While there are great expectations for the Oregon State offense in 2009, the wide receiver position will look a lot different than it did in 2008. The two leading receivers from last season, Sammie Stroughter and Shane Morales, are gone.
Stroughter (now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) ended his prolific Beaver career with 164 career receptions for 2,653 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a team-high 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Morales also played a key role in the offense in 2008, totaling 54 receptions for 743 yards and eight touchdowns during a fantastic senior season.
While it will be difficult to replace all of that production, the Beavers do return a number of talented wideouts, including an all-purpose superstar that tormented PAC-10 defenses along with his brother last season.
Sensational junior James Rodgers enters 2009 as one of the most versatile offensive weapons in all of college football. He may not receive the notoriety of his brother Jacquizz, but his presence on the OSU offense is essential.
James Rodgers fights off defenders
Continue reading 'Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Wide Receiver – Oregon State Beavers'»
Like every other position, USC is rich with talent and depth at wide receiver and tight end. The Trojans return every major contributor from 2008 with the exception of Patrick Turner (now with the Miami Dolphins). New offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates will have no excuses in his first season at SC; the skill position talent is as good as it has been in three years.
Head coach Pete Carroll always assembles a receiving corps full of blue-chippers, but this group seems especially potent.
The headliner of the unit is junior Damian Williams. Williams led all USC wideouts in 2008 with 58 receptions for 869 yards (15.0 YPC), and he finished second on the team with nine touchdowns. The former Arkansas transfer made a big impact in his debut season with the Trojans last year, quickly establishing chemistry with Mark Sanchez and becoming the most reliable option in the passing game. Williams ended the season with a masterful performance in the Rose Bowl, abusing the Penn State secondary for 162 yards and one TD on 10 catches.
In one year, he transformed from promising prospect to one of the best receivers in the country.
Damian Williams racks up more yardage
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USC Trojans
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Anthony McCoy, Blake Ayles, Brice Butler, Damian Williams, David Ausberry, Football, Jordan Cameron, Rhett Ellison, Ronald Johnson, Tight End, Travon Patterson, Wide Receiver
Over the last five years, Washington State has produced a number of very good wide receivers including: Devard Darling, Jason Hill, Michael Bumpus (a friend and personal favorite of mine) and most recently Brandon Gibson.
Head coach Paul Wulff would certainly love to run his no-huddle offense with this group of wideouts, but it will take some time for the new cast of skill position talent to develop in Pullman.
There is a ton of youthful inexperience in the WSU receiving corps, but the unit does have a few intriguing options. The group will be led by a lightning fast junior who is one of the best players on the team, not just at the position.
Junior wideout Jeshua Anderson enters 2009 as the Cougars main receiving threat. The 6-2 188 pound playmaker was the second leading receiver on the team last season (next to Brandon Gibson). He ended 2008 with 33 receptions for 305 yards and two touchdowns (9.2 YPC), and for his career he has 45 catches for 677 yards and four touchdowns. He is a native of Woodland Hills (CA) and was a two-sport star (football and track) at Taft High School (CA).
Jeshua Anderson goes up for the grab
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Washington State Cougars
| Daniel Blackledge, Footbal, Gino Simone, Jared Karstetter, Jeff Solomon, Jeshua Anderson, Johnny Forzani, Kevin Norrell, Tight End, Tony Thompson, Wide Receiver, Zach Tatman
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
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California Bears
| Alex Lagemann, Anthony Miller, Football, Jeremy Ross, Marvin Jones, Michael Calvin, Nyan Boateng, Spencer Ladner, Tad Smith, Tight End, Verran Tucker, Wide Receiver
The first day of fall practice will start on Thursday, August 6th for the Arizona Wildcats, but a familiar face will be missing on offense. The ‘Cats will be without the Pac-10’s all-time leading receiver Mike Thomas.
Thomas, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, finished his spectacular UA career with a conference-record 259 receptions, and accounted for 3,231 receiving yards and 22 TDs as a four-year starter.
Although Thomas was the heartbeat of the receiving corps over the last four years, the Wildcats will now move on with a trio of excellent pass-catching playmakers. Arizona’s innovative offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes will have two of the more experienced receivers in the conference at his disposal, as well as the services of America’s best tight end.
Junior Delashaun Dean was last year’s second leading receiver for UA (behind Mike Thomas). Dean finished 2008 with 53 receptions for 593 yards and four touchdowns, capped off by a great performance in the Las Vegas Bowl against BYU.
Delashaun Dean heads to the sideline
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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
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Washington Huskies
| Anthony Boyles, Chris Izbicki, Cody Bruns, D'Andre Goodwin, Devin Aguilar, Football, Jermaine Kearse, Jordan Polk, Kavario Middleton, Tight End, Wide Receiver
With proven all-conference talent at quarterback and running back, Oregon must now find stability at wide receiver. It has been a very busy offseason at the position with the program losing four wideouts.
Primary 2008 contributors Terence Scott and Jaison Williams are gone to graduation (combined 3,301 yards and 26 TD’s for their careers). Promising young receivers Chris Harper and Aaron Pflugrad have decided to transfer to other schools (Kansas State and Arizona State, respectively).
Despite losing all of that production and potential, head coach Chip Kelly still has plenty to like about the Ducks wideouts in 2009. The receiving unit will be greatly aided by some of the most athletic tight ends in the Pac-10, including an accomplished senior that is one of America’s best at the position.
One wide receiver that figures to get more of the spotlight after all of the off-season shuffling is junior Jeff Maehl. Only a couple of years ago, Maehl was playing as a reserve in the defensive secondary before switching to wideout. He had an excellent 2008 campaign at WR, catching 39 passes for 421 yards while also tying for the team lead in TD catches with five. He started every game of the season in 2008 for Oregon.
Jeff Maehl secures the ball for the catch
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Oregon Ducks
| D.J. Davis, Diante Jackson, Dion Jordan, Ed Dickson, Football, Jamere Holland, Jeff Maehl, Lavasier Tuinei, Malachi Lewis, Rory Cavaille, Tight End, Tyrece Gaines, Wide Receiver
Although the dissapointment of last year’s 5-7 season still resonates in Tempe, Arizona State returns a confident group of talented wide receivers that are among the most experienced in the Pac-10. This could very well be the strength of the offense, and head coach Dennis Erickson has been searching for new ways to get them the ball. Assuming incoming quarterback Danny Sullivan gets at least a little protection from the offensive line, this unit of wideouts should enjoy a productive 2009 campaign.
The Sun Devils return three of their top four receivers from 2008 (losing Mike Jones to graduation). All three are upper classmen, and should assist Sullivan in his transition as the new starting QB.
One of the conference’s most experienced receivers is sure-handed senior Chris McGaha. The 6-1 199 pound wideout has 112 career receptions for 1,569 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he finished second on the team in catches and yards with 35 receptions for 501 yards and one touchdown. He had career highs in 2007 with 61 catches for 830 yards, which earned him honorable mention for All-Pac-10 honors.
McGaha is a fan favorite for the Sun Devil faithful because of his unique ability to make catches that seem impossible. The Phoenix (AZ) native has abnormally long fingers, which he uses to stab almost any ball in his area, often using only one hand. His crisp route running and deceptive speed make him ASU’s number one receiver.
Chris McGaha hauls one in by the fingertips
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While RB Toby Gerhart was shredding through defenses in 2008, the Cardinal passing game was struggling big time. Stanford ranked 103rd in the nation for passing offense last season. The rise of exciting redshirt freshman QB Andrew Luck is a huge step in the right direction, but the receiving corp must establish an identity as well. While there may not be many all-conference performers in the unit, the Cardinal do have a capable group for Luck to work with.
The top two receivers from last year’s team are back, and head coach Jim Harbaugh’s excellent recruiting class from 2008 gives Stanford a much-needed influx of talent at the position.
Last season’s leading receiver is junior Ryan Whalen. The reliable Whalen had 41 receptions for 508 yards last year, which were both team highs by a mile. The Alamo (CA) native only found the end zone one time, but came up with critical grabs throughout the season. He appeared in all 12 games last year, making seven starts. The 6-2 205 pound Whalen is a former walk-on that only had one career reception before exploding onto the scene in 2008.
Now on scholarship, Whalen is a sure-handed receiver that has steadily improved since arriving on campus in Palo Alto in 2007. He doesn’t possess great speed, but he’s a smooth route-runner and can create space very effectively.
Ryan Whalen goes up for the grab
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Stanford Cardinal
| Chris Owusu, Coby Fleener, Doug Baldwin, Football, Jamal-Rashad Patterson, Jemari Roberts, Jim Dray, Konrad Reuland, Ryan Whalen, Tight End, Warren Reuland, Wide Receiver
The UCLA Bruins are ready for a fresh start on offense as the 2009 season approaches. Head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow have been tirelessly working to improve the explosiveness of skill position talent in Westwood ever since they were hired.
After a dismal 2008 campaign, Chow and Neuheisel hit the recruiting trail hard. Their efforts seem to be paying off, especially at the wide receiver and tight end positions. As a result, the Bruins will feature an intriguing mix of youthful promise and veteran talent in the receiving corp this fall. Incoming quarterback Kevin Prince should have some weapons to work with, and Norm Chow may finally have a chance to fully showcase his heralded pro-style offense.
The top three receivers from last year’s squad are back, including sure-handed sophomore Taylor Embree.
The 6-3 194 pound Embree burst onto the scene last season, setting school records for receiving yards (531) and receptions (40) among freshmen wideouts. His 531 receiving yards led all Bruins in 2008 and his 40 catches were second on the team. Embree’s fantastic freshman season garnered national attention as he was named second team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. He played in all 12 games, and started eight.
Terrence Austin returns a kick for big yards
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UCLA Bruins
| Football, Gavin Ketchum, Logan Paulsen, Morrell Presley, Nelson Rosario, Randall Carroll, Ryan Moya, Taylor Embree, Terrence Austin, Tight End, Wide Receiver
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