passes in a recent preseason scrimmage. Indiana’s young secondary will be tested early.

>> The Salukis, who defeated IU in Bloomington in 2006, are the last Football Championship Series opponent left on the Hoosiers’ schedule. A Big Ten rule outlawing the scheduling of FCS opponents means Southern Illinois is the last to come to Memorial Stadium.

Key stats: Indiana allowed more than 250 passing yards per game last season, worst in the Big Ten. ... All five true freshman scholarship defensive backs could play this season, including several against Southern Illinois. ... Jordan Howard and Devine Redding will lead the rebuilding of a rushing attack that averaged 263.6 yards per game last season but lost Tevin Coleman to the NFL. ... IU coach Kevin Wilson is 3-1 in home openers in Bloomington, with all three wins coming over FCS opponents (Indiana State each time).