Looking Ahead To Fall Camp (Wide Receiver)
By Jimmie Allen
With fall camp just around the corner, Huskercorner.com will take a look at each position, and go in to detail on the question marks and statements that each position has. Today we talk about maybe the biggest question mark on the team, wide receiver.
Young, but impressive
Aside from fellow incoming freshman, Bubba Starling, there may be no bigger story line then how captivating Jamal Turners performance in the spring game was. Turner had 4 catches for 93 yards, including one catch for a 49 yard touchdown from, redshirt freshman quarterback Brion Carnes. Turner also showed off his blazing speed in the kick return game. He had a 59 yard punt return, and a 54 yard kick off return. Turner has play-making speed, and has the ability to to get separation.
The 6-foot-1, 175 lb Arlington, TX native was recrutied by Nebraska to play quarterback. With the current depth at quarterback, with Carnes, and the return of Davey O’Brien watch list member, Taylor Martinez, Turner made the switch to wide receiver. Turner was not the only youngster to make a splash this spring. Boulder, CO native Kenny Bell finished the annual red and white scrimmage with 3 catches for 42 yards, and returned 4 kicks for 69 yards.
Both of these young freshman have big time speed, and have game changing ability. Look for first year offensive coordinator, Tim Beck to get these guys out in space, and make plays.
Nebraska also adds Weston, Massachusetts, Rivers High School stand out Taariq Allen. He is a 6-foot-3 190 lb true freshman, who will provide a big target down field. Fellow true freshman Daniel Davie is a 6-foot-0, 181 lb Nebraska native and will look to compete early for playing time.
What we know is
Senior to be, Brandon Kinnie will be the number one option at wide out for whom ever maybe the Huskers quarterback this fall. As a junior Kinnie caught 44 passes for 494 yards, and 5 touchdowns. He is also the only Nebraska wide receiver who returns with more than one catch in his collegiate carrier.
Kinnie is 6-foot-4 and 225 lbs, and has shown he can be productive. As thin as the Huskers are at wide receiver, Kinnie is the only non unkown at the position. First year wide receivers coach Rich Fisher will have his work cut out for him, but will look to Kinnie to be the leader of this group.
So who’s left?
Other than Kinnie, only sophomore, Quincy Enunwa had a catch last season. He had 1 for 10 yards. He finished the spring game with 4 catches for4 yards. He will need to improve those numbers if he wants to compete for playing time.
In 2009 junior, Khiry Cooper caught 13 passes for 80 yards, and one touchdown, but saw limited playing time in 2010. Cooper is a two sport star, he spent this spring playing baseball.
Tim Marlowe, is a 5-foot-10 junior who has been featured mainly in the kick return game, will look to battle for playing time at wide out this fall.
With the lack of depth at running back in the spring, senior Curenski Gilleylen moved to running back, but with three talented freshman coming into fall camp at running back, look for Gilleylen to move back to wide receiver. In 2009, he caught 17 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown.
Depth Chart Prediction
WR X
1. Brandon Kinnie, 6-foot-4, 225 lb, Kansas City, MO.
2. Khiry Cooper, 6-foot-2, 195 lb, Shreveport, LA.
WR Y
1. Quincy Enunwa, 6-foot-2, 205 lb, Moreno Valley, CA.
2. Curenski Gilleylen, 6-foot-0, 215 lb, Leander, TX.
WR Z
1. Jamal Turner, 6-foot-1, 175 lb, Arlington, TX.
2. Kenny Bell, 6-foot-1, 175 lb, Boulder, CO.
-By Jimmie Allen