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2009 Nebraska Football Spring Preview:  Receivers

 Nate Swift and Todd Peterson combined for 125 receptions and 1,727 of Nebraska's receiving yards in 2008. Both were dependable, sure-handed playmakers who had an uncanny nack for finding the open spot on the field.

One perspective might say it's imperative that we find adequate replacements for them. Another perspective might be that we're not, and instead the duo's possessions and yardage might be better utilized transferred to the running game where we have another dependable duo waiting. Reality lies somewhere in between. Defensive players have become faster, stronger and more versatile heralding the death of the one-dimensional offense. The Cornhuskers must find a set of receivers that will keep opponents from stacking against the run.

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Niles Paul is a key component of the 2009 Husker offense. If Paul becomes more reliable, Husker fans will forget Nate Swift and Todd Peterson
Photo by Dennis Hubbard

Star-divide

Menelik Holt and Niles Paul saw a lot of plays last season, but neither materialized into every-down dependable players. Both must improve their game this coming season and give the Huskers a boost in the passing game. I previously mentioned the word 'dependability' as the key to the receiver position for this coming season. That word applies to Holt and Paul more than any other pair.

Nebraska's top returning receiver coming into spring is tight end Mike McNeill. In 2008, McNeill had 32 receptions for 442 yards. He comes into 2009 with more touchdown receptions than the rest of the receiving corps combined. He proved himself a dependable receiver and in 2009 will be highly valued. Another tight end, Dreu Young, had a good 2008, coming in with nine receptions and 140 yards and one touchdown. Young has the highest reception average of any returning receiver at 15.6 yards per catch.

This is Chris Brooks' final season. Brooks finally had a reception for a touchdown in 2008, but has underachieved during his career at Nebraska.  Brooks has size and talent, and he knows the offense, and the players in front of him had graduated, i.e., the excuses are gone. Perhaps the fact that his playing days will be over at the end of the season will awaken some spark.

Curenski Gilleylen had a memorable 2008 spring game when he got behind the secondary and hauled in a 77-yard bomb touchdown reception, but only had two receptions in the 2008 regular season. Gilleylen has speed enough to be a deep threat, potentially a huge asset to the Huskers in 2009, but he must catch the ball. Again, the word dependability comes to mind.

Antonio Bell is a 2008 recruit who struggled to become academically eligible and was delayed until he got his grades in order. He enrolled in January to participate in spring practice. Bell is a speedster - in his senior season at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, Bell caught 45 passes for 776 yards and nine touchdowns.

Brandon Kinnie and Khiry Cooper may provide additional help in the fall, but neither are available for spring football. Kinnie a JUCO sophomore transfer from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, where he  caught 62 passes for 845 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for 79 yards. Khiry Cooper is currently playing baseball.

Others to watch:

Wes Cammack - Sr
Will Henry - Jr
Ben Lester - So
KC Hyland - RFr
Taylor Dixon - RFr
Steven Osborne - RFr
Tim Marlowe - RFr

2008 Statistics:

Receiving GP-GS Number Yds Avg TD Long Avg/Game
Swift, Nate 13-13 63 941 14.9 10 67 72.4
Peterson, Todd 13-13 62 786 12.7 4 36 60.5
McNeill, Mike 13-12 32 442 13.8 6 53 34
Holt, Menelik 12-4 30 355 11.8 1 25 29.6
Lucky, Marlon 12-11 26 288 11.1 1 69 24
Helu Jr., Roy 13-2 25 266 10.6 0 27 20.5
Paul, Niles 13-3 23 214 9.3 0 21 16.5
Young, Dreu 13-4 9 140 15.6 1 55 10.8
Castille, Q. 13-1 9 109 12.1 0 31 8.4
Teafatiller, H. 12-2 3 27 9 0 15 2.2
Hill, Ryan 13-0 3 9 3 1 6 0.7
Brooks, Chris 11-0 2 27 13.5 1 25 2.5
Gilleylen, C. 11-0 2 11 5.5 0 6 1
Mendoza, Marcus 4-0 2 7 3.5 0 7 1.8
Ganz, Joe 13-13 1 20 20 1 20 1.5
Cammack, Wes 13-0 1 5 5 0 5 0.4
Lawson, Thomas 11-0 1 4 4 0 4 0.4
Suh, Ndamukong 13-13 1 2 2 1 2 0.2

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments |

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underachieved?

By whose standards. Maybe like so many of BCs recruits he was just over hyped. Maybe he is simply playing to the ability he has. I guess I would say he hasn’t live up to the hype he came in with but not sure I would say he has underachieved.

by taflorom on Mar 23, 2009 12:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

it's a matter of perspective

underachieved, over hyped – the bottom line is they mean the same thing – the team isn’t getting as much performance out of the guy as they’d like.

Maybe Brooks will get his chance this season now that he’s no longer behind Swift. He’ll darn sure get a chance if Holt and/or Paul don’t improve their game.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!

by Jon Johnston on Mar 23, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brooks is an enigma...

Some practice observers have remarked that Brooks has looked uncoverable at times in practice; they’re puzzled as well as to why Brooks hasn’t seen the field more. The best guess is that it’s effort, consistency, and perhaps blocking. If that’s the case, and he ever gets “it” together, you never know.

I’m hearing interesting rumbles about Tim Marlowe. He was one of those signees that recruiting followers just shook their heads at; his only offer apparently came from Nebraska. Marlowe is a graduate of Pelini’s alma mater (Cardinal Mooney in Youngstown), so perhaps Pelini found a hidden gem. Or it’s just smoke.

Wide receiver is one of those positions where we really are going to need to see somewhat step forward this spring.

by Husker Mike on Mar 23, 2009 10:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Uncoverable???

The reason for that is that our BDs made everyone look UNCOVERABLE. Paul and Holt are the guys in my opinion and Brooks in the going to be the surprise, just like Peterson was a couple years ago.

by Black and Silver Express on Mar 24, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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