Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Spruce Catching Plenty Of Attention
August 04, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
DENVER — Forgive the pun, but there's really no better way to say it: Colorado wide receiver Nelson Spruce is catching a lot of attention this summer.
Catching, of course, is Spruce's forte. The CU senior has caught more passes in his college career (205) than any other active receiver on a Power Five team, and the second most of any active college receiver today. He's second on CU's all-time receptions list, and trails all-time leader Scotty McKnight by just 10 — meaning the school record could be within his grasp in Week One, when the Buffs open at Hawai'i.
He's also been named to a number of preseason honors lists. He's one of 48 receivers in the nation to be named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list and he's been named to at least four preseason first-team all-Pac-12 teams.
He's also one of two wideouts in the state to find himself on everyone's list of top receivers. The other is Colorado State wide receiver Rashard Higgins, and the two got together Tuesday for a photo shoot for a Denver newspaper.
The two traded small talk before the shoot, but there's no doubt that each had Sept. 19 in the back of their minds. That's when the Buffs and Rams will square off in a nationally televised matchup at 5 p.m. at Sports Authority Field in Denver.
It's the fourth such photo shoot for Spruce this summer, including one that landed him on the cover of Mile High Sports magazine.
And what does the Buff senior think of all the attention and accolades?
“Coach (Troy) Walters always says enjoy it, but don't let it go to your head,” Spruce said. “It means there's more pressure on me, that I'll be held to a higher standard.”
Spruce is the leading returning receiver in the Pac-12, coming off a season in which he caught 106 passes for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the first player in CU history to catch at least 100 passes in one season. He set or tied 31 CU records, including most receptions in a game (19 vs. Cal) and most receiving touchdowns in a single season (12).
But the most important number to Spruce last season was two — the number of wins the Buffs notched. That's the number he'll be aiming to improve this season.
“Wins are most important,” he said. “When the wins come, I can enjoy the personal numbers. That's what was so hard about last year.”
As for his personal goals, Spruce said he doesn't worry about numbers. Again, it comes down to the win-loss columns.
“If we win, I know my numbers will be there,” Spruce said. “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.”
The Buffs open fall practice with an 8:35 a.m. session that will be open to the media and public. Other camp practices open to the public will be Thursday (8:35 a.m.), Friday (8:35 a.m.), Saturday (7:35 p.m.), Aug. 15 (8:35 a.m.) and Aug. 21 (8:50 a.m.)
They open the season Sept. 3 at Hawai'i in an 11 p.m. contest that will be nationally televised by CBS Sports. The Buffs make their home debut Sept. 12 in a noon contest vs. UMass.
