RSS
Home
Breaking down the Big Ten: wide receivers and tight ends
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
We continue our breakdown of the Big Ten units by examining wide receivers and tight ends, two areas where the conference is poised to shine this upcoming season. The Big Ten is traditionally strong in the receiving game, particularly at tight end, but national misconceptions regarding the conference’s athleticism means its top receivers do not at times receive the recognition they deserve.
That shouldn’t be the case in 2009. Set to return are Arrelious Benn of Illinois and Eric Decker of Minnesota (Decker might forgo his senior season to pursue a professional baseball career, but we assume he returns), two undisputed primetime players who will make a legitimate push for the Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation’s top receiver) if they can remain healthy.
Big Ten Receiver/Tight End Rankings:
1. Illinois
2. Minnesota
3. Michigan State
4. Wisconsin
5. Iowa
Illinois (Grade: A)
Arrelious Benn stepped on campus two seasons ago and instantly became one of the league’s premier receivers. Simply put, he is quite the physical specimen, boasting a muscular 6-2, 215-pound frame that’s more reminiscent of a seasoned NFL Pro Bowler than a collegiate star who cannot legally buy a beer until September. As quarterback Juice Williams’ go-to guy, Benn has snared 121 balls for 1,731 yards over the last two seasons. His only statistical shortcoming is the number of touchdowns - he’s only caught five in his career – but that should change this season, which most assume will be his last at the college level.
Lining up on the opposite side of the field once again will be senior Jeff Cumberland, a beastly receiver whose measurements never cease to amaze. At 6-5, 255 pounds, Cumberland is garnering attention from NFL scouts as a potential tight end. Cumberland won’t outrun many defensive backs, but he can certainly run through them. He’s caught 48 balls for 827 yards and eight TDs in his career.
Fighting Illini fans could be pleased with two newcomers who look to make immediate impacts this season. Incoming freshman Terry Hawthorne (East Saint Louis, Ill.), is a 6-1, 185-pound receiver with 4.5-type speed, and Florida transfer Jarred Fayson (6-0, 215) burns with a 4.4-type speed, and looks to put his past issues behind and become big contributor in 2009.
Minnesota (Grade: A)
Senior Eric Decker enters his final season as one of the most prolific wide receivers in Big Ten history, having already caught 177 passes for 2,361 yards and 19 touchdowns. Having already passed up the NFL following last season, Decker now must decide whether he will bypass a professional baseball career to return to the Gophers for his final season of eligibility. Should he return, which most expect him to do, then he will join with quarterback Adam Weber to form one of the most feared 1-2 passing combinations in the league. Needless to say, opposing Big Ten teams are hoping he goes the baseball route.
Minnesota lost its tight end and second leading receiver, Jack Simmons, to graduation, but expect the Golden Gophers’ passing game to be almost entirely wide receiver-oriented in 2009. Aside from returning No. 2 and 3 receivers, senior Ben Kuzni (6-0, 186) and sophomore Brandon Green (6-1, 180), Minnesota adds two incoming receivers who should immediately compete for playing time.
JUCO transfer Hayo Carpenter (5-11, 175) is a burner with 4.3-speed who was the top-ranked junior college wide receiver in America last season. Joining him in Minnesota’s 2009 recruiting class was Bryant Allen (Maplewood, MO), a 6-foot, 165-pound speedster who could see the field as a true freshman.
Michigan State (B+)
The Spartans and Badgers are essentially neck-and-neck in the receiving game, but the former gets the nod here because stronger quarterback play in East Lansing will equal better on-field performance by this group in 2009. Michigan State returns its top four receivers from last season, which should soften the blow to an offense that loses All-Big Ten running back Javon Ringer.
Mark Dell put up solid numbers during his sophomore season and enters 2009 as Michigan State’s top receiver. At 6-2, 188 pounds, the junior will be contemplating a jump to the NFL at the end of the year if his production increases yet again. After snagging 20 balls for 220 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman, Dell had 36 catches for 679 yards and three TDs last season.
Blair White (6-2, 200) should also have another highly productive season for the Spartans, after catching 43 balls for 659 yards and a touchdown a season ago. The same can be said about B.J. Cunningham (6-2, 205), who caught an astounding 41 passes for 528 yards during his first season. Starting at tight end will be Charlie Gantt, a 6-foot-4, 252-pound target who caught 19 passes for 302 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2008.
Wisconsin (Grade: B+)
Wisconsin enters 2009 with a receiving core that features the top tight end in the conference. Expected to be overshadowed by Travis Beckum last season, Garrett Graham assumed the starting role when Beckum broke his leg in October. At 6-4, 237 pounds, Graham is now piquing the interest of NFL scouts, coming off a season in which he caught 40 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns.
Although much of the passing game in Wisconsin’s run-first offense will go through Graham, the Badgers still have a legitimate downfield threat in David Gilreath (5-11, 165). Recognized first as a lethal weapon on special teams, Gilreath is no slouch in the passing game, as he snared 31 balls for 520 yards and three TDs a season ago.
Wisconsin fans are anticipating a breakout season from sophomore Nick Toon, whose father Al is a former standout receiver for Wisconsin and the New York Jets. At 6-3, 214 pounds, Toon is a full-size receiver with good hands and football instincts. After seeing little playing time in the first 8 weeks of the season, Toon became a big part of the passing game once Beckum was lost to injury, finishing the season with 17 catches, 257 yards and one touchdown.
Iowa (Grade: B)
Iowa loses first team All-Big Ten tight end Brandon Myers and wide receiver Andy Brodell, but second-year starting quarterback Rick Stanzi will have a cornucopia of capable targets in 2009.
Leading receiver Darrell Johnson-Koulianos (6-1, 205) has the natural talent to be in the class of Benn and Decker, but a propensity for disappearing often compromises his production. Catching 82 passes for 1,121 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons normally means a player is maximizing his potential, but consider that DJK caught seven passes for 181 yards and one touchdown in Iowa’s final regular season game (a 55-0 throttling of Minnesota), only to make one catch for 18 yards in Iowa’s 31-10 win over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, and his inconsistency is distinctly highlighted.
Replacing Myers will be senior Tony Moeaki (6-4, 255), a highly talented player whose career has been unfortunately plagued by injuries. Iowa’s aerial attack could be the envy of the league if Moeaki stays healthy all season, but Allen Reisner (6-3, 235) is a capable backup should Moeaki land in the training room yet again.
Iowa has a litany of contenders for the other wide receiver spot. Senior Trey Stross (6-3, 200) enters pre-season camp as the favorite to start opposite DJK, but junior Colin Sandeman (6-1, 200) and sophomore Marvin McNutt (6-4, 210) will challenge him for playing time. McNutt, who moves to wide receiver from quarterback, has the right build, demeanor and hands to become an all-conference caliber player.
Also vying for playing time this season will be junior track star Paul Chaney Jr. and incoming freshmen Stephane Ngoumou (6-4, 210, Rockville, MD) and Keenan Davis (6-3, 195, Cedar Rapids, IA).
Note: This is part one of a two-part look at the Big Ten wide receiver and tight end positions.
