Insider explains why one of Indiana’s heroes in the national championship game didn’t play for the Vols despite being from Tennessee

The Volunteer state native didn’t get receive any interest from Tennessee.

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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One of the big heroes from the Indiana Hoosiers’ win over the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game was a former three-star recruit from Nashville, TN.

And he was never offered by the Tennessee Vols.

Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker caught four passes for 65 yards in the 27-21 win over Miami on Monday night, including a couple of highlight-reel plays.

Becker, 6-foot-4/204 pounds, was an unlikely hero for the Hoosiers. The former three-star recruit committed to Indiana five months before the Hoosiers hired Curt Cigentti as the program’s head coach. Becker was rated as the No. 977 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class.

Tennessee and several other programs overlooked Charlie Becker

Becker, for whatever reason, was mostly overlooked as a high school recruit.

“The same reason Clark Lea never brought him over for a visit (to Vanderbilt),” said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs on WNML Tuesday when asked why the Vols didn’t recruit Becker. “The same reason Lane Kiffin never looked at him. The same reason Kentucky never had any interest in him. The same reason the only Power-4 school that recruited Charlie Becker was Indiana. And that that wasn’t Curt Cignetti — that was the previous coaching staff. (Former Indiana head coach) Tom Allen had brought him in, and he’s obviously developed and got better. And he’s really gotten better during this season.

“He was not a big impact guy to start the year, but he clearly had a good relationship with (Indiana QB) Fernando Mendoza, and they clicked very well. And sometimes those happen. And listen, there are times where coaches make real mistakes that you should have gone and recruited someone, when somebody falls through the cracks. This guy fell through everybody’s cracks. And credit to him for his growth and his development as a player. He’s always had speed, but credit to him for becoming a great route runner, with great hands, and good separation. But that’s a guy nobody had interest in.”

Becker’s dad played at Ohio State. So even if the Vols had pursued Becker, it’s not like Tennessee would’ve had the inside track to land him.

“I grew up with Ohio State all over my bedroom walls,” said Becker in 2023 after committing to Indiana. “It’s going to be surreal when I go play at The Horseshoe. Just knowing my dad played on that same field…that’s going to be a great experience.”

No one bats 1.000 when it comes to recruiting.

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