Young receivers forced to start season with little experience
Jerry HoffmanThe 2001 season will see a young group of receivers step up to be sophomore quarterback Derrick Vickers' main targets.
This year's receivers are slated to be redshirt junior Roderick Means. Means, 6’3” 192, beat out redshirt sophomore Willie Hill in two-a-days for the job. Last season Means grabbed only two receptions in only eight games for 25 yards.
Also lining up for the Chippewas will be Dante McKnight. McKnight, a 5’10” 187 pound, redshirted sophomore saw action last year on special teams.
Rob Turner is a true junior, he stands 6’3” 200 pounds and will be a large target on the field for Vickers. Last season Turner played in all 11 games, hauling in eight receptions for 68 yards, a 8.5 average.
The receivers will still have to step up and put up numbers near what Hannah, Gooch, and Salani put up.
Hannah hauled in 34 passes last season for 411 yards. An average of 12.1 yards a game.
Gooch, who played in only nine games, caught 24 passes for 392 yards. And an average of over 16 yards a catch. He scored twice and hauled in a 77 yard catch. He lead the team in yards per game with 43.6.
With Vickers as the every day starter to start the season the Chippewas will probably throw the ball more and use Vickers athleticism, thus improving the leagues eighth best pass offense.
As for the tight end spot, two true-freshmen will step in for Salini.
Troy Humphery and David Kurzen will play the position.
Humphery, 6’3” 230 from Saginaw High, was recruited as a defensive end, but will most likely be the starting tight end Thursday. Kurzen stands at a monstrous 6’6” 235 pounds. He is originally from Massillon, Ohio.
Last season Salini grabbed 12 receptions for 127 yards but got into the end zone on four of those catches.
“We are inexperienced and young and we don’t have a lot of depth at the receiver position,” CMU Head Coach Mike DeBord said.
“But we should have enough guys because there are not as many injuries out there as there are in the trenches.”
