Indiana star Charlie Becker singled out Ryan Day to apologize to him after the Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers
The Indiana star wideout showed his true character with one move after his team lost to the Buckeyes in Week 7.
The Ohio State Buckeyes struggled offensively for much of the afternoon against the Indiana Hoosiers in Week 7. They still walked away with a 19-15 win in a top-5 college football battle.
Individually, Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker may have been the star of the day. The junior finished with nine catches for 165 receiving yards against the Buckeyes. He was a lot for the Ohio State secondary to handle from start to finish.
What Becker did after the game is going to get as much attention as his performance.
Charlie Becker found Ryan Day after the game
According to NBC 4’s Joe Nugent, Becker tracked down Ohio State coach Ryan Day after the game to apologize. The apology was for a profane anti-Ohio State message Becker delivered on camera last season with his “O-H-F-U” he did it while on stage after the Big Ten Championship Game, when the Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes 13-10.
Becker played well in that game for Indiana. Since then, he has taken his game to another level. The Indiana star is up to 694 receiving yards on 39 catches with eight touchdowns. He’s trending toward being a first-round pick next April.
The apology shows growth from Becker. He was a young player caught up in the moment of winning a huge game last season. Still, what he did on that stage was childish and not a great look, especially for younger players who look up to him.
Becker could have let it go and he certainly didn’t have to apologize. Instead, he approached Day after a tough loss when emotions were running high. Plenty of players wouldn’t have done that, and it says a lot about who he is. That’s a respectable move from one of the best receivers in the country.
Becker has obvious Ohio State ties
Becker’s connection to Ohio State goes beyond last season’s Big Ten title game. His father, Dave Becker, played linebacker for the Buckeyes in the mid-1990s.
Ohio State never recruited Charlie, though. After watching him on Saturday, there’s no doubt he looked like a player the Buckeyes could have used opposite Jeremiah Smith. Becker found soft spots in the Ohio State defense and made plays after the catch all afternoon. Indiana leaned on him heavily, and he delivered.
That’s what makes the moment after the game stand out even more. Becker had every reason to walk off the field frustrated after a 19-15 loss in which he was arguably the best player on the field. He went to find the head coach of the program his father played for and owned up to his mistake.
The Buckeyes got the result they needed on the field. Day’s offense has plenty to clean up after a game that was closer than it needed to be. Still, Ohio State found a way against one of the best teams in the country.
Becker deserves attention for the move he made after the final whistle. He didn’t have to approach Day, and he certainly didn’t have to do it after a loss. The fact that he did shows the type of person he’s become.
He’ll have a chance to keep building on a terrific junior season the rest of the way for Indiana. If the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet again this December, Becker will once again be a must-watch player.
