Whop Philyor, Indiana Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/10/20 - WR Whop Philyor, Sr/2021, Indiana

After a breakout junior season, Indiana wide receiver Whop Philyor contemplated declaring for the NFL draft. But Philyor was convinced to stay after a conversation with his mother, Holley Mouling. "Nobody in my family ever graduated college before," said Philyor, who is on track to earn a degree in liberal arts. "Nobody ever made it to college, so me and my sister, we wanted to be the first people to graduate from college, so that's probably the main reason. "The speedy Philyor also wanted to spend more time with his teammates and to try to do something special in his final year with the Hoosiers. Coming off a 2019 season that included 70 catches for 1,002 yards and five TDs, Philyor won't be sneaking up on teams this season.

Philyor was the focal point of Tennessee's game plan in the Gator Bowl last January, and the Vols held the second-team, All-Big Ten wide receiver to just one catch for 1 yard. IU co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Grant Heard has challenged Philyor to read and understand coverages designed to stop him. "I feel comfortable about him knowing our playbook and what we ask him to do from our end," Heard said. "Now I'm putting pressure on him to know more defenses. What they're trying to do to take him away, to take certain plays away, why we're calling certain stuff, just to open his mind up and become a more well-rounded football player." The 5-foot-11, 177-pound Philyor said he's ready to face more double-teams, and expects there to be a trickle-down effect to the rest of an IU offense that ranked second in the Big Ten in passing last season. Philyor had three games in which he had 10 or more catches and four games in which he had 100 or more yards receiving. - Herald Bulletin

Sr/2021