Minnesota's Eric Decker emerged as an elite wide receiver last season for the Gophers despite his skin condition on both the football field and the baseball diamond, and he is
gaining praise as the season is set to begin.
Eric Decker
but even in an article that gives Decker a lot of credit, the required caveat diminishing his ability is slipped in.
Decker is fast, though not blindingly so. But he's quick, he runs very good routes and has the knack for separating himself from a defender. Then, when it comes to making the catch, the 6-2, 215-pound Decker is able to use body control and strength to fend off a defender.
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another white receiver for Minnesota is expected to get a lot of playing time this season... another "gritty, tough, overachiever" apparently, despite being a phenomenal athlete in high school.
Ben Kuznia
Kuznia finds stock rising with Gophers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Ben Kuznia is an example of how patience and hard work can pay dividends in college football. The redshirt junior from Olivia has slowly climbed the depth charts at wide receiver for the Minnesota Gophers and now appears to be on the threshold of significant playing time this season.
Injuries have plagued the former West Central Tribune Hengstler-Ranweiler Award winner's career so far.
"I have pulled my right quad muscle three or four times in my career," he said. "Last year, I pulled it right before the first game, came back and played on special teams in our third game against Florida Atlantic and ended up pulling it again." He was sidelined for most of the rest of the season, coming back to play in two games at the end of the season.
The Gophers have several speedy and talented freshmen receivers who are expected to be part of the future. Some might help this season. But they are still trying to grasp the position and the system. Meanwhile, Kuznia, who has yet to catch a pass in a regular-season game for the Gophers, has been practicing with the first unit of Eric Decker and Ralph Spry in practice. In a team scrimmage this past Saturday, Kuznia led all receivers with seven catches for 64 yards.
"Being able to pick up and learn the offense has helped me the most," said Kuznia. "I still need to improve on my route technique and blocking."
...
It was never a sure thing that Kuznia would get much playing time for the Gophers and some area high school coaches he played against questioned his decision to try to play at the Division I level, feeling he would get significant playing time at a Division II or III school. After all, Kuznia played his junior season of high school at wide receiver for BOLD and caught very few passes because the team emphasized the run. Kuznia was switched to quarterback his senior year. His best position was defensve back.
full article here
at 6-0, 186-pounds, Kuznia was a first-team All-State defensive back in high school and the 212 Conference Defensive Back of the Year as a senior, and had never played wide receiver before going to Minnesota
as a WALK ON.
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Dane Sanzenbacher
news from the Ohio State sideline...
The established stars and the veterans are known commodities. But when Tressel reviews the performances of the rest of his personnel since camp convened, former City League standout Dane Sanzenbacher's resume is on the top of the stack.
"Someone asked earlier today if you had to pick one guy that's jumped up and really caught your attention in this camp, who would it be?" Tressel said. "And the guy I would say would be Dane Sanzenbacher."
Sanzenbacher, a 5-11, 175-pound wide receiver from Central Catholic, is battling for the No. 3 role in the receiving corps, behind returning starters senior Brian Robiskie and junior Brian Hartline, a pair of all-league caliber performers.
With senior quarterback Todd Boeckman again at the controls after leading the Big Ten Conference in passing efficiency last season, the Buckeyes figure to use three receivers a lot. Right now, Tressel seems very comfortable with Sanzenbacher as a regular in that lineup.
"Dane has really - from a functional standpoint, and technique-wise - he's studied the game," Tressel said prior to Monday night's open practice in Ohio Stadium, which was watched by some 12,000 Ohio State fans.
Sanzenbacher is challenged at that No. 3 wide receiver position by no less than a half dozen other players, including highly-touted incoming freshmen Jake Stoneburner and DeVier Posey, and junior Ray Small. But Tressel indicated that Sanzenbacher, the former City League player of the year, has separated himself from that group.
"He's no longer a guy trying to learn the plays, he's trying to learn how to beat you. He's jumped up," Tressel said.
the full article
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Brian Hartline
as the above article stated, Dane Sanzenbacher is really impressing for Ohio State, but don't forget about Brian Hartline. quarterback Todd Boeckman hasn't.
from an insider's blog on Ohio State football...
Brian Hartline could be the team's best receiver. If he's not, then he appears to be something even more important -- the receiver QB Todd Boeckman looks to most often. Hartline makes tons of plays, primarily on slants and posts over the middle. The only issue is if Boeckman starts forcing too many balls to Hartline, like he did late last season. And I'm not just saying that because Brian Robiskie is out with a shoulder injury. It's something I've felt for some time.
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Jeremy Ebert
Northwestern true freshman wide receiver Jeremy Ebert ran a 4.37 40 last June at Northwestern's combine. it's been reported that he has run as fast as 4.34. whatever the decimals say, the fact is he is fast. he has been making a lot of noise in fall camp for the Wildcats, and along with speedsters Eric Peterman and Ross Lane gives Northwestern three explosive white playmakers.
oh, before you get carried away regarding Ebert, please check out his caste-speak scouting report from ESPN:
You can say one thing about Ebert-- he can run. He may not play quite as fast as his posted 40 time, but he has the speed to move from quarterback to wide receiver and stretch the field. Plays QB in the spread and is used for his running ability. Is at his best as a read-option runner that will keep and break big runs. Has very quick feet and makes decisive cuts. Shows good change-of-direction skills and is capable of being a homerun threat when he gets to the second level. Runs hard and is a good football player and athlete. Ebert isn't as smooth and fluid an athlete as some others are and he has an overachiever element to him, but you like his competitiveness and toughness too. He's a good football player that should develop nicely once he becomes a wide receiver full time.
so even great athleticism isn't really great athleticism when the skin tone is too light...
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Kevin Jurovich
San Jose State wideout Kevin Jurovich update:
Kevin Jurovich made the transition from safety to 1,000-yard receiver last fall, but the senior finally got to work out like a receiver this summer. Instead of hitting the weights, he said he focused on improving his speed and footwork.
"I feel more complete," Jurovich said. "I felt like a receiver last year, but there were a lot of holes in my game. Doing what I did last year, now I'm on a platform where I can go even higher than I did last season."
Jurovich wasted away in obscurity as a back-up safety and holder for kicks for two seasons until last year's breakout performance. despite playing on an abysmal team, in his first year at wideout, Jurovich set a school record for receptions (85) and was just the third player in school history to gain at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,183).
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it's funny how all these white receivers have no talent, yet continue to be record-chasing players isn't it?
Nate Swift
case in point, Nebraska's Nate Swift:
The most experienced receiver for the Huskers this season is Nate Swift, who could put his name in the record book. The senior is ready to finish his college career on a high note.
"I just really want to be consistent, every game, game in and game out, every play be consistent. Do the right thing and whatever happens happens."
Swift has an opportunity to complete his career as Nebraska's all-time leader in receptions. He has 103 receptions over the past three seasons and enters the fall campaign ranked fourth on the school's all-time list. Swift needs 41 catches to break the school record held by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers.
"I don't know if anybody ever expects anything like that. I just wanted to come in here and play and contribute as soon as I could. It just turned out this way."
Swift could be the go-to receiver when quarterback Joe Ganz needs a completion. Ganz has plenty of confidence in his wide out.
"He's gonna have to pay me some money if he wants to break that record. He's a great route-runner, he's really good at getting open. He's not the fastest guy, not the quickest guy, he probably runs the best routes out of all of them. He knows how to get open. Hopefully he can have a big year and we can break that record for him."
wow. if he can't run, accelerate, and so forth, how does he manage to get open against "reel afaletes?"
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Riley Cooper
white receivers can't seem to do ANYTHING right...
During his first two years at UF, receiver Riley Cooper has battled an assortment of injuries that stunted his development and led many to label him as only a deep threat (12 career receptions, 22.8 yards per catch). Now the Clearwater native is battling for a starting spot with junior transfer Carl Moore.
"He's developing, and the good thing about Riley is he's pushing through," receivers coach Billy Gonzales said.
so being fast and making big plays is a negative now? this is all VERY confusing...
Edited by: Jimmy Chitwood 
