Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Wide Receiver – Cal Bears
Inconsistency at quarterback and wide receiver kept Cal from reaching its full potential on offense in 2008. This season, the Bears will look to turn the page after a very encouraging offseason in Berkeley. Head coach Jeff Tedford and new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig have plenty of talent to work with, and if the group meets expectations, Cal fans may be celebrating a Pac-10 title.
The receiving corps features everything you could want: size, speed, and after a year of growing pains, experience.
The leading receiver from 2008 is senior Nyan Boateng. Last season, Boateng finished with 29 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns. The former Florida transfer displayed his explosive skill set in 2008, but has plenty of upside left in what could be a very successful senior season.
The 6-2 211 pound wideout can be a vertical threat, but also has the size to work the middle of the field. He is physical enough to block downfield as well, which could help spring the tailback duo of Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen when they get into the secondary (which will be a regular occurance).
Boateng has feature-receiver ability and must now become a polished version of his 2008 self. The Brooklyn (NY) native was considered one of the top prospects in the country when he left Lincoln High School (NY). Rivals.com gave Boateng 4-star recognition and he was invited to the U.S. Army All-American game. Boateng enjoyed a solid spring and enters fall as a lock to start.
Nyan Boateng celebrates a touchdown
One of the biggest differences between the 2008 Cal offense and the one that will debut this fall could be the return of sophomore Marvin Jones. Jones suffered a knee injury early last season that ended his sophomore year prematurely, and he finished with only one reception for eight yards.
The 6-2 190 pound wideout is as gifted as any receiver in the group, and the Cal coaches couldn’t stop raving about him this past spring. Jones showed no lingering effects of the injury in April, running silky smooth routes and catching almost everything in sight.
Jones was a standout receiver at Etiwanda High School (CA). Rivals.com and Scout.com rated him as a 4-star talent, and he was named a SuperPrep All-American as well. His last two years in high school were excellent, with a combined 2,349 receiving yards and 22 TDs to close out his career. Jones looks primed for a breakout season in 2009.
The favorite to start as the Bears slot receiver appears to be sophomore Alex Lagemann. Like Jones, Lagemann suffered injury setbacks in 2008 that kept him from seeing the field. The 6-1 205 pound wideout runs very precise routes and hardly ever drops a ball, while also displaying deceptive speed (4.51). The Saratoga High School (CA) star was given 4-stars by Scout.com after a stellar prep career.
Lagemann made the absolute most of spring ball, finishing as the leading receiver in the spring game with five catches for 73 yards and one TD. He now enters fall practice with an edge on the slot receiver spot.
Senior Verran Tucker finished 2008 with the second most receiving yards on the team, catching 21 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Last year was Tucker’s first with the Bears after transferring from El Camino Community College (CA). The 6-1 204 pound wideout was one of the top Juco players in 2007 and showed promising ability in his first season with Cal.
He has good leaping ability, solid speed (4.5), and the ability to separate from defenders. The Torrance (CA) native had to sit out spring for academic purposes but will be back for the fall. When Tucker returns, he should see plenty of action in 2009.
Verran Tucker fights for extra yards
Two more receivers that could make a difference this fall are sophomore Michael Calvin and junior Jeremy Ross.
The 6-2 205 pound Calvin tore his ACL before he could find his stride in 2008, and has been working to become a part of the WR rotation once again. He was the Scout Team Player of the Year during his redshirt year of 2007, and the Cal coaches love his potential.
Calvin was rated as a 4-star prospect by Scout.com and was a SuperPrep All-American selection. He possesses very good upper body strength, and has been timed at 4.48 in the 40. The San Lorenzo (CA) product should compete for time behind Boateng and Jones this fall.
The 5-11 206 pound Ross played well as a sophomore, catching 17 passes for 210 yards and two TDs. Ross also returned kicks last year, with 17 returns for 337 yards, and rushed for 62 yards on nine carries. Ross had three straight games where he finished with over 100 all-purpose yards in 2008 (119 vs. Ore, 123 vs. UCLA, 141 vs. UA).
He is a spectacular athlete, setting school records among receivers in the vertical jump (37.5), the squat (500 pounds) and the power clean (330 pounds). On top of all that, he has legitimate 4.4 speed, making him a terror for corners and safeties to deal with. The Sacramento (CA) native enters fall as Nyan Boateng’s main backup.
Tight Ends
Last year’s starter at tight end was Cameron Morrah. Many assumed he would be the starter again this season, but his surprising decision to go pro has left a bit of a void at the position. Cal must now find a stabilizing presence at tight end for 2009.
The likely starter (despite having a current injury) is senior Tad Smith. Smith is a converted defensive end entering his second season at the position. Last year, he had three receptions for 23 yards and one TD.
The 6-5 248 pound Smith may miss the start of the season after breaking his Scapula on April 2, 2009. The Isleton (CA) native has been plagued by injuries before in his Cal career, but should play for the majority of the season if he can make a full recovery as is expected. Smith is an excellent blocker, and must now work on becoming more of a pass-catching threat.
If Smith is down for an extended period of time, the onus falls on sophomore Anthony Miller. The 6-3 258 pound Miller is a gifted athlete with solid speed and agile feet. Miller only had one catch for two yards last season, but it was a touchdown reception. The San Jose (CA) native was likely to get playing time even with a healthy Smith as the starter; now Miller could begin the season as the feature tight end.
One more name to look out for is redshirt freshman Spencer Ladner. The 6-7 253 pound Ladner is a tremendous prospect with more upside than anyone else in the group. He redshirted last year and is ready for his first year of action.
The Kansas City (MO) native was a SuperPrep All-American and earned 4-star recognition from both Rivals and Scout.com. He’s had a college-ready physique from the minute he stepped on campus, and will be a force for years in Berkeley as both a ferocious blocker and a sure-handed receiver. Ladner could give the Bears a huge boost at tight end this fall.
My Take
The Cal receivers are as physically gifted a group as any coach could ask for; now they must play like it. This is arguably the most important unit besides QB in determining the Bears fate for 2009.
The return of Marvin Jones is the reason I think the Bears will be successful at receiver. Jones is tremendously gifted and appears ready to be the difference maker. I also look for Boateng to have a breakout season to close out his career, giving the Bears a formidable 1-2 punch at wideout.
My x-factor is Jeremy Ross. He is a ridiculous athlete that could be the perfect mismatch in Tedford’s offense. I expect the talented junior to have a productive season in 2009.
Tight end is a bit of an unknown right now because of the injury to Smith. The Bears are going through a transitional time at TE after the loss of Morrah, and the young players may have to develop quicker than expected. I love Ladner’s measurables, but I’m not sure if he is ready. In the end, I expect Miller and Smith to be serviceable but not spectacular.
Bottom line: the Bears could be smelling roses if the wideouts play up to their potential.
California Bears
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Alex Lagemann, Anthony Miller, Football, Jeremy Ross, Marvin Jones, Michael Calvin, Nyan Boateng, Spencer Ladner, Tad Smith, Tight End, Verran Tucker, Wide Receiver
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