Colorado University Athletics
Woelk: Wide Receivers More Than Just Spruce
August 18, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — If you attend a Colorado football game this fall, you're virtually guaranteed to hear the cheer:
“Spruuuuuuuuuuuuce.”
It's the sound the home crowd makes after every catch by Buff receiver Nelson Spruce — which means the crowd has had plenty of practice perfecting the chant, and will likely have many more opportunities this fall.
Last year, Spruce caught a school-record 106 passes for 12 touchdowns (also a school record). He had at least 10 catches in four games, including a school-record 19 against Cal, and was held to less than five catches only once in 12 games, that coming in a loss to Oregon.
This year, he's one of 48 receivers in the nation to be named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list (he was a national semifinalist last year), he's a consensus preseason all-Pac-12 first team selection, a fourth-team all-America pick by Phil Steele, and has the most career receptions (205) of any receiver active this year in the nation's Power Five conferences.
So what does the 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior plan on doing do for an encore?
“Win more games,” Spruce said recently. “If we win, I know my numbers will be there. If I have personal goals, it's to be all-Pac-12, things like that. If I get there, it means we won a lot of games and I got to contribute.”
“Everything else will take care of itself.”
Spruce dedicated his offseason to making sure he did his part in taking care of his part of the equation. He lifted weights, he ran, he worked to increase his speed and explosiveness — anything and everything to make his senior season one to remember.
He had plenty of help in that regard.
“What we did in the offseason was we showed him things he needs to work on,” wide receivers coach Troy Walters said. “We actually pulled out the games against the top opponents, the Oregons, the USCs. We watched what he did against the best of the best.”
For the most part, Spruce performed well against the Pac-12's upper echelon. He had nine catches against USC and Arizona, seven against Arizona State and five against Utah. The only blip was the two-catch day at Oregon.
“After we identified those things to work on, he went to work,” Walters said. “He did that all through the offseason. Now, he came out the first week and had a great week of camp. He's focused on having a good year.”
But if Spruce doesn't match last year's numbers, it won't necessarily be a disappointment. Rather, it could be that CU's group of young receivers get a bigger share of the throws from quarterback Sefo Liufau.
First up on that list will almost assuredly be sophomore Shay Fields, who last year set a CU freshman record with 50 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns.
“The biggest thing for Shay is he's had a full year in the weightroom,” Walters said. “He's more physical. I also think he can do a better job in run after catch. When he gets the ball in his hands, he has to be that explosive guy and be physical. Take a 5-yard hitch and go 60 with it.”
Fields said he can feel the difference of a year of dedicated weight training.
“I can feel it in my routes,” he said. “My hips are getting better, my legs are getting stronger for my breaks and explosion. That's where I'm going to be better in yards after catch. I've got more explosiveness.”
But the Buffs should have more than a 1-2 punch at receiver. Walters said if everything works out well, the Buffs should have seven receivers capable of making plays.
Along with Spruce and Fields, that group includes sophomore Donovan Lee, who had 13 catches last year; sophomore Devin Ross, who played as a true freshman before taking a redshirt year last year; redshirt freshmen Lee Walker and Jay MacIntyre; and sophomore Bryce Bobo, who caught 23 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns last year.
“I think we're going to be more versatile than we've ever been,” Walters said. “I think we'll truly be seven deep this year and be able to put guys into a lot of different situations.”
CHART CLIMBING: Spruce enters the year second on CU's list of all-time receptions (205), sixth in receiving yards (2,294) and is tied for fifth in touchdown catches (19). He could put himself atop the all-time receptions list with a solid season opener, as he needs just 10 to catch all-time leader Scotty McKnight. Spruce holds or shares 35 CU records.
Fields, meanwhile, is already 48th in all-time receptions after his 50-catch freshman season.
RUSHING NUMBERS: Lee caught 13 passes last year, but his longest play was a rush: a 45-yard reverse against Arizona State, just the second time in his college career that he touched the ball. Lee also had six special teams points last year, including a fumble recovery.
THE INSIDE LOOK AT . . .
Wide receivers
Coach: Troy Walters, third season on CU staff
Returning starters: Nelson Spruce, Sr.; Shay Fields, Soph.
Returnees: Robert Orban, Soph.; Colin Johnson, Sr.; Sean Grundman, Soph.; Devin Ross, Soph.; Bryce Bobo, Soph.; Lee Walker, RS-Fr.; Donovan Lee, Soph.; Jay MacIntyre, RS-Fr.; Joseph Hall, Soph.
Newcomers: Bradley Garcia, Fr.; Xavier Cochrane, Fr.; Justin Jan, Fr.
Key losses: D.D. Goodson.
Stat line: The Buffs have their two top receivers back from last year in Spruce and Fields, who combined for 156 catches for 1,684 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Bottom line: The real key will be making sure other receivers put themselves in the picture when opponents double cover Spruce. After double-digit reception games in three of his first five games last year, Spruce had just one more the rest of the season when teams began focusing on shutting him down. Fields did take some of the burden off, but it will require a complete effort by the full crew to make CU's passing game a true threat against the Pac-12's upper echelon. If Walker, Lee, Bobo, Ross and MacIntyre can become consistent producers, CU's passing game could hit the next level.
Next: Linebackers
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
