Team boasts depth at receiver

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Kansan staff writer Asher Fusco is previewing KU football, position by position. Tomorrow’s edition will profile the offensive line.

Wide Receiver

With most of the preseason media attention focused on the Todd Reesing versus Kerry Meier saga, one important offensive unit has flown under the radar — the receivers.

Kansas lost leading receiver Brian Murph to graduation but could field an improved fleet in 2007. Depth is the calling card of the 2007 group. Quarterback Todd Reesing will throw to a largely inexperienced but versatile and athletic group of pass-catchers this season.

“I like some of the playmakers we have,” coach Mark Mangino said. “I like the guys who have been around and are developing. I also like some of the young kids.”

pullquote

"Briscoe and Wilson are talented young guys with tremendous football aptitude.”

-coach Mark Mangino

The “guys who have been around” are junior Dexton Fields and senior Marcus Henry.

Fields lined up as the team’s slot receiver instead of going out wide in preseason practices. At 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, the Dallas native will replace Murph as the Jayhawks’ main possession receiver. He pulled in a team-high 45 catches in 2006.

Mangino tabbed Henry as the team’s starting “X” receiver before the spring game. In other words, Henry should be Kansas’ number one option on the outside this season. The 6-4 senior starred in the spring game, gaining 150 yards on six receptions.

Fields and Henry are the most experienced wide receivers on the roster, but thanks to several years of strong recruiting at the position, Kansas also has several young receivers challenging for playing time.

“We’ve had talent in the past, but now we have more,” offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said. “If a starter gets tired or hurt, we can bring in that second guy and there isn’t a big drop-off. We don’t have to rely on one guy to play every snap all year.”

The youngest receivers in the running are true freshmen Dezmon Briscoe and Jonathan Wilson. Briscoe and Wilson made favorable impressions on the coaching staff early in the preseason and will most likely not redshirt this season.

“Briscoe and Wilson are talented young guys with tremendous football aptitude,” Mangino said. “We’re really amazed with the things they understand about this game already.”

Briscoe, from Dallas, is highly regarded by the offensive coaching staff. Warinner said Briscoe excelled in the first few practices and Mangino recently said the lanky freshman was making a case to earn a starting job.

Two older receivers also have a shot at significant playing time in 2007 — juniors Marcus Herford and Raymond Brown. Herford is one of the most athletic Jayhawks and was an All-Big 12 second team selection for his work as a kick returner last season.

Brown occasionally worked with the first team in practice this preseason after switching from cornerback to receiver in the spring. When asked about the receiving corps, junior cornerback Aqib Talib said Brown had played well and displayed a bit of swagger in practice.

Tight End

Senior Derek Fine has a grasp on the starting tight end job for the third consecutive season. Fine, a team captain, has been one of the Jayhawks’ most consistent players throughout his career. He utilizes his 250-pound body as a powerful run-blocker and his soft hands as a sturdy, pass-catching option.

Fine has recorded 50 catches and six touchdowns in the past two seasons and should see his numbers increase in an offense that could rely heavily on rollout pass plays.

The Jayhawk receivers are not the flashiest players on the team, but they could be some of the most productive. The youth and athleticism of players like Briscoe and Wilson combined with the stability and reliability of Fine and Fields make the receivers a special group. Just ask one of the players responsible for covering them in practice:

“They’ve got good size, they know how to go get the ball, and they’re fast,” Talib said. “If things play out we should have a pretty explosive offense.”

— Edited by Matt Erickson

Reesing’s starting chances increasing

Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing appears to be the likely starter at quarterback. ...

/news/2007/aug/16/football_notes/

The Morning Brew: Receivers steal show during ...

/news/2008/sep/02/morning_brew/

Trio ready to lead Jayhawks

"Fields, Briscoe and Meier will help lead team as wide receivers this ...

/news/2008/aug/27/football_receivers/

Returning players secure a strong offense

Proven playmakers will provide a good backbone to this year’s football team.

/news/2009/sep/04/returning_players/

Offensive line talented but inexperienced

With three starters gone from last year’s line, a couple of back-ups ...

/news/2007/aug/22/football/

Briscoe expected to step up

Dezmon Briscoe, sophomore wide receiver, appears a go-to man for the 2008 ...

/news/2008/may/08/football/

Dent: Receivers to make big impact this ...

After a standout performance by the KU receivers against Central Michigan, Mark ...

/news/2007/sep/04/dent/

Henry breaks out in senior campaign

For the first three years of his career, receiver Marcus Henry wasn’t ...

/news/2007/sep/12/henry/

Wide receivers key to Saturday’s victory

Quarterback Reesing credits teammates with yard-gaining adjustment.

/news/2007/sep/05/football/

Football season failed to reach expectations

Jayhawks got off to a strong start, finished surprisingly low.

/news/2009/dec/08/football-season-failed-reach-expectations/

New players, new plan

A gutsy fourth-down decision by coach Mark Mangino sparked an outstanding performance ...

/news/2007/sep/04/new_players_new_plan/

Notes: Haselhorst’s status unknown

Coach Mark Mangino said junior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst had a “great ...

/news/2007/aug/28/footballnotes/

Preparation finally ready to pay off

A new offensive coordinator, starting quarterback and a few other roster changes ...

/news/2007/aug/30/MFB/

Football team anticipates first game

Team practices three hours a day, despite hot and humid weather conditions.

/news/2007/aug/13/notebook/

Despite two suspensions, show goes on

With Briscoe and Crawford off the field, Jayhawks must pick up the ...

/news/2009/apr/13/show_goes_on/

Gameday: August 30, 2008

Get ready for the game against Florida International.

/news/2008/aug/29/gameday_august_30_2008/

Mangino goes all out for win

Kansas wasn't conservative in its season-opener, going for a fourth-and-one and showcasing ...

/news/2007/sep/02/mangino_goes_all_out_win/

Briscoe ready for season after time off

Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe prepares for his return to the football field ...

/news/2009/aug/20/briscoe_ready_season_after_time/

Football Notes: Sept. 12, 2007

Here are some notes from Saturday's football game.

/news/2007/sep/12/some_notes_saturdays_football_game/

Football Notebook

Recent football news

/news/2007/aug/30/Football_notes/

Gordon garners accolades, awards

/news/2005/aug/24/gordon_profile/

Jayhawks hope to repeat 2005

Two years ago Kansas beat Iowa State 24-21. The team hopes to ...

/news/2007/nov/15/Football/

Kansas easily topples Toledo 45-13

The Jayhawks avenged last season's double-overtime loss to the Toledo Rockets with ...

/news/2007/sep/16/kansas_topples_toledo/

Talib’s leap sparks team’s takeoff

Kansas started a bit slowly during Saturday’s game against Toledo at Memorial ...

/news/2007/sep/17/Football/

Wide receiver makes a name for himself

Johnathan Wilson is eager — and ready — to shed title of ...

/news/2009/aug/24/receiver_makes_name/

Freshman wide receiver shows talent

Bradley McDougald’s fresh talent is bringing some excitement to the Kansas football ...

/news/2009/sep/02/McDougald/

Receivers look to lead Jayhawks

After Meier and Briscoe, players step out of shadow to fill in ...

/news/2010/aug/16/receivers-look-lead-jayhawks/

Jenks: Spring football game starts next season

Fans enjoy a day on the hill and players put off-season work ...

/news/2009/apr/13/spring_football/

Kansas’ double threat makes big plays

Receivers turn in big numbers using different styles.

/news/2009/oct/23/football/

Football practice sees position changes

Two starters suspended this spring; status to be reviewed this week.

/news/2009/mar/30/football/

KU Gameday: November 20, 2007.

This is the gameday info.

/news/2007/nov/20/ku_gameday_november_20_2007/

Meier’s many talents fill out the field

Playing new positions is no sweat for the senior wide reciever.

/news/2009/sep/30/meiers_many_talents_fill_out_field/

Briscoe declares for NFL draft

After consulting his mother and staff members, the wide receiver decides to ...

/news/2009/dec/07/briscoe-declares-nfl-draft/

Mangino leaves lingering questions

In a teleconference Tuesday, Coach Mangino left as many questions as he ...

/news/2009/apr/22/mangino_leaves_lingering_questions/

Catching is half the battle

Despite having one of the best receiving teams in the nation, coach ...

/news/2008/sep/16/catching/

KU plans ahead for K-State rivalry

With the Sunflower showdown only a few days away, the Jayhawks reveal ...

/news/2007/oct/04/KU/

Jayhawks’ open practice shows changes

Fan Appreciation Day presented new lineup to public.

/news/2009/aug/28/open_practice/

NEW: Football practice begins with high hopes

/news/2006/aug/06/football_practice/

Others’ trash is Kansas’ treasure

Schools such as Oklahoma and Texas looked past Kansas players Tood Reesing, ...

/news/2007/oct/26/football/

Dropped passes mean push ups for wide ...

Coach Mangino said catching passes would have to be re-emphasized and re-taught.