Before we start, I’d like to congratulate Jack McClinton on being selected 51st in the NBA draft last night.  The Spurs made a great choice and are getting a steal.  He fits great in their style of play.  If McClinton can continue to work hard, he can be a great shooter off the bench, much better than Jacque Vaughn who doesn’t complement Tim Duncan at all.

Ok, now back to football…

What Happened in 2008?

This receiving core came in with very little experience, five of the receivers were true freshmen.  This group took some time to develop, but by the end of the year, there were clear roles for all the receivers.  There were great slot receivers in Therron Collier and Davon Johnson, great possession receivers like Leonard Hankerson and Kayne Farquharson, and then the leaders, in my opinion who can stretch the field and make the tough catches are Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, and LaRon Byrd.

What to Expect in 2009?

This group only lost Farquharson and will be the deepest unit in the ACC.  Now with a year of experience and just one quarterback to gain timing with, the receivers should make strides and continue to stretch the field.  Each of them has small individual things they need to work on, but for the most part, timing and concentration are the two things that should noticeably change. I think this year will be interesting, but 2010 is when the receivers will be outright nasty.

Superlatives

MVP: LaRon Byrd – I know I know, Aldarius Johnson is great and he has been catching touchdowns from Jacory Harris for years now, but Byrd is just amazing to me.  6′4”, blazing speed, great jumping ability, he should be making the best catches of the year, and the timley ones.  Nobody else on the team can snag a fade route like he can, that’s why I think he is more dangerous than any of the other receivers and will impress greatly.

Mr. Consistency: Therron Collier – He did it in the 2008 campaign, he caught everything that was thrown his way, he ran great routes, he can make people miss, he’s just extremely reliable.  He’s not going to be a dominant receiver, but he can make the catches when called upon.

You’ll know him by October: Tommy Streeter – He redshirted in 2008, but has plenty of game experience with Jacory Harris.  He is tall and fast, he should be able to stretch the field and catch touchdowns in the redzone.  He is a star waiting to be recognized on the field.

Make sure you have your degree when you leave: Leonard Hankerson – He has one more chance to prove that he belongs on the field.  He has the tools, and he has the work ethic, but he can’t keep his hands on the ball most of the time.  You can’t have a case of the dropsies as a senior when there are 6 sophomore receivers waiting to take your spot.  I think by the end of the year he will only be seeing garbage minutes.

Next Up: Defensive Line

Related posts:

1. The U Report: Roster Analysis – Impact Players
2. The U Report: Roster Analysis – Quarterbacks
3. The U Report: Roster Analysis – Defensive Backs
4. The U Report: Roster Analysis – Defensive Line
5. The U Report: Roster Analysis – Key Departures