Matadors deep at WR position
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| AWC wide receivers Leshown Potts (8) and DeAndre Wallace (#1 |
Last year, Arizona Western wasn’t exactly deep at the receiver position.
Only two players on the team had more than 30 catches, and one was a tight end. Only three others had at least 15 catches, and one was a running back. Outside of Jaron Woodyard (36 rec., 522 yards), who’s now at Nebraska, the Matadors didn’t have a whole lot of firepower on the outside or in the slot.
This year, things look a lot different.
Not one receiver who had a meaningful role a year ago is back, and the overhaul is for the better, with Tom Minnick saying this year’s receiving corps just may be the best he’s had in 11 years as the Matadors’ coach.
“Altogether we’ve got about eight or nine of them that are really pretty good,” Minnick said. “It’s still early, but they’ve got some skill, they do have some skill, which is funny for us because usually have the tailback that’s really good.”
Indeed, the most notable names on AWC’s offense have usually been found in the backfield — three straight years the Matadors have had a 1,000-yard rusher, but it’s been since Cody Hollister (68 rec., 922 yards) in 2013 that the Matadors have had a receiver with at least 50 catches or 700 yards.
The theme amongst this year’s group of receivers is youth. Aside from redshirt sophomores Nathan Johnson (5-11, 190), a transfer from Michigan, and Jacquez Adams (5-11, 170), a transfer from West Virginia, it’s basically nothing but true freshmen.
“So running routes they’re raw, using tricks they’re raw, but skill-wise catching the ball and making some things happen, they’re doing a pretty good job,” Minnick said. “And they’re fast. They’ve gotten behind our corners a ton this camp already, which is hard to do.”
The fastest of the bunch is freshman Troy’Von Johnson (5-9, 155), who reminds Minnick of 2011 AWC receiver DJ Johnson — arguably the best AWC’s had at the position in Minnick’s tenure.
“He’s only 150 pounds but he can fly and he can make you miss, which is the same thing DJ could do,” Minnick said. “Those little kids like that, they don’t get hit because the fact they move so fast and they use their body to shield them from getting lit up.”
Right now, Johnson is slated to start at AWC’s slot receiver position.
Also currently running with the first team are freshmen Leshaun Potts (6-4, 205) at ‘X’ and Dallas Daniels (6-1, 180) at ‘Z,’ though Nathan Johnson — the Michigan transfer — is in the mix at ‘Z’ as well.
“If he gets out of the doghouse he’s really, really good,” Minnick said of Nathan Johnson. “I think he could be the best out of them all, but he’s got to get out of the doghouse all the time.”
Like Potts, freshmen DeAndre Wallace (6-5, 200) and Johnny King Jr. (6-6, 200) possess great size for a receiver.
“We’ve got three tall receivers, which we haven’t had in the past, who have done pretty good,” Minnick said. “Potts (in particular) is a big and physical kid, so that gives us another dimension.”
The outlook at tight end is less promising, with Minnick saying the Matadors “only have one right now we can count on,” that being freshman Bryce Parker (6-4, 220).
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