ISU ushers in new era at receiver
By: Bobby La Gesse
It will be hard for Iowa State to move on without Todd Blythe. He's only arguably the best wide receiver in school history. He's a tough act to follow, but someone has to do it.
And for the Cyclones, that someone is a less heralded group of receivers who hope to follow up Blythe's big-time act by moving the first down chains, just like Blythe did, and in turn, make life easier for
ISU's new crop of quarterbacks.
"We know we have to play without him, his eligibility is up and we have to step in and make plays, especially the young guys," wide receiver Marquis Hamilton said.
Probably a good deal of that pressure may fall on Hamilton.
Blythe, who holds school records for catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, was
ISU's downfield threat and end zone target the last four years. Hamilton is the Cyclone best equipped to take over that role.
Hamilton's 534 receiving yards and 11.9 yard per catch trailed only Blythe in both categories. And while Hamilton only had one touchdown catch last year, his 6-foot-3 frame is ideal for lobbing post routes to for touchdowns.
But when you talk to Hamilton he says the responsibility of replacing Blythe falls on the entire receiving corps, not just him. And wide receiver coach Jay Rogers doesn't care how
ISU goes about replacing Blythe, as long as he can find someone willing to catch the ball on Saturday's.
"We will find ways to get guys the football that can do something with it," Rodgers said. "If a guy in the spring time shows up to be a person who can really, really take the football in his hands and take it to the end zone, we will find ways to get it to him. If that's what we have to do to win football games, then that's what we are going to do."
Several Cyclones could fit that description.
R.J. Sumrall led
ISU in catches with 54 last year, two more than Blythe. He served a possession receiver in 2007 and can help the Cyclones move the chains on third down in the fall.
Incoming receivers Sedrick Johnson, a four-star Rivals.com Texas high school signee, and Jason Carlson, a junior college transfer, can use their speed to turn any catch into a game breaking play. But
ISU must wait until two-a-days to see how much the duo will add to the receiving group.
But right now, Rodgers wants to develop depth at the position. Wallace Franklin and Euseph Messiah, who saw limited action a year ago, are getting more reps while former scout team standout Jake Williams has impressed Rodgers with his ability to make big catches in team drills.
"We have some kids who are learning every day and getting better every day, but we aren't even close to where we need to be yet," Rodgers said.
He'd like to see his receivers get more yards after catches, run crisper routes and be more aggressive catching the football. If the receivers do that, they'll make the adjustment to Big 12 football a lot smoother for quarterbacks Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates.
And they'll also make the transition from the Blythe era a smooth one.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or
rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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