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On a personal note, Yesterday was my 33rd birthday

As we move to the next part in our position previews, we look at the wide receivers:

CHarleston Southern

Nathan Perera 28 Catches 398 Yards 2 TD
Colton Korn 27 Catches 326 1 TD
Kenny Dinkins 13 Catches 177 2 TD

Perera returned after missing most of 2013 due to injury and led the way for the Bucs, but the best way to describe the receiving numbers down in North Charleston, is with the phrase, "spread the love". 4 different wideouts caught a TD pass in 2014, and in sum, 14 players caught at least one pass. Larry Jones III returns as well, after not logging a catch all last season (was he out due to injury bucs90? what's the story there?) so look for NP to be the leader among the group, but I expect to see a lot of love spread around among the receivers, TEs and backs once again

Coastal Carolina

Bruce Mapp 71 Catches 959 Yards 6 TDs (2014 Big South All COnference Second Team)
Tyrell Blanks 52 Catches 646 Yards 4 TDs
John Israel 46 Catches 798 Yards 6 TDs (2014 Big South All Conference Second Team)

CCU QB Alex Ross gets an early gift this year, as all three of his top targets from last season return, including Mapp and Israel who both made all conference. It will likely come down to those two plus Darrin Peterson for first team all conference (more on him later). The Chants are deep at the position, as they also return Devin Brown, Chris Jones, Trey Gattison and should get plenty of contributions across the unit.

Gardner-Webb

Kalay Jones 15 Catches 173 Yards 0 TDs
Willie Jackson IV 11 Catches 104 Yards 0 TDs
Jacob Henderson 10 Catches 68 Yards 0 TDs

The theme continues across the skill positions for the Runnin Bulldogs, as there is a ton of youth in the receiving corps as GWU loses 101 Catches 1758 Yards and 8 TDs with the graduations of all conference wideout Kenny Cook and fellow WR Deonte Swinton. Jones, a sophomore will be tasked with leading this group of pups and take some of the pressure off the QBs and the RBs

Kennesaw State
Prentice Stone
Tremayne Trawick
Justin Sumpter

The Owls will need productions from the WRs to help the passing game and take some of the heat off the QBs and RBs, led by elder statesman Stone.

Liberty
Darrin "Petey" Peterson 85 Catches 1379 Yards 12 TDs (Big South All Conference First Team)
Dante Shells 25 Catches 560 Yards 3 TDs
Dakota Kelly 4 Catches 41 Yards

Peterson is the man in this group, plain and simple. As he goes, so goes the rest of the unit. I would not be shocked if he is getting some pro looks heading into this year.

The guy to watch in this group is probably Dakota Kelly. The younger brother of former Flames standout Pat Kelly will get a chance to begin laying his legacy at the slot position, as well as kick returner

Monmouth

Darren Ambush 23 Catches 327 Yards 3 TDs
Matt Choi 11 Catches 101 Yards 0 TDs
Romeo Harris 5 Catches 34 Yards 0 TDs

The Hawks lose All-Conference receiver Neal Sterling (drafted by the Jaguars), so it will be up to juniors Ambush, Choi and Harris and 5th year senior Pat Gray to lead the way and give the new Hawks starting QB plenty of targets at his disposal.

Presbyterian
Jordan Hallums 24 Catches 238 Yards 1 TD
Daryl Wilson 9 Catches 158 Yards 2 TDs
Devron Glenn 6 Catches 49 Yards 0 TDs

The Blue Hose also lose a standout receiver in Tobi Antigha, but they do bring back the experienced Hallums as well as vertical threat in Wilson. This is a very experienced group in general, even though they don't have a ton of big numbers, so as long as the O-Line (more on them in a couple weeks) keeps Griffin or Garrick upright, there definitely should be some improvement from this group

Rankings

1. Darrin Peterson, LU
2. Bruce Mapp, CCU
3. Nathan Perera, CSU
4. Darren AMbush, OC
5. Dante Shells, LU
6. Jordan Hallums, OC
7. Tyrell Blanks, CCU
8. Kalay Jones, GWU
9. John Israel, CCU
10. Prentice Stone, KSU

Regarding CSU:

“Willie Korn helped a wide receivers group that was significantly impacted by injury in 2014. Season-ending injuries to leading receivers Kevin Glears and Larry Jones prior to the year…”

Both Glears & Jones were injured prior to and never saw action in 2014. Additionally, Colton (11) broke his hand in fall camp and missed the first couple games. Also, lost another WR in Sept…

Bottom line CSU was hurting all year at the WR position. Assuming all start the season healthy, it should be a GREAT improvement!

Thanks for the insight 33...I was really impressed with Jones as a freshman so Im curious how he does after a year off due to his injury. Will he have the same explosiveness that led to all-conference honors and give CSU another vertical threat that teams will have to game plan for as the season progresses?

With Glears and Jones back along with the returning WRs (Perera, Korn, and Dinkins), veteran QB Austin Brown will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Glears played a major role in Charleston Southern's win at App State two years ago.

Glears and Jones stats from 2013...

Glears - 13 Games - 31 REC - 456 YDS - 14.7 AVG - 6 TD - 64 YDS Longest
Jones - 11 Games - 25 REC - 380 YDS - 15.2 AVG - 2 TD - 49 YDS Longest

As you mentioned, Ross gets all his main weapons back this year which should put the fear of God into most defenses. IMO, we do not have one "do everything" WR like Peterson, we just have a lot of very good WRs who know their roles. Last year surprised me with how well and quickly the WRs developed timing with Ross. I am very excited to see how they do this year. I am wondering if the timing might be a little off with Ross having the shoulder surgery after the NoDakSt game last year.