Buffs Camp Position Preview: WR Group Is Talented, Deep
August 12, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When fall camp began, the general consensus was that wide receiver could be the Colorado Buffaloes' deepest and most talented overall position group.
In fact, it was ranked as one of the top 15 wide receiving corps in the nation by college football guru Phil Steele.
Roughly halfway through camp, nothing has happened to change that early assessment. Rather, CU's receivers are living up to that expectation — and possibly more.
For starters, Colorado's veterans are having an outstanding camp thus far. Laviska Shenault Jr., K.D. Nixon and Tony Brown — CU's top three receivers from last season — have been consistent producers on a daily basis in every regard. They are making tough catches look easy, they are blocking downfield and each of them appears to have improved their chemistry with quarterback Steven Montez.
But even after those three, the list of receivers who have turned heads at one point or another is a long one. Sophomores Daniel Arias, Maurice Bell and Jaylon Jackson and redshirt freshman Dimitri Stanley have all not just had outstanding moments, they have also been consistent.
"We knew they were talented coming in, but I like the way they are competing against each other," said wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini. "Obviously we have some veteran guys, returning players that are proven players. But even those guys are getting pushed by the younger guys. Daniel Arias is having a great camp, Jaylon Jackson's having a great camp, Maurice Bell has had an unbelievable camp. Dimitri Stanley is a kid who hasn't played a ton of football, but he just shows up every day and makes a great catch every day."
Shenault, of course, is the early favorite to not only be the team's receiving leader, but also among the national leaders. After leading the nation a year ago in receptions per game (9.6), he is on the preseason watch list for a number of national honors, including the Biletnikoff, Hornung and Maxwell awards; and is considered to be an early Heisman contender as well.
But one thing CU coaches don't want to do is depend upon Shenault too much and overwork him. It is, offensive coordinator Jay Johnson admits, a fine line.
It is why they have made spreading the ball to all the playmakers a focus of camp. With Shenault coming back from a pair of offseason surgeries, there has been no need to overwork him early, and it has given all the other receivers a chance to get their share of work.
That focus is paying off. Nixon and Brown have both been consistent targets for Montez while Arias, Stanley, Bell and Jackson have also been steady. Meanwhile, several of the incoming freshmen — Braedin Huffman-Dixon and Vontae Shenault — have also been impressive.
It all adds up to depth that should pay off. If the Buffs can keep fresh legs in the game for four quarters, they should be able to take a toll on defenses — and if Colorado's run game can keep defenses honest, it will make the aerial attack even more effective.
"That's going to be a difference this year," Chiaverini said. "They're going to continue to push each other and we have a lot of depth. We can play a lot of numbers. With guys like Viska, who we know is a great player, K.D., who we know is a great player, Tony Brown, who is a consistent guy who's going to show up every week, we can go after people. Then when you add guys like Daniel, who can run deep balls, run intermediate routes, and Dimitri — and they're fresh — you're going to wear down some DBs."
WHO'S BACK: Senior Tony Brown; Juniors Laviska Shenault Jr., K.D. Nixon; Sophomores Daniel Arias, Jaylon Jackson, Maurice Bell, Curtis Chiaverini; Redshirt freshmen Dimitri Stanley, Dylan Thomas, Jake Groth, Clayton Baca.Â
WHO'S NEW: Freshmen Vontae Shenault, Braedin Huffman-Dixon, Alex Smith.
WHAT'S IN STORE: This group has the potential to be one of the best wide receiving groups in a long, long time in Boulder. The Buffs have a host of legitimate deep threats, wideouts who can catch the ball in traffic and receivers who are big enough and fast enough to provide matchup nightmares for cornerbacks. CU's renewed emphasis on the run game might cut into the overall numbers, but the importance of this group won't be diminished a bit.
STAT TO REMEMBER: Three Buffs who accounted for 170 catches for 1,980 yards and 11 touchdowns last year — Shenault, Nixon and Brown — are all back and having outstanding camps. That's enough to give opposing defensive coordinators a few nightmares.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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