CU position preview: Buffs loaded with talent at receiver

When the topic of the Colorado receiving corps came up during a current interview freshman quarterback JuJu Lewis was matter-of-fact in his assessment Elite Elite Elite he stated CU s top four receivers from last year are now in the NFL including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter yet Lewis has plenty of reason to tout the group of pass catchers in Boulder this year Leading up to preseason camp which opens July BuffZone com will preview each position group for the CU football unit and in this installment we look at the receivers and tight ends Last year Hunter and LaJohntay Wester formed the the bulk prolific duo in CU history racking up catches for yards and touchdowns Jimmy Horn Jr and Will Sheppard were exceptional as well combining for catches yards and seven TDs The group in Boulder this year is not as accomplished but it is exceptionally talented Now you got to understand they re replacing specific dawgs that all of them all four of them will be in a professional camp from a year ago CU head coach Deion Sanders revealed But these young men are unbelievable I can t wait until the world gets a glimpse of these receivers The group might be led by Drelon Miller and Omarion Miller no relation who have both flashed their star prospective as Buffs Colorado receiver Drelon Miller looks for extra yards after making a catch against Utah on Nov at Folsom Field in Boulder Colo CU Athletics People saw what Omarion Miller did before he got hurt Lewis noted I mean he came out went crazy Then we got Drelon Miller people saw flashes of Drelon last year I mean we know what that is Drelon Miller was fifth on the squad in receptions and receiving yards last year as a true freshman while finishing fourth in TDs three He can also line up in the backfield and had four rushing attempts last year Omarion Miller has had a couple of spectacular games in his career but has yet to show consistency because he s been behind talented veterans and battled certain injuries As a freshman in injuries forced him into action during a competition against USC and he caught seven passes for yards and a touchdown all during the second half but had just four catches the rest of the year Last year he had a clutch -yard touchdown reception in a achievement against Baylor and two games later hauled in eight passes for yards against Kansas State but suffered a season-ending injury that night missing the last seven games Senior Terrell Timmons Jr sophomore Isaiah Hardge and redshirt freshman Kam Mikell are also returning players with great feasible to play big roles Newcomers will make an impact too Sophomore Joseph Williams catches for yards five TD was the AAC freshman of the year at Tulsa last year while senior Sincere Brown catches for yards TD had a breakout year at Campbell Junior Hykeem Williams catches for yards TD is a former five-star recruit looking to bust loose after two years at Florida State Senior Jack Hestera returns to CU after playing as a walk-on for the Buffs in He had receptions at Charlotte in and at Utah State last year True freshmen Quanell Farrakhan Jr and Quentin Gibson could be tough to keep off the field too Gibson was the MaxPreps national player of the year in after putting up insane numbers at North Crowley Texas High School catches for yards and touchdowns Farrakhan was a four-star recruit from North Shore Texas High School I mean it s too multiple to list almost Lewis announced of the talent in the room At tight end Sav ell Smalls returns while the Buffs added Zach Atkins from Northwest Missouri State He might be the bulk talented tight end CU s had in Sanders three seasons in Boulder Zach has a freakish build Lewis mentioned He looks like an SEC tight end Overall it s a group that isn t getting a lot of attention in the preseason because the proven production isn t there But it s a group the Buffs are excited about coming into this season We have a few youngsters from freshmen on up that can flat-out go get it and I m proud of our recruits our coaches Sanders declared I m proud of what we ve brought into Boulder Colorado WR Joseph Williams before the CU Football Spring contest at Folsom Field on April Cliff Grassmick Staff Photographer Position Receivers tight ends Related Articles CSU Rams open MWC play look to retain Bronze Boot in middle four games Renck File CU s Deion Sanders wants salary cap but what college sports really need is CBA CSU Rams first four games feature three contests at Canvas After starring at Liberty Kaidon Salter excited for opportunity to compete with CU Buffs Northern Colorado football picked last in Big Sky Conference polls Montana State slotted to defend title Receivers Returners with starts Terrell Timmons Jr - Sr starts Drelon Miller - So starts Other returners Isaiah Hardge - So Kam Mikell - R-Fr Omarion Miller - Jr Tagert Bardin - So walk-on Ronald Coleman - So walk-on Gavin Marsh - So walk-on Kaleb Mathis - So walk-on Carson Westbrook - R-Fr walk-on Transfers Sincere Brown - Sr Campbell Jack Hestera - Sr Utah State Hykeem Williams - Jr Florida State Joseph Williams - So Tulsa True freshmen Quanell Farrakhan Jr - Fr Quentin Gibson - Fr Key losses Jimmy Horn Jr graduated Travis Hunter graduated Will Sheppard graduated LaJohntay Wester graduated Tight ends Returners with starts Sav ell Smalls - Sr start Other returners Brady Kopetz - Jr walk-on Charlie Williams - So walk-on Transfers Zach Atkins - Jr Northwest Missouri State True freshmen Zayne DeSouza - Fr Corbin Laisure - Fr Key losses Morgan Pearson transferred to Central Missouri Want more sports news Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver s teams