TE A.J. Barner has one career start. And he's one of the more experienced IU pass catchers.

IU junior A.J. Barner started just one game last year (when the Hoosiers used a two-tight end set against Ohio State). As a true freshman in 2020, he got almost all of his work on special teams. But on an offensive roster that has been almost entirely re-set, he returns as one of the most established players on that side of the ball.

His 14 receptions and 162 yards in 2021 both put him second among Indiana returners, and he's one of just three returning players who caught a touchdown pass last year. 

So with captain Peyton Hendershot gone after five years, following a 2021 season in which he led IU in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Barner views it as his job to step up and say anything he can to help the new faces and young players he's likely to be surrounded by. 

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"I was in a leadership role in high school," Barner said. "Now without Peyton there, it's kind of my role to be more vocal. When you're not really taking the first-team reps, it's more difficult to step in and hold other starters accountable. Without him being in there and now being in that role, I'm able to oversee really everyone and help point everybody in the right direction, whether it's off the field, in workouts, on the field, just using my experience to maybe do a route better." 

Barner is in an elevated role now because there aren't many players on the offense in position to challenge his authority. Wide receiver D.J. Matthews, who posted 165 receiving yards last season before tearing his ACL, is still on the mend and is out for all of spring practice. Transfer running backs Shaun Shivers (Auburn) and Josh Henderson (North Carolina) and wide receivers Emery Simmons (North Carolina) and Cam Camper (Trinity Valley Community College) are all just getting their feet set. The quarterback battle, which includes returning starters Jack Tuttle and Donaven McCulley as well as Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak and redshirt sophomore Dexter Williams, will certainly produce a leader. Barner will have to produce to maintain his respected voice. 

IU's offensive coaches trust him to do that. The 6-6, 251-pounder caught Indiana's longest pass of the season last year, a 76-yard touchdown in a win over Idaho. He's a legitimate enough deep threat for the Hoosiers to spread him out wide off the edge, and he can stretch the field even when lining up next to an offensive tackle. 

Barner thinks there is more he can do in new offensive coordinator Walt Bell's scheme, as there is more creativity allowed on the part of the receivers. 

Bell says his pass catchers are asked to "manage their grass," which effectively means, be willing and able to alter a route if it's the only way to find open space away from defenders. It requires quarterbacks and receivers to have a good sense of each other so they know what changes in defensive looks can trigger what sort of alterations in a route, but Barner thinks it could make him and other pass-catchers more dangerous. 

"You're not in a set-in-stone route," Barner said. "It's more so with the coverage. So I feel like my ability to use my speed and my size to get open will be a good point of emphasis with myself... With the new offense, you can make a play out of whatever the defense is doing. They have to defend us. Also, when they do decide to defend us, you can change what you're doing to make sure you get open." 

The departure of Hendershot as well as run-blocking specialist Matt Bjorson means Barner has to become a more complete tight end this year, which means pass-catching won't be his whole job. The Hoosiers will need his help blocking on the edge to make the running game better after the team finished 12th in the Big Ten in rushing in 2021, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. 

"I feel like honestly anyone can be a good blocker," Barner said. "It's just all about if you want to block. I understand if you want to get the ball, you better block first. It's something I take pride in." 

And Barner also takes pride in being a leader, particularly for the tight end room. The only other upperclassmen are walk-ons, and the other scholarship tight ends in camp are redshirt freshman Aaron Steinfeldt and true freshmen Ryan Miller and Brady Foley. Barner wants to be the example for them that Hendershot was for him. 

"He's a guy that was a consistent All-Big Ten tight end," Barner said of Hendershot. "The biggest thing for him was competing with him every day. At winter workouts and everything else. I was always trying to learn from him but also compete with him, just pushing myself to be the great player he is... With him not being in the room anymore, I feel like I've taken over that leadership role."