TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It's the first week of the U.S. Lawns Fall Football Camp and Indiana State football is back underway at Memorial Stadium as the Sycamores prepare for the upcoming September 1 kickoff against North Alabama.
 
The Sycamores will be breaking down the team throughout the fall camp toward the opener in Terre Haute with position-by-position group previews, as well as opponent previews. In today's edition, we take a look at the wide receivers and tight ends.
 
From the Coordinator
Talented and Deep. Potential to be really good. Great work ethic. Excited about their future. – Offensive Coordinator Mike Bath on the wide receivers and tight ends.
 
Positional Breakdown
Projected Starters (Based on Preseason Two-Deep): Dante Hendrix, Harry Van Dyne, Daijon Collins, Dakota Caton, Lance Rees, Henry Woodcock
Returners: Tanner Klein, Michael Vazquez, James Mallory, Jared Kistler, Ethan Chambers, Kevin Barnett, DeAndre Rhodes, Malachi Qualls, Matae Thomas, Tyce Ferrell
Additions/Newcomers: Zavion Taylor, Harrison Stomps, Kai Rios, Rocco Ciocca
 
Things to Watch
Hendrix Breakout Season
Glad to have you back Dante Hendrix! The Sycamores wide receiver is back for his sixth year in the Indiana State Blue & White after an injury-shortened campaign in the 2021 fall. The Florence, Ky. native battled through a midseason injury on his way to finishing with a team-best 42 catches for 447 yards, while adding three touchdowns over six games. Hendrix would have finished the 2021 season among the MVFC leaders in receiving yards per game (74.5), while his 10.6 yards per reception would have also put him among the Valley's best.
 
Hendrix was a 2019 First Team All-MVFC receiver in his last full season finishing among the league leaders in yards (653) and receptions (51). He leads a strong receiving corps and has posted an Indiana State record of posting at least one catch in 26 consecutive games. He will likely be targeted early and often throughout the 2022 season as the Sycamores will run out a new primary quarterback at the helm for the eighth consecutive season.
 
Return of Caton
Dakota Caton suffered a preseason injury last year that took the redshirt junior out of the Sycamores equation in 2021. After a year to recover and after working his way back through spring practices and the summer months, the Sullivan, Ind. native is ready to finally build off a strong 2019 campaign. Caton's open field ability and speed earned First Team All-MVFC recognition in his last season on the field as the wide receiver led the conference with 25.5 yards per return, while finishing 20th nationally in return yard average. He finished third on the team in catches (21) and added 221 receiving yards in 2019 and was set to play a big part in the ISU offense in 2021 prior to injury.
 
Caton's ability to be dangerous on the peripherals continues to make him dangerous as the Sycamores have proven their willingness to move players around the field. His playmaking ability will make him a key part in the short passing game as the Sycamores continue to develop under first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bath.
 
The Tight End Battle
Gone is do-everything tight end Zach Larkin. The former Sycamore finished among the team leaders in receptions (29) and receiving yards (312), while finishing tied for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns. The 6-5 athlete leaves a big gap in the middle of the field in the Sycamore passing game, but Indiana State does return multiple players with experience this year including Henry Woodcock, Tyce Ferrell, and Lance Rees.
 
Woodcock and Ferrell are the more established options with both players seeing action in all 11 games in the 2021 season with the duo combining for 11 catches and 74 yards. Rees was not on the field last season, but the Marshall, Ill. native is a former First Team All-Conference and All-area selection from his high schools days and brings a 6-4, 250-lb frame to the field. In addition to the trio, the Sycamores also welcome freshmen Kai Rios and Rocco Ciocca to the mix with both expected to get additional repetitions as fall camp progresses toward the start of the regular season.
 
The entirety of the tight end group brings size to the field which will be key in Missouri Valley Football play. All five active players listed among the position group stand at least 6-3 and average 238-lbs as the Sycamores will utilize sets that could feature multiple tight ends this year.

Numbers Watch

• 26 –Dante Hendrix is looking to build on an already strong legacy here at Indiana State. The Florence, Ky. native will attempt to continue his ISU-record stretch of 26 consecutive games with a reception. He shattered the previous mark set by Robert Tonyan  Jr. (21, 2015-16) this past season.
• 75 – Indiana State's receiving corps is experienced, but ISU did take a hit following the departure of Rontrez Morgan (39), Phazione McClurge (36), and Zach Larkin (29) as the Sycamores return just 75 of 206 receptions from this past season. With a new offensive system in place and a multitude of players expected to lineup across the field, new Offensive Coordinator Mike Bath will be looking for new weapons to fill the gaps heading into the 2022 season.
• 177.5 – Indiana State's passing numbers were up a tick from the 2019 season as the Sycamores recorded 1,952 receiving yards in the 2021 campaign. ISU posted at least 200 passing yards in four different games last season, including a season-high 243 yards in the season-finale win over Illinois State.
• 140 & 1,781 – Dante Hendrix enters the 2022 season sitting 56 catches and 604 receiving yards away from the Indiana State all-time career receiving mark set by Sam Logan (196 catches, 2,385 yards, 2003-06). Over his three active seasons with the Sycamores, Hendrix has averaged 593.7 receiving yards and 47 catches per season, but those numbers include lining up in just six games in 2021 due to injury (42 catches, 447 yards). With another typical season, it would not be a surprise to see Hendrix atop the all-time list this year.

Position Group Interviews










2022 Indiana State Football Season Tickets On Sale
For more information on Indiana State 2022 football tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Austin Bishop by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Austin.Bishop@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu.
 
Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking HERE. Fans will also have the option to get their season tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
 
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