Indiana's Leading Receiver Cam Camper Out For Season With Torn ACL

Cam Camper made an immediate impact at Indiana after transferring form Trinity Valley Community College, but he'll miss the rest of the 2022 season with a torn ACL.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana football coach Tom Allen announced Monday that leading receiver Cam Camper has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. The injury occurred in the first half of Indiana's 24-17 loss at Rutgers in Week 8.

"Obviously feel terrible for him, huge part of our team," Allen said. "But he'll be beginning that long road to recovery, and our staff will do a great job of getting him back and having him ready for the fall."

This is a major loss for an Indiana offense that ranks 11th in the Big Ten total offense and points per game. Camper leads Indiana with 46 receptions and 569 yards, and his two receiving touchdowns are tied for second behind Josh Henderson with three. Camper was Indiana's go-to playmaker, averaging 81.3 receiving yards per game. Emery Simmons is second at 38.6.

We give you the B1G's most underrated player: Cam Camper 🔊@Camp1k_ x @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/NbzAWlTB7b

— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) October 8, 2022

Camper joined Indiana before the 2022 season as a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, and made an immediate impact in his first year of Big Ten football. He hauled in 11 receptions for 156 yards as Indiana defeated No. 14 Illinois 23-20 in Week 1, and caught eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in Indiana's 33-30 win over Western Kentucky in Week 3. Camper and had another big game at Cincinnati in Week 4, with 10 catches for 126 yards.

Camper stayed home with a non-COVID illness when the Hoosiers traveled to Nebraska in Week 5, and the Indiana offense didn't score in the second half of the 35-21 loss. Camper didn't play in the second half against Rutgers after tearing his ACL, and the Hoosiers fell flat in a 24-17 loss.

Cam Camper [6-2 WR, Indiana]
His 11-catch, 156-yard performance led the Hoosiers to a 23-20 win over Illinois on Friday night in Bloomington. pic.twitter.com/Fv5GemxBa8

— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) September 4, 2022

Indiana will turn to Simmons, D.J. Matthews, Donaven McCulley, Andison Coby, Javon Swinton and Malachi Holt-Bennett for increased production with Camper out. 

"There's going to be a bunch of young guys that are going to have to step up and make plays," Indiana offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. "We've got enough people, we just got to make sure we're putting them in a position to be their best."

Related stories on Indiana football:

• CAMPER GOES FOR 156 YARDS IN FIRST BIG TEN GAME: After transferring from Trinity Valley Community College to Indiana this offseason, Cam Camper made an immediate impact for the Hoosiers on Friday night, posting 11 receptions for 156 yards in the 23-20 win over Illinois. CLICK HERE
• CAMPER'S JOURNEY FROM JUNIOR COLLEGE TO INDIANA: Cam Camper graduated Lancaster High School with zero scholarship offers, and he nearly stepped away from the game after being used as a 'special teams dummy' at Sam Houston State. But after grinding through junior college, 'Coach Cam' Camper is impressing his teammates and coaches at Indiana. CLICK HERE