BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One of the few disappointing aspects of Indiana’s season-opening win over Florida International on Aug. 31 was that fans never really got to see what wide receiver Elijah Sarratt can do.

The James Madison transfer recorded just two catches for 12 yards in the 31-7 win over the Panthers.

Considering that Sarratt had 1,191 yards and 82 catches with JMU during the 2023 season, with no fewer than 29 receiving yards in a single game, this was a bit disappointing.

The junior from Stafford, Virginia, made up for lost time on Friday against Western Illinois.

He showed Indiana fans what he’s capable of when he recorded six catches for 137 yards and a long touchdown catch in the Hoosiers’ 77-3 victory over the Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium.

It didn’t take long for Sarratt to get into the game. He was targeted on the first play of the game. While Myles Price and Andison Coby took care of the catches on the first series, Sarratt started cooking on the second series.

He caught a 23-yard pass from Kurtis Rourke, putting Indiana in position to finally score with a touchdown run by Justice Ellison.

For the third season? Well, Sarratt Was the series.

Sarratt worked on the left side of the field, reacting to the bump-and-run coverage and not letting it bother him on his long run through the middle.

Sarratt beat Western Illinois defensive back Tyler Henry and Rourke patiently let Sarratt run his route before throwing him a perfect pass into open space. Sarratt ran the rest of the way unchallenged and scored a 71-yard touchdown.

Sarratt had another pass reception for 15 yards later in the first quarter. He finished the first half with three catches for 109 yards.

“It was a great feeling,” Sarratt said. “I always like to get in early. Kudos to my coach (wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan) for putting me in a position to get the ball.”

Sarratt had two more catches in the second quarter and one in the third quarter to match his game total.

Sarratt is happy with the relationship he has built with Rourke and likes how direct he is with his teammates.

“It’s always fun to play with him. It’s always fun to play with him. He’s been hitting his stride. He’s just got to keep it up,” Sarratt said.

Rourke is not afraid to lead and guide his receivers, which Sarratt has no problem with at all.

“One thing I like. I know I’m not perfect. That’s why I like having someone other than myself tell me how to do something. He’s good at telling me where to run a route, where to line up. He’s a leader out there. He’s a great quarterback,” Sarratt said.

And the quiet start? That follows his pattern in 2023 at JMU. His game-low 29 yards came in JMU’s opening game against Bucknell. He had another 2-catch game against Virginia in the Dukes’ second game, but then it took off. Over the next 11 games, Sarratt never had fewer than four catches in a game or fewer than 45 yards.

He really came into his own in the second half of JMU’s season. Of his six games in which he passed for 100 yards, five of them came in the final six games of the season.

Indiana hopes to see a similar pattern from the talented receiver when it begins Big Ten play at UCLA next week.