Colorado University Athletics
Wide Receivers Ready To Prove Critics Wrong
BOULDER ? There are multiple ways to look at every problem. For the Buffs wide receiver corps, some out there choose to look at the fact that there are only three receivers on scholarship in a negative light. Fortunately for the Buffs, they don't worry about all that and choose to look at the issue in a positive light.
GÇ£There are no wins and losses in the spring,GÇ¥ passing game coordinator and receivers coach Eric Kiesau said. GÇ£So you can look at it and say that we only have three on scholarship for one semester, or you can look at what the walk-ons have provided us in terms of production and know that we will also have a lot of guys who haven't hit campus yet.GÇ¥
According to Kiesau, the receivers have had six great practice sessions, two good and just one bad through the first nine practices of spring ball.
The three receivers on scholarship are described by coach Dan Hawkins as a GÇ£dynamic group.GÇ¥ It includes Scotty McKnight, Markques Simas, a rising sophomore who has yet to see the field, and speedster Josh Smith, who may be as valuable in the return game as he is at wide receiver.
GÇ£Simas and Josh and obviously Scotty; thatGÇÖs a pretty dynamic group of guys,GÇ¥ Dan Hawkins said. GÇ£In our conference in this day and age, I think you have to have six, probably seven or eight guys in your posse ready to go.GÇ¥
After becoming the first freshman to lead the team in receptions in 2007, McKnight did the same again a season ago, pulling down 46 balls for 519 yards and five touchdowns.
GÇ£Scotty is a workhorse,GÇ¥ Simas said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs our Mr. consistent. If Josh or I come out and have an off day, he never does.GÇ¥
Being a former walk-on, Kiesau jokingly uses that as motivation for McKnight.
GÇ£We know these kids see and read whatGÇÖs in the papers,GÇ¥ Kiesau said. GÇ£TheyGÇÖre not as conditioned as the coaching staff is to just let it roll off their shoulders. So with Scotty, I will jokingly tell him ?I read the other day you only run a 4.9GÇÖ and then heGÇÖll go out, make a guy miss and pick up 20 yards. ThatGÇÖs just how he is. HeGÇÖs invaluable for our program.GÇ¥
Simas is likely the Buff that more than any other, fans are anxious to get on the field. A high school All-American in 2007, Simas got to campus and had enough hype that Phil Steele named the incoming freshman to his fourth-team All-Big 12 team. After sitting out a season because of academics, Simas worked his way back on the field first through the classroom. HeGÇÖs as anxious as any fan to get on the field himself.
GÇ£I canGÇÖt wait,GÇ¥ Simas said. GÇ£I just hope I donGÇÖt jump off sides on the first play. ItGÇÖs been so long, but it will be something IGÇÖve been looking forward to for a long time.GÇ¥
GÇ£HeGÇÖs the complete package,GÇ¥ Kiesau said. GÇ£He needs to maintain focus off the field, and if he can do that, he has the potential to have a very special three year career on the field. HeGÇÖs heads and shoulders above anybody else right now.GÇ¥
GÇ£All of life is growing up,GÇ¥ Dan Hawkins said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs a good kid, heGÇÖs a solid kid and heGÇÖs learned a lot and heGÇÖs maturing. HeGÇÖs really good, really solid.GÇ¥
GÇ£Markques Simas is definitely a guy that was missed last year,GÇ¥ CU quarterback Cody Hawkins said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs a big receiver for us; heGÇÖs always going to make a lot of plays. IGÇÖm confident in the guys we have and weGÇÖre going to dress things up a bit and put our play makers in position to do what they do best.GÇ¥
The third scholarship receiver is Josh Smith, self nick-named J-Fly, one of the most dynamic players both on the field and off. When recently asked by a student reporter what he feels about who the better athlete is between himself and the Atlanta HawksGÇÖ Josh Smith, he jokingly said, GÇ£Well, I think I just passed him on Google images last week, so that says something.GÇ¥
Smith set the CU single season kickoff return mark in 2008 with 1,276 yards, taking one to the house. As one of the only real burners on the team, his reception numbers were probably lower than he would like. But with Simas and a group of incoming guys, Smith can fill the role easier and not be called upon to be a top threat.
GÇ£He brings speed, thatGÇÖs for sure, and we need it,GÇ¥ Kiesau said. GÇ£I would like to see him focus a little more. ItGÇÖs easy for him to look good against our second team or scout team, but we need him to do the same things against the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. He will get there, but he needs to buckle down a little bit.GÇ¥
An exciting fact for the Buffs may be how well Simas and Smith have meshed since arriving on campus.
GÇ£Since the first time we met, weGÇÖve just got along right away,GÇ¥ Simas said. GÇ£I think we can do some special things here, we just need to get on the field and prove it.GÇ¥
One thing Dan Hawkins likes about the game of football are the guys who come in and make an impact by working hard all the time. McKnight, who came in as a walk-on and has turned into a high level producer, is one example of such a story. There are two other receivers on the roster who could both fill that role in Ryan Maxwell and Jason Espinoza.
Espinoza has already proven he can produce at a high level with seven catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the first scrimmage. He hooked up with Cody Hawkins all three times. A former all-state pick from Alamosa, Espinoza joined the team as an invited walk-on after hauling in 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.
Maxwell sat out last year after transferring from UC Davis. Maxwell was an all-State and all-Orange County performer at Santa Margarita High School, and also won eight league titles in sprinting events on the track.
So while nearly everybody is in agreement that the Buffs will need more bodies than theyGÇÖre running through the spring with, the Buffs arenGÇÖt losing a lot of sleep thinking about it, either. With three signees that all will have a chance to come in and compete right away and a dynamic trio of scholarship guys along with some hard-nosed walk-ons making waves, the future looks bright.