Charlie Becker (American football)
American football player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlie Becker is an American college football wide receiver for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Becker in 2026 | |
| No. 80 – Indiana Hoosiers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver |
| Class | Junior |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 207 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Father Ryan (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| College |
|
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at ESPN | |
Early life
Becker grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Nashville, Tennessee with his family when he was in kindergarten.[1][2] He attended Father Ryan High School in Nashville,[3] where he competed in football and track and field. As a junior in 2022, he won state championships in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. A three-star college football recruit per 247Sports, he committed to play for the Indiana Hoosiers.[4]
College career
As a freshman with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2024, Becker played in 12 games, primarily on special teams. He scored his first career touchdown on a three-yard rush against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.[5]
In 2025, he recorded his first receiving touchdown against the Kennesaw State Owls.[6] Becker stepped into a more prominent role against the Penn State Nittany Lions with starting receiver Elijah Sarratt unable to play with a hamstring injury;[7] he recorded seven receptions for 118 yards, including a crucial catch to set up Indiana's game-winning score.[8][9] In the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Becker caught a 51-yard pass from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, just the third play of at least 50 yards allowed by Ohio State during the season, to advance a drive that resulted in a touchdown catch by Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt. Becker also caught a 33-yard pass late in the game that prevented Ohio State from regaining possession of the ball until only 18 seconds remained in the game, sealing a 13–10 Indiana victory and the program's first Big Ten Conference championship since 1967. Becker led all Indiana players with six receptions for 126 yards in the game.[10][11] He caught a 21-yard pass for a touchdown in Indiana's 38–3 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 Rose Bowl.[12] He also caught a 36-yard touchdown in a 56–22 win against the Oregon Ducks in the 2026 Peach Bowl.[13] In the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, Becker recorded four catches for 65 receiving yards,[2] including a 19-yard pass on 4th and 5 as well as another 19-yard catch on 3rd and 7 to extend scoring drives as Indiana defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 27–21, securing Indiana's first national championship.[14] He ended the 2025 season totaling 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns; his 20.0 yards per reception was the highest mark in the Big Ten.[15]
Personal life
Becker's brother, Cole, played college football as a linebacker for the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Their father, Dave, played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes[16] and also played professional baseball for the minor league organization of the Toronto Blue Jays.[17]