Whop Philyor Has Record Day at Outback Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. — If there was one constant theme of Indiana's offense on Saturday, it was getting senior receiver Whop Philyor the ball.
Philyor, a Tampa native, showed out at Raymond James Stadium, coming up with 18 catches on the day for 81 yards.
Those 18 catches aren't just an Outback Bowl record for most receptions in a game, but it's also an Indiana school record.
"Whop is a special player. He's a really special player," quarterback Jack Tuttle said.
It seemed as if Philyor was Tuttle's main target all game long. Tuttle would throw quick receiver screens out wide to Philyor, or Philyor would run crossing routes over the middle of the field for some short passes.
A few times, though, Philyor would get too caught up in running east and west rather than north and south. He had one catch that went for a loss of 12 yards due to him trying to do too much. It's a big reason why his yardage was pretty low for someone with 18 catches.
Philyor had a big season in 2019, but this season, his running mate Ty Fryfogle has received the top receiver treatment. Fryfogle, rightfully so, was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year.
Philyor has still had a solid season, though. He's caught 54 balls for 495 yards.
"I think all these guys, these receivers, are phenomenal," Tuttle said.
Saturday's performance from Philyor was yet another double-digit reception game he's completed in his career.
In 2019, he caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the seventh Hoosier to reach 1,000 yards. He recorded three double-digit reception games, an IU single-season record, and he was one of 10 FBS players with a trio of contests with 10-or-more catches.
Saturday was Philyor's second double-digit reception game this season. He caught 11 passes for 79 yards against Michigan earlier this season.
| Date | Opponent | Receptions | Yards | Touhdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/21 | Ole Miss (Outback Bowl) | 18 | 81 | 0 |
11/07/20 | vs. Michigan | 11 | 79 | 0 |
10/26/19 | at Nebraska | 14 | 178 | 0 |
10/12/19 | vs. Rutgers | 10 | 182 | 0 |
09/28/19 | at Michigan State | 14 | 142 | 2 |
09/22/18 | vs. Michigan State | 13 | 148 | 1 |
10/28/17 | At Maryland | 13 | 127 | 1 |
But the Outback Bowl was a record-breaking performance for Philyor. With his first catch of the game, he eclipsed over 2,000 yards in his Indiana career, becoming the 10th Hoosier ever to do so.
"Getting him the ball is super important," Tuttle said. "That's really it. That's all I can say, just great player."
Despite the big day, Philyor would be the first player to rather have zero catches in that game if it ended with a victory instead. The senior was clearly upset about the loss, committing an unsportsmanlike penalty after Indiana didn't convert its final 4th-and-18 play.
Philyor now has a decision to make about his career. He is a senior, but players have been given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if Philyor wants to, he can come back to Bloomington for another year.
"A lot of those seniors are going to make a decision, give them an opportunity to come back," head coach Tom Allen said. "Some will, some won't. We'll know for sure here in the next couple weeks. Either way we're going to love and support them, whatever they feel is best for them and their future, we'll talk that through with them."
If Philyor doesn't decide to come back, he finished off his career strong with those record 18 catches in his hometown. If he does come back, he'll be a big part of the Hoosiers' redemption tour to avenge this loss.
Related Stories:
- OLE MISS STIFLES INDIANA DEFENSE: The Hoosiers' recipe for success on defense was disrupted by the tempo of Ole Miss. CLICK HERE
- BOWL LOSS DOESN'T DIMINISH SEASON: Tom Brew writes that Indiana's Outback Bowl loss doesn't take away from what the Hoosiers accomplished this year. CLICK HERE
- TUTTLE INJURY: Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle fought through a separated shoulder throughout Saturday's game. CLICK HERE
- GAME STORY: Indiana comes up short against Ole Miss, losing 26-20 on Saturday in the Outback Bowl in Tampa. CLICK HERE
