sportsnetwork (wr's)

[gfallscat]

Extra Point - I-AA WR's - Cream of the Crop in Atlantic 10
By Matt Dougherty, The Sports Network

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - You won’t find former I-AA stars Terrell Owens and Randy Moss on the list of Walter Payton Award winners. But you will see Villanova’s Brian Finneran.

In 1997, Finneran, now an Atlanta Falcon, became the only wide receiver to win I-AA’s highest honor. Finneran caught 96 passes for 1,389 yards and 19 touchdowns, and led the Wildcats into the playoffs. He still holds the top spot in the Villanova record books for receptions, yards and touchdown catches. Through 18 seasons, he remains the only Payton winner from a position other than quarterback or running back.

So while a few wideouts figure to receive consideration as player of the year, no one has a great chance to match Finneran’s accomplishment. But if someone does, odds are that player will come from Finneran’s old conference, the Atlantic 10.

The conference sporting the last two national champions also boasts a plethora of a talent at wide receiver. New Hampshire star David Ball was at least as instrumental as quarterback Ricky Santos for the Wildcats’ success in 2004. Cory Parks and David Boler end spectacular careers at Northeastern and Delaware, respectively, and Hofstra boasts a trio of players that could all have excellent seasons. Players like Villanova’s J.J. Outlaw and William & Mary’s Joe Nicholas could easily post big seasons and have a tough time even cracking the All-Conference team.

The always pass-happy Big Sky will give the A-10 wideouts a run for their money, especially with Eastern Washington’s Eric Kimble returning as probably the most dynamic wideout in the sub-classification. Other players from leagues around I-AA have the ability to step up individually, but no league is likely to match the depth and talent in the A-10.

Below is a look at the top 15 returning wide receivers in I-AA for the 2005 season, as selected by The Sports Network based on a variety of factors. TSN also ranks the next five on the list, with lists for the top wide receiving tandems, transfers, Mid-Major players and tight ends.

Top I-AA Wide Receivers

1. Eric Kimble, Eastern Washington (Sr., 5-10, 195) - As if Kimble’s statistics alone (83 receptions, 1453 yards, 19 TD, 17.51 ypc, 111.7 ypg) weren’t enough to separate him from the group of I-AA receivers, the senior from Tacoma, Wa., turned up his game with the season on the line. With a 6-3 record, the Eagles needed two tough wins against Cal Poly and Montana State to have a shot at a postseason berth. Kimble ate up the vaunted Cal Poly defense for nine receptions, 151 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-21 win. In the season finale against Montana State, Kimble’s heroics helped the Eagles overcome a 31-10 second-half deficit. He caught 10 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including a five-yard TD reception with 12 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. In the playoffs, his stellar stretch continued with an 11- reception, 195-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 35-31 upset win at No. 1 Southern Illinois. Kimble caught the gamewinning touchdown on a 45-yard hookup with Erik Meyer with less than two minutes to play in the game. Kimble also tallied a 165-yard, three-touchdown effort against Northern Arizona and had 110 receiving yards and two scores against Air Force. Kimble showed his diversity by averaging 17.7 yards and scoring twice as a punt returner. With an explosive offense and one of the best quarterbacks in I-AA throwing him the ball, Kimble has an excellent chance to match or surpass his numbers this year.

2. David Ball, New Hampshire (Jr., 6-3, 185) - While a redshirt freshman blossoming into a star overnight became the main story behind New Hampshire’s playoff run, Ball helped make life easy for signal-caller Ricky Santos by providing one huge effort after another. Ball hauled in 86 receptions for 1,504 yards with 17 touchdowns. He posted an impressive 17.5 ypc average and 125.3 yards per game for a Wildcats team that used the passing attack to finish 9-2 and advance to the semifinals. Ball broke out of the box with 100-yard receiving efforts as New Hampshire gained the attention of the nation with wins at Delaware and Rutgers to start the season. That was just the beginning of the success for Ball. He caught 10 passes for 204 yards and two scores in a win against Dartmouth, and followed that up with 284 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-40 victory at Villanova. At the end of the season, Ball helped solidify New Hampshire’s standing in the postseason with 123 yards and four scores against Towson and 172 yards and three touchdowns in the season finale at Maine. Ball was injured in the playoffs against Georgia Southern and missed the spring season, but is expected to return at full health in the fall. With two seasons remaining with Santos, Ball has the potential to leave his mark in the Wildcats’ record books.

3. Cory Parks, Northeastern (Sr., 5-11, 175) - With three consecutive stellar seasons as the No. 1 receiver, Parks has an opportunity to go out as the top pass-catcher in Northeastern history in 2005. Parks’ numbers last season (65 receptions, 1096 yards, 12 TD, 16.86 ypc, 99.64 ypg) were par for the course for a player that has accumulated 156 catches, 2,510 yards and 28 touchdowns and ranks second in school history in all categories. Parks scored at least one touchdown in eight of 11 contests last season, and often had huge efforts as Northeastern’s offense tried to keep the team in games despite a lackluster defense. The senior’s best stretch in 2004 came in the toughest games. Parks had 170 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime loss to William & Mary, 164 yards and three touchdowns in a win against Villanova, and double-digit receptions and 168 yards against both Maine and New Hampshire. Parks tailed off a bit at the end of last season, and must adapt to a new quarterback with the graduation of three-year starter Shawn Brady. Even with a new signal-caller, the Huskies will look for Parks often as he closes out an illustrious career.

4. Felton Huggins, Southeastern Louisiana (Sr., 6-4, 170) - Huggins was aided by an offense that could be characterized as a receiver’s dream under Hal Mumme, but the junior’s immense ability made him the go-to threat for the run- and-shoot Lions. Huggins led a talented cast of receivers with 84 receptions, 1,313 yards and 13 touchdowns, with averages of 15.6 yards per reception and 119.4 yards per game. He started the season with 266 yards in a win against Arkansas-Monticello, and though the Lions played a suspect schedule, Huggins performed just as well against the better competition. He went for 235 yards and two scores in a win over McNeese State to lift the Lions to a 2-0 start, and finished strong with 10 receptions for 157 yards in the finale against Gardner-Webb. While he did endure some lackluster performances (104 total yards against Sam Houston State, Texas State and Northern Colorado), Huggins showed enough to believe continued success is in store despite the departure of quarterback Martin Hankins and head coach Hal Mumme.

5. Devale Ellis, Hofstra (Sr., 5-11, 170) - Ellis leads an extremely talented cast of receivers for the pass-happy Pride. After an average start to the 2004 season, Ellis showed just what he’s capable of in the last four weeks. Against Richmond, Ellis racked up 168 yards and three scores in a 48-17 victory. He followed that up with eight receptions for 92 yards at Maine, and 10 catches and one score in a loss at Northeastern. But Ellis saved his best for last. While Hofstra dropped the season finale at Massachusetts, Ellis shredded the solid UMass pass defense for 16 catches, 225 yards and a score. When all was said and done, Ellis hauled in 72 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns. Those statistics came after a pedestrian start to the season with 31 catches in the first seven games. The Pride boast a dynamic receiving group, and with quarterback Anton Clarkson starting a full season Ellis will get the opportunity to show his late-season surge was no fluke.

6. Jarrett Schreck, Brown (Sr., 5-9, 180) - Brown’s quarterback play was inconsistent throughout 2004, but Schreck made it easier on the starter by taking charge as Brown’s clear go-to-guy. After a solid 42-catch, 525-yard season in 2003, Schreck exploded for 62 receptions for 1,053 yards last year. He averaged 103.5 yards per game and 16.7 yards per reception despite Brown’s reliance on the running game with Nick Hartigan. A first-team All-Ivy pick, Schreck led the Ivy League in receiving yards and his 103.5 average was good for seventh nationally. He broke out in a big way in the second game of the season with 10 receptions for 253 yards as Brown narrowly lost a 35-34 contest to eventual Ivy champion Harvard. Schreck finished the season with a bang. In a win over Yale, he tallied nine receptions and 160 yards, and followed that up with 11 catches and 140 yards against Dartmouth and 114 yards in a season- ending win against Columbia. Schreck’s only downside was finding the endzone (three touchdowns) and he did have six games with five receptions or less. Still, he had 40 more receptions than any other Bears’ receiver, and could post another big year with consistent quarterback play and 2003 All-Ivy receiver Lonnie Hill returning to take some of the pressure off.

7. Ricky Gatewood, Montana State (Sr., 6-0, 185) - Gatewood emerged as Travis Lulay’s top pass-catcher among a deep and talented group of Bobcat receivers. Gatewood’s 64 receptions, 995 yards and eight touchdowns all led the team, and he finished just shy of 100 yards receiving per game (99.5). A transfer from Contra Costa JC, Gatewood made only eight receptions in the first four games of the season before breaking loose in the second half. His strong finish began with back-to-back, nine-reception, 100-plus yard efforts in last-minute victories against Portland State and South Dakota State. Gatewood pulled in 12 receptions for 162 yards against Sacramento State, and had 146 yards receiving and two scores in a tough overtime loss to Eastern Washington. Gatewood saved his best for last with 13 receptions and 235 yards in a loss to rival Montana. With Lulay back at quarterback, MSU will go to the air often and Gatewood will get a chance to build on his second half of 2004.

8. David Boler, Delaware (Sr., 6-2, 215) - After tallying 65 receptions and 903 yards in 2004, Boler could be looked to contribute even more in Delaware’s spread offense with the loss of Justin Long. Boler was second on the Blue Hens with 65 receptions, and led the team with 903 yards despite missing two games. Boler was often hit-or-miss last year, with three games with double-digit receptions offset by five games where he caught three or less. The biggest effort came at Navy, when Boler caught a career-high 16 passes for 153 yards. He stepped up in the big games, with 10 receptions for 114 yards in a loss to James Madison and 10 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff loss to William & Mary. With three solid years behind him, Boler can stamp his name in the Delaware record books with 152 receptions and 2,108 yards in his career entering 2005.

9. Charlie Spiller, Alcorn State (Jr., 5-11, 180) - The loss of four-year starting quarterback Donald Carrie will make last season’s numbers tough to match for Spiller, but the junior receiver possess big-play ability and should still make an impact no matter who lines up behind center for the Braves. Spiller caught 50 passes for 1,111 yards and nine touchdowns in 2004, with an impressive 22.2 yards per reception. Spiller had five 100-yard receiving games in 2004, with a career-high 223 yards on eight receptions at Alabama A & M late in the season. He also had 124 yards and two scores as the Braves lost a narrow decision to Southern, and had 163 yards against Mississippi Valley State. A solid receiver on the other side (Nate Hughes) takes some off the attention away, and Spiller should be primed for another big year if the Braves get quality play behind center.

10. Kelvin Dickens, Morgan State (Sr., 6-3, 200) - Dickens could suffer from the departure of quarterback Bradshaw Littlejohn, but enters 2005 as the clear No. 1 receiver for the Bears. He averaged an impressive 21.68 yards per catch in 2004 on 47 receptions, with a team-high 1,019 yards and seven touchdowns. While he didn’t have a huge game in receptions (season-high of seven), Dickens went over the 100-yard mark six times. He had 142 yards and two touchdowns against Delaware State, and went for 147 yards in a loss to Hampton. He'll be looked to as a downfield threat again in 2005.

11. Corey Mazza, Harvard (Jr., 6-3, 205) - Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brian Edwards have departed, and Mazza becomes the focal point of the Harvard passing attack led by Liam O’Hagan. Mazza did just fine in the No. 2 role last year, and actually tied for the team lead with 51 receptions and paced the Crimson with 773 yards and seven touchdowns. Mazza posted two huge games early in the season in tight Crimson victories, with nine receptions for 140 yards in a 35-34 win at Brown and nine receptions for a career-high 194 yards and two scores to lead Harvard past Cornell, 34-24. Mazza had at least four receptions in eight of Harvard’s 10 games, and will be counted on even more in 2005 with Edwards gone.

12. Jon Talmage, Montana (Sr., 6-4, 200) - Talmage will have to pick up the slack with a depleted receiving corps for last season’s national runner-up, but the senior from Anaheim Hills, CA has all the ability to be the No. 1 guy. Talmage made an impact right away at Montana with 55 receptions for 819 yards and nine touchdowns in his freshman season in 2002. After a mediocre sophomore campaign, he posted solid numbers with 50 receptions, 689 yards and five touchdowns last year. Talmage had seven catches for 138 yards and one touchdown in a win against Idaho State, and had a strong national championship game with six catches for 84 yards in the loss to James Madison. With a history of solid production, Talmage will be an instrumental piece in helping break in Montana’s new signal-caller.

13. Eddie Gadson, Charleston Southern (So., 5-10, 175) - After an injury cut his season short after three games in 2003, Gadson quickly became Colin Drafts’ main target in his first full season last year. Gadson placed 10th in the nation with 6.9 receptions per game (69 receptions) and made nine touchdown catches with 792 yards receiving. He exploded right out of the gate, with 13 receptions and 113 yards in a loss to Presbyterian. Gadson also caught 10 balls against VMI, and had 10 receptions with 127 yards in a loss to Gardner-Webb. Gadson only finished with less than five receptions on two occasions, and should continue to produce as he teams with Drafts for two more seasons.

14. Brent Little, Southern Illinois (Sr., 6-0, 185) - With only 35 receptions in an offense built on the running game, Little was hardly counted on to take over games week after week. But when the Salukis did go to the air, the 6-0, 185-pound senior displayed his breakaway speed with 23.49 yards per catch and seven touchdowns. Little had 35 receptions for 822 yards and seven scores, and led the Salukis in all categories for the second year in a row. If the loss of starters on the offensive line causes Southern Illinois to throw more often, expect Little’s reception and yardage numbers to move up.

15. Justin Surrency, UNI (Sr., 6-0, 185) - Consistency was a problem for Surrency, but he showed potential to be a star with a pair of huge performances a year ago. Surrency pulled in nine passes for 156 yards and two scores in a loss to Stephen F. Austin early in the season. Later in the year, Surrency had career-highs in receptions and yards with 10 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-20 win against Southwest Missouri State. Surrency’s downside was five games with two receptions or less, but if he can produce the big games more often Surrency will produce a big senior season.

Next Five:

16. Charles Sullivan, Hofstra (So., 6-2, 190) - Sullivan added to Hofstra’s firepower as the top freshman in I-AA with 68 receptions, 938 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

17. Roosevelt Kiser, Florida A & M (Jr., 5-9, 160) - Kiser forms a strong duo with Ronnie Thomas, but made the bigger plays with 872 yards and eight touchdowns on 60 catches.

18. Ryan Voss, Eastern Illinois (Jr., 6-4, 195) - Voss’ 46 receptions are not overwhelming, but he went for 784 yards and 17 yards per catch.

19. J.J. Outlaw, Villanova (Sr., 5-9, 185) - Outlaw had a second consecutive 50-reception season, and upped his touchdown total from two in 2003 to seven in 2004.

20. Akilah Lacey, Idaho State (Jr., 6-3, 205) - Lacey hauled in 56 receptions and seven touchdowns in 2004, and should at least match those numbers in the wide-open Bengals' offense.

Top Wide Receiving Tandems:

1. Hofstra (Ellis, Sullivan, Marques Colston) - The Pride finished fourth in the nation in passing yardage per game a year ago, and could see those numbers go even higher with Colston returning after missing 2004 with a shoulder injury. Ellis and Sullivan both had extraordinary 2004 campaigns (see above), and if Colston comes back fully healthy he could be the most talented of the bunch. Colston enters the season with 1,859 career receiving yards on 112 receptions in his career.

2. Montana State (Gatewood, Chaz Guinn, Tramaine Murray) - Gatewood returns as the top receiver for the Bobcats, but Guinn did more than his fair share last year (51 receptions, 591 yards). Murray comes to Bozeman as a transfer from Washington State, and the former Ventura JC star should contribute immediately.

3. Southeastern Louisiana (Huggins, Hutch Gonzales, Jeffrey Howard) - Huggins is the clear star after earning third team All-American status last year, but Gonzales and Howard did their share in the Lions’ "Air Raid." Gonzales had 48 catches and four touchdowns, while Howard went for 526 yards and six scores. The trio should ease the transition of new Lions’ starter Trey Willie.

4. Alcorn State (Spiller and Nate Hughes) - Spiller and Hughes did enough last year to earn personal websites on the Braves’ home page. Spiller is the more dynamic player and better playmaker, but Hughes acquitted himself very well in 2004 with 48 catches for 781 yards.

5. Brown (Schreck, Lonnie Hill) - Schreck picked up the slack with Hill out of action last season, and the Bears’ duo of All-Ivy performers is sure to wreak some havoc this year. Schreck was among the national leaders in yards per game in 2004, and Hill had 76 receptions and ranked third nationally in receptions per game two years ago.

Transfers of Impact: 1. Nic Costa, Portland State (from Arizona) (Sr., 5-11, 195), 2. Carlos Ousley, Alabama State (from Arkansas) (Sr., 6-0, 185), 3.Tramaine Murray, Montana State (from Washington State) (Jr., 5-10, 180), 4. Eric Allen, Montana (from Oklahoma State) (So., 6-3, 205), 5. Chris Jackson, Western Kentucky (from Ohio) (Sr., 6-1, 190).

Tight Ends: 1. Daniel Fells, UC Davis (Sr., 6-3, 240), 2. Jonathan Williams, New Hampshire (Sr., 6-3, 220), 3. Corey Roberts, Sam Houston State (Sr., 6-5, 235), 4. James Mickley, Drake (Sr., 6-2, 230), 5. Chris Cash, Morgan State (Sr, 6-3, 220).

Mid-Major: 1. Miles Austin, Monmouth (Sr., 6-3, 220), 2. Chris Turner, Wagner (Jr., 6-3, 210), 3. Adam Hannula, San Diego (Sr., 6-2, 195), 4. John Zabel, LaSalle (Sr., 6-2, 182), 5. Luke Palko, St. Francis (PA) (Sr., 6-0, 180).

[wbtfg]

Transfers of Impact: 1. Nic Costa, Portland State (from Arizona) (Sr., 5-11, 195), 2. Carlos Ousley, Alabama State (from Arkansas) (Sr., 6-0, 185), 3.Tramaine Murray, Montana State (from Washington State) (Jr., 5-10, 180), 4. Eric Allen, Montana (from Oklahoma State) (So., 6-3, 205), 5. Chris Jackson, Western Kentucky (from Ohio) (Sr., 6-1, 190).

Wow...I have a feeling that Murray will be a good addition, but I had no idea he is so highly redarded outside of this message board. I think that this year's team is going to be very special.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

I see that article has Murray listed as a Junior? That isn't right is it? I thought he was coming in as a Senior (1 year left)? I hope it's 2 years though.

[WYCAT]

I see that article has Murray listed as a Junior? That isn't right is it? I thought he was coming in as a Senior (1 year left)? I hope it's 2 years though.

I think you are correct. He only has this year remaining.

[JahGriz]

I'm surprised they don't have Jordan Carey on the list with PSU. He and Costa, along with at least one returning WR who has serious wheels will put them in pretty good shape.

[Cat Grad]

And that's only three! We could list all the others, but we get the picture Gonna be special.