Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Wide Receiver – Washington Huskies
There is no doubt that last year was a disaster, but Seattle has every reason to be excited about the direction U-Dub football is heading. Coach Steve Sarkisian brings contagious enthusiasm to the program, and a great offensive mind as well. Junior QB Jake Locker has looked sharper than ever under the guidance of Sark and the rest of the coaching staff, which could allow the offense to make big strides under the new regime.
While Husky fans will need to temper expectations, the skill position talent at UW has intriguing potential. The receiving corp is littered with gifted underclassmen, and most of them got their feet wet as true freshmen. If the young wideouts can develop more consistency, they will become a dangerous unit for Locker to utilize.
Junior D’Andre Goodwin will be the lead Dawg for the rest of the receivers in 2009. Goodwin is the lone upperclassmen of the unit, and led all UW wideouts last season with 60 receptions for 692 yards and one touchdown, on his way to earning honorable mention All-Pac 10. His 60 catches were the most by a Husky receiver since Reggie Williams caught 89 in 2003.
D'Andre Goodwin dives for some extra yards
Goodwin has established himself as a legitimate number one option for Washington, tripling the receptions total of the next best Husky receiver (20 catches).
He could see his numbers go up this season in Sarkisian’s pro-style offense.
At 5-11 175 pounds, Goodwin has elite speed with the quickness to separate from defenders. The Pacoima (CA) native enjoyed a solid spring, and should be the primary deep threat for UW throughout the season.
One of the many sophomore receivers that will play for UW this season is Jermaine Kearse. Kearse finished second on the team in 2008 with 301 receiving yards on 20 receptions, and also led the receiving unit with two touchdown catches. He played in every game last season, and will now look to build on a solid freshman season.
At 6-2 201 pounds, Kearse is a physical receiver that can shield a defender with his strength, while also possessing the quickness to beat cornerbacks down the field. Scout.com rated the Lakewood (WA) native as a 4-star athlete after a great prep career at Lakes High School that ended with a trip to the U.S. Army All-American game. He enjoyed a solid spring, capped off by a five-catch, 70-yard, one TD day in the White vs. Purple spring game.
Like Kearse, sophomore Devin Aguilar also saw extensive playing time during his freshman season. Aguilar finished 2008 tied for second on the team with 20 receptions, and his 246 receiving yards were third among Husky wideouts. He played in all 12 games in his first season, quickly establishing himself as a playmaker against Oklahoma in week 3 with a five-catch 71-yard afternoon.
The 6-0 184 pound receiver displays excellent athleticism, and should give Locker a solid number three option. Aguilar was a tremendous high school player at Mullen High in Denver (CO). The Denver Post voted him as the Offensive Player of the Year in Colorado for his senior year. He had a productive spring, and should play a significant role in this year’s offense.
Devin Aguilar pulls in the catch
The x-factor of the unit could be redshirt freshman Anthony Boyles. Boyles was part of the 2007 class, but delayed his enrollment at U-Dub until January of 2008. The 6-3 193 pound wideout is the perfect “Sarkisian-style” receiver: big, fast, and physical.
He should flourish in the pro-style offense, and could become a mainstay starter for years to come if he continues to blossom. The Compton (CA) native was a Rivals.com 4-star selection and PrepStar All-American. Boyles played well in the spring, and will join Goodwin as another field stretcher for UW.
Two more sophomores that could contribute this season are Jordan Polk and Cody Bruns.
The 5-8 161 pound Polk played in all but one game as a freshman, with four catches for 55 yards. He led the Huskies in kick return yards with 595, and Sarkisian may use the agile Portland (OR) native more frequently in the passing game this season.
Bruns is the sure-handed receiver of the group. He played in seven games last season, with 3 catches for 40 yards. At 5-11 181 pounds, the Prosser (WA) product owns three state records at the high school level (Prosser High School) with 310 receptions for 5,178 yards and 72 TDs during his excellent prep career. He should be a valuable contributor for Washington this fall.
Tight Ends
Redshirt sophomore Chris Izbicki will start the year atop the depth chart at tight end. Izbicki was a heralded recruit for former coach Tyron Willingham, but never saw playing time in his first two seasons in Seattle, partly because of problems off the field (2 misdemeanor charges as a redshirt freshman).
At 6-3 249 pounds, he is a solidly built athlete with good hands and deceptive speed, but his real strength is as a blocker. Izbicki can be a punishing force in the run game, and should greatly aid the porous UW offensive line in opening running lanes this season. The Kirkland (WA) native was given a 4-star rating by Scout.com and Rivals.com.
One of the best talents on the entire team is sophomore Kavario Middleton. As a true freshman he caught 12 passes for 82 yards, playing sparingly over 12 games. With experience under his belt, Middleton now figures to see a lot more action in 2009. The Lakewood (WA) native could have made an excellent defensive end as well, but his future is as a pass-catching tight end.
At 6-5 260 pounds, Middleton has prototypical size for a tight end. He possesses long arms and excellent athletic ability, which should allow him to flourish as a mismatch for defenses, especially in the red-zone. Middleton was teammates with Jermaine Kearse at Lakes High School (WA) and he earned great acclaim as a high school player. Rivals.com gave Middleton 4-stars, while Scout.com gave him 5-stars, and he was also a Parade All-American. He should be a prominent part of the passing game, while splitting time with Izbicki at tight end.
Other players competing for time are: junior Tony Chidiac, sophomore Romeo Savant, and freshmen Taylor Gillum, Luther Leonard and Vince Taylor.
My Take
It may not show up in the win-loss column, but this will be an improved passing attack. There is a plethora of sophomore receiving talent, and all of them were able to learn the ropes last season. If the spring is any indication of what’s to come, this unit of wideouts could turn some heads in the conference during 2009.
Goodwin will set the tone for the receiving corp. I expect him to draw a few double teams, which should open things up for the other guys. Kearse and Aguilar are reliable options, and Husky fans have to be excited about the potential of Boyles. If he turns out to be as good as advertised, Washington will have a playmaker for years to come.
I love Middleton as a potential breakout player in 2009. Izbicki is a very good tight end in his own right, but Middleton is too good to be a reserve. I expect to see Sarkisian line him up all over the field as a mismatch option.
Overall, I foresee the Husky receiving corp greatly improving under Sark’s pro-style offense in 2009.
Washington Huskies
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Anthony Boyles, Chris Izbicki, Cody Bruns, D'Andre Goodwin, Devin Aguilar, Football, Jermaine Kearse, Jordan Polk, Kavario Middleton, Tight End, Wide Receiver
@Mike You make a great point
I’m pretty sure I get what you mean
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