They both come out of Dallas, they play the same position and their stats gravitate closer each week.

These days, sophomore wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Michael Crabtree are looking more like equals than an upstart and the king of his position.

Crabtree still edges Briscoe in every catching category except yards per reception (Crabtree: 14.2, Briscoe 16.4) but the margins have grown smaller. A big reason for that is Briscoe’s 269-yard, two-touchdown performance in last week’s 45-31 loss.

“It would have meant a whole lot more if we would have won,” Briscoe said.

Crabtree re-wrote the NCAA record books last year with 134 catches for 1,962 and 22 touchdowns, all freshman records. Kansas didn’t play against the freshman phenom last year, but Briscoe said he was always aware of Crabtree’s production.

“I paid attention to him a lot,” Briscoe said. “As a receiver, you always give props to other receivers who are in your conference that do well. He did phenomenal last year.”

Two Kansas players, freshmen Jeremiah Hatch and Lubbock Smith, went to the same high school as Crabtree, Dallas Carter. Briscoe said those two filled him in on Crabtree’s high school exploits.

Coach Mark Mangino could have done the same, as Kansas made a scholarship offer to Crabtree.

“I watched him play one time in practice during spring, and as soon as I saw him I said we have to offer him,” Mangino said. “He made some moves that you don’t see everywhere.”

All in all, Mangino’s Dallas receiver has turned out pretty well, too. Starting as a true freshman last season, Briscoe caught 43 passes for 496 yards and seven touchdowns.

In addition to last week’s performance, Briscoe has two games with more than 120 yards receiving and another with three touchdowns.

However, he has also had a few less-than-stellar outings. In games against South Florida and Iowa State, he combined for 5 catches, 58 yards and no touchdowns.

“Dezmon has shown some signs of being a really good player,” Mangino said. “But Dezmon has to develop consistency and play at that high level every week. Crabtree plays at a high level every week. He understands it, and I think Dezmon is starting to understand that.”

Briscoe said that there were similarities between the two but he didn’t compare himself to Crabtree now.

“He’s already proven himself and I’m still trying to get to his level,” Briscoe said. “I can’t really put myself at his caliber right now.”

Briscoe said he would be ready to put himself with Crabtree if he out-duelled his counterpart in Saturday’s homecoming game. The receiving gauntlet has been thrown down and the underdog seems ready for the fight.

“I like accepting challenges,” Briscoe said. “For me to try to match his game, it should be fun.”

— - Edited by Brenna Hawley