Sping Football Preview Part IV - The Wide Receivers
Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 04/03/2009

Wide Receivers

The question that everyone will ask is how does North Texas replace the 224 catches that Casey Fitzgerald had over the past two years. The answer is, by committee. There is no doubt that the extraordinary mark that Fitzgerald left on the North Texas record books may never be repeated, but Todd Dodge is even more excited about the potential of this group of wide receivers than he has been since he took over.

Unquestionably, Fitzgerald was the main target in the passing game the past two years. This year, the coaches believe, the attack will be much more balanced with legitimate weapons spread across the field. Spring practice has served as a familiarization period for the new faces among the wide receiving corps and a chance for the coaches to get a jump on developing depth for the fall.

The four receivers currently working with the first team are all learning a new system. Sam Roberson is the only returning player that is currently in the first team set, but he has been moved from outside to inside receiver. He had 12 catches for 76 yards with no touchdowns while trying to find his way last year as a freshman.

Transfers Jamaal Jackson, Michael Outlaw and Tyler Stradford all emerged very quickly as talented pickups and finished the spring season in the starting lineup. Jackson is an inside receiver that has quickness and elusiveness that has not been seen by Mean Green fans in some time. He has the ability to make defenders miss in open space, which he has done to his teammates several times in practice this spring.

Outlaw and Stradford have been working with the first unit as outside receivers and have made an immediate impression on the coaches. Outlaw has great hands and has shown an ability to get open deep while Stradford is a tall target with impressive jumping ability. The two outside targets will give North Texas the ability to stretch the field vertically more than it has any time in recent history. Along with Roberson, the only returning wide receivers that have any statistics are Alex Lott, Kevin Dickerson and Breece Johnson.

Lott was a part-time starter as a sophomore last year, finishing third on the team with 26 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He spent all of spring practice on the sideline while rehabbing an injury. Lott is expected push the inside receivers for a starting spot when fall practice arrives. Dickerson is another inside receiver who should be in the two-deep after having 21 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown as a junior last year.

Johnson is an outside receiver who will be in the rotation, but is expected to backup Outlaw. He had seven catches for 60 yards as a sophomore in 2008. The coaches are also excited about the return of B.J. Lewis who played extensively as a freshman in 2007 but then suffered an injury and missed the final nine games of the 2008 season.

Lewis is expected to receive a medical redshirt and will have three years of service left, where he will be very impactful as an outside receiver. Jamel Jackson and Willie Taylor will also add depth at inside receiver while newcomer Bennie Jones has looked good at outside receiver during spring practice.

(04-03-2009 11:47 AM)MeanGreen61 Wrote:  Sping Football Preview Part IV - The Wide Receivers
Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 04/03/2009

Wide Receivers

The question that everyone will ask is how does North Texas replace the 224 catches that Casey Fitzgerald had over the past two years. The answer is, by committee. There is no doubt that the extraordinary mark that Fitzgerald left on the North Texas record books may never be repeated, but Todd Dodge is even more excited about the potential of this group of wide receivers than he has been since he took over.

Unquestionably, Fitzgerald was the main target in the passing game the past two years. This year, the coaches believe, the attack will be much more balanced with legitimate weapons spread across the field. Spring practice has served as a familiarization period for the new faces among the wide receiving corps and a chance for the coaches to get a jump on developing depth for the fall.

The four receivers currently working with the first team are all learning a new system. Sam Roberson is the only returning player that is currently in the first team set, but he has been moved from outside to inside receiver. He had 12 catches for 76 yards with no touchdowns while trying to find his way last year as a freshman.

Transfers Jamaal Jackson, Michael Outlaw and Tyler Stradford all emerged very quickly as talented pickups and finished the spring season in the starting lineup. Jackson is an inside receiver that has quickness and elusiveness that has not been seen by Mean Green fans in some time. He has the ability to make defenders miss in open space, which he has done to his teammates several times in practice this spring.

Outlaw and Stradford have been working with the first unit as outside receivers and have made an immediate impression on the coaches. Outlaw has great hands and has shown an ability to get open deep while Stradford is a tall target with impressive jumping ability. The two outside targets will give North Texas the ability to stretch the field vertically more than it has any time in recent history. Along with Roberson, the only returning wide receivers that have any statistics are Alex Lott, Kevin Dickerson and Breece Johnson.

Lott was a part-time starter as a sophomore last year, finishing third on the team with 26 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He spent all of spring practice on the sideline while rehabbing an injury. Lott is expected push the inside receivers for a starting spot when fall practice arrives. Dickerson is another inside receiver who should be in the two-deep after having 21 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown as a junior last year.

Johnson is an outside receiver who will be in the rotation, but is expected to backup Outlaw. He had seven catches for 60 yards as a sophomore in 2008. The coaches are also excited about the return of B.J. Lewis who played extensively as a freshman in 2007 but then suffered an injury and missed the final nine games of the 2008 season.

Lewis is expected to receive a medical redshirt and will have three years of service left, where he will be very impactful as an outside receiver. Jamel Jackson and Willie Taylor will also add depth at inside receiver while newcomer Bennie Jones has looked good at outside receiver during spring practice.

Good stuff, hope it pays off.

Yes, this is a good story and good stuff, but does not tell the whole story regarding the WR positions this upcoming season. Here are a few more notes about the WR corps-

Speed. Jamaal Jackson, Mike Outlaw, Tyler Stradford, and another WR with a simular name, Jamel Jackson, all are true 4.4 guys.

WR Tyler Stradford, 6-2,176,4.4, is the Oklahoma transfer. Tyler is a very good WR, deep ball treat. NT will have Tyler for 3 more years. Tyler
was a multi star Rivals prospect out of New Orleans.

2 WR's coming off '08 R/S year, are Kenny Barrett, 6-2, 195, state 200
meter champ, #8 ranked WR in TX, national ESPN rank at 174. Letter
in FB, BB, and track. Desmond Brigham, 6-1, 176, All state class 2A,
Associated Press all state,lettered in FB,BB, track. Texas top 20 WR.
Both of these WR's will play in 09.

WR Breece Johnson, 6-0, 175 played as a true freshman in 07, and had a bigger role in 08. Johnson was AP First Team Class 5A, Texas All State,
and a load of other honors. His problem was Casey Fitzgerald was ahead of him, and Casey received most all the playing time. Now it is Johnson's turn. Johnson plays both WO and Slot receiver positions.

WR B.J. Lewis, 6-1,195 was a all state WR and CB in HS. Lewis played WR as a true freshman in 07,played CB in 08, and returns to WR in 09.
Lewis is another speed receiver that will play WO and slot.

Offense feature- NT will have single and double TE sets in 09. First-
WR Sam Roberson, 6-4, 217, R/S in 07, played WO in 08, has grown into
a TE. Sam is in the 230 range now. Sam will play TE and Slot Receiver.
LB to TE, Bryant Seidle, 6-3, 230 had a good year at TE LY, but with
a limited roll. Seidle and Roberson will have expanded roles in the 09 offense. Incomming freshman, Austin Fitzpatrick, 6-3, 220, a all state
TE, was recruited to play TE only, will play in 09 too.

The NT receiving corps will be a very good group for the 09 season.

(04-03-2009 01:42 PM)Charlie NT73 Wrote:  The NT receiving corps will be a very good group for the 09 season.

The D-Line will be a good group.

The thin, inexperienced QB corps will be a good group.

The WRs will be a good group.

Indulge my curiosity- Do you see ANY weaknesses on this squad besides punter? Unless, of course, that's going to be a strength as well.

Long snapper