Colorado University Athletics
Spruce Gets Congratulatory Message From Westbrook
September 28, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado wide receiver Nelson Spruce had a pleasant surprise when he checked his phone late Saturday night.
Among the congratulatory text messages was one from former CU great Michael Westbrook — whose record for all-time receiving yards Spruce broke Saturday afternoon.
"It's not something I expected at all," Spruce said after Sunday evening's practice. "Anytime those legends of the programs reach out to you, it's really special. I'm glad he took the time to do that."
Spruce, who continues to move atop more and more of CU's all-time receiving lists, finished with five catches for 80 yards in Saturday's 48-0 Colorado win over Nicholls. He now has 2,570 career receiving yards.
Spruce entered Saturday fourth on the CU career list; his fourth catch of the day moved him into first. Along the way, he passed Scotty McKnight (2,521), Rae Carruth (2,540) and Westbrook (2,548). He passed McKnight with his second catch of Saturday's game, a 22-yarder from Sefo Liufau; then moved past Carruth and Westbrook with his fourth catch, an 11-yarder.
"It's awesome," Spruce said. "It's nothing you start out to do in your career, you have to keep working and eventually reach it. It's cool to get there."
Spruce also has the CU mark for career receptions with 230, and he is just two touchdowns away from McKnight's all-time Buffs record for touchdowns (22).
Spruce has never met Westbrook, but it's quite likely he'll have the chance in just a couple of weeks. Westbrook now makes his home in the Phoenix area, and is planning to attend the Oct. 10 Colorado game at Arizona State in Tempe.
