Indiana football wide receiver Cam Camper and quarterback Dexter Williams II named to Comeback Player of the Year Award Watchlist

Per a release from Indiana football, wide receiver Cam Camper and quarterback Dexter Williams II were named to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watchlist.

This is the ninth preseason watchlist to feature a member of the Indiana football roster. Cam Camper was recently named a part of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Preseason Watch List.

Camper was a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College last season but looked like a power five prospect right away. He had 11 receptions for 156 yards in his debut with Indiana — most by a Hoosier in a debut in program history — and also had 10 catches for 126 yards against Cincinnati in week four. In seven games, Camper totaled 46 receptions for 569 yards and two touchdowns.

Cam Camper was on track to be one of the most productive wide receivers in the Big Ten a season ago before an ACL injury put an end to his first season with the Indiana football program.

It was recently reported that senior wide receiver was ‘ahead of schedule‘ according to new wide receivers coach in Anthony Tucker.

“Cam’s been a great leader and great model in our room. He’s made his way back and worked really, really hard. He’s looked great, I am really pleased with Cam,” Indiana wide receiver coach Anthony Tucker said when speaking to media a couple weeks ago. “I have seen his investment since I’ve been here. He’s highly invested in our program, in our room. He has a voice and presence with our team. Our team respects him … he had his own things he needed to work through and he’s been ahead of schedule on everything … That’s a tribute to who he is as a person and why he fits in our program so well, because he’s worked so hard to make his way back through that.”

“Right now, I’m going through practice as I would if I was not injured,” camper added. “I just think every day I’m making good strides, and I’m just focusing on making sure my technique is good. I’m just continuing to pay attention to detail, watching my other teammates and seeing what they do so I can get information on them. Right now, I’m just being a great learner.”

Redshirt junior quarterback Dexter Williams II, on the other hand, is still recovering from his significant knee dislocation in Indiana’s 2022 season finale vs Purdue. His injury is still a work in progress and the Indiana football staff is taking its time with his recovery. But, he’s recovering very well.

“He’s further along than we thought. He’s further along than where he thought he would be. He had his final checkup before fall camp and came back very positive. So, from that meeting he had with his doctors, we thought we could accelerate things for fall camp. So he’s been out there taking reps and feeling pretty good,” Allen said earlier in fall camp. ” … For sure midseason, to maybe even a couple earlier than that if possible. But midseason is a good projection … if he progresses at the rate he is currently, it could be a game or two before … haven’t had it where we just cut it loose yet, that’ll be in time.”

While Dexter Williams II is not able to compete for the starting quarterback job for this upcoming season, he has still been able to provide extra help for the quarterbacks such as sophomores Tayven Jackson Brendan Sorsby from the sidelines.

“Dex has kind of been wearing his coaching hat a little bit,” IU offensive coordinator Walt Bell added. “He’s been helping signal and we’re kind of treating him like a GA (graduate assistant) right now. I think that’s been really good for him too. Not only from the mental side of things, but just his general outlook and demeanor. So excited about all those guys.”

SEE ALSO: Philip Blidi experienced first hand what ‘LEO’ means to Tom Allen and Indiana football

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