Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Building Depth At Outside Receiver
August 22, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Steve Spurrier Jr. fondly remembers his final season at Washington State where he and fellow wide receivers coach Dave Nichol watched nine players rack up over 500 yards receiving each.
In the Air Raid offense's first year at Mississippi State, it produced two receivers who surpassed that 500-yard threshold after the Bulldogs had been without a single 500-yard receiver since 2016. Spurrier's hope is that last season laid a foundation for his wide receivers to continue building upon in the future.
"We have confidence that we will be a better unit than we were last year," Spurrier said. "Our QB's and receivers are a little bit more on the same page."
Most of MSU's returning experience is at inside receiver, which are coached by Nichol. Spurrier only has one outside receiver – Malik Heath - that saw significant snaps for the Bulldogs last season.
"Putting the pieces together and the depth and numbers we need at that position will take a while," Spurrier said. "But we'll get there. We'll have a crew that we put on the field. We'll play eight receivers in every game and we expect to have eight that are pretty good players."
Heath, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior, started six games in 2020 and caught 37 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Spurrier anticipates that Heath will have a much bigger impact than that this fall.
"He's a guy that's got an opportunity to have a heck of a year," Spurrier said. "He's a talented young man. He's big, strong, physical, runs well, great hands and catches the ball. He's well ahead of where he was last year. I'm really looking forward to him and seeing what he can do this year."
Another receiver making waves during preseason camp is junior Makai Polk. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder transferred in from the University of California during the spring and is establishing himself as a real red zone threat for the Bulldogs.
"He is a good addition and is a smart, tough guy," Spurrier said. "He knows how to play the game and get open and catch the ball and make plays. That's what we're looking for at the Z position without a doubt."
Polk played in 14 games and earned seven starts during his two seasons at Cal. He has 36 career catches for 478 yards and three TDs and is eligible to play immediately.
Fans will now have their first opportunity to see several players who redshirted last fall including Caleb Ducking and Quinton Torbor.
At 6-foot-5, 205-pounds, Ducking certainly has enough size to create chaos for opposing secondaries attempting to cover him. He spent last season adapting to the Air Raid offense after transferring in from a run-heavy scheme at Holmes Community College.
"He's going to get an opportunity to play," Spurrier said. "Until he does anything, I'm not going to talk much about him but my expectation for Caleb is pretty good this year."
Spurrier noted that Torbor, a former four-star prospect, has really improved his pass catching skills in the offseason and will also get a chance to prove himself this year.
"We watched his high school highlight and it's pretty good," Spurrier said. "He's a talented player. He's got quick feet and his hands have gotten better. He's done well."
State also inked a trio of talented outside receivers from the high school ranks too, headlined by four-star Antonio Harmon. Harmon is a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Kosciusko that was rated the No. 4 player in Mississippi by Rivals.com.
Joining Harmon from last year's signing class are Rara Thomas and Jacobi Moore, both of whom are listed at 6-foot-2 and 200-pounds. Thomas grabbed 55 passes for 945 yards and 13 TDs during his senior year while Moore made 43 receptions for 831 yards and 10 scores despite missing four games due to injury.
Thomas caught three balls for 47 yards during the Bulldogs' second preseason scrimmage.
"He's been doing some good things in practice and slowly emerging," said head coach Mike Leach. "It was good to see him have a good day (last Saturday). He's starting to put together a little more consistency with what we see him do."
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In the Air Raid offense's first year at Mississippi State, it produced two receivers who surpassed that 500-yard threshold after the Bulldogs had been without a single 500-yard receiver since 2016. Spurrier's hope is that last season laid a foundation for his wide receivers to continue building upon in the future.
"We have confidence that we will be a better unit than we were last year," Spurrier said. "Our QB's and receivers are a little bit more on the same page."
Most of MSU's returning experience is at inside receiver, which are coached by Nichol. Spurrier only has one outside receiver – Malik Heath - that saw significant snaps for the Bulldogs last season.
"Putting the pieces together and the depth and numbers we need at that position will take a while," Spurrier said. "But we'll get there. We'll have a crew that we put on the field. We'll play eight receivers in every game and we expect to have eight that are pretty good players."
Heath, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior, started six games in 2020 and caught 37 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. Spurrier anticipates that Heath will have a much bigger impact than that this fall.
"He's a guy that's got an opportunity to have a heck of a year," Spurrier said. "He's a talented young man. He's big, strong, physical, runs well, great hands and catches the ball. He's well ahead of where he was last year. I'm really looking forward to him and seeing what he can do this year."
Another receiver making waves during preseason camp is junior Makai Polk. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder transferred in from the University of California during the spring and is establishing himself as a real red zone threat for the Bulldogs.
"He is a good addition and is a smart, tough guy," Spurrier said. "He knows how to play the game and get open and catch the ball and make plays. That's what we're looking for at the Z position without a doubt."
Polk played in 14 games and earned seven starts during his two seasons at Cal. He has 36 career catches for 478 yards and three TDs and is eligible to play immediately.
Fans will now have their first opportunity to see several players who redshirted last fall including Caleb Ducking and Quinton Torbor.
At 6-foot-5, 205-pounds, Ducking certainly has enough size to create chaos for opposing secondaries attempting to cover him. He spent last season adapting to the Air Raid offense after transferring in from a run-heavy scheme at Holmes Community College.
"He's going to get an opportunity to play," Spurrier said. "Until he does anything, I'm not going to talk much about him but my expectation for Caleb is pretty good this year."
Spurrier noted that Torbor, a former four-star prospect, has really improved his pass catching skills in the offseason and will also get a chance to prove himself this year.
"We watched his high school highlight and it's pretty good," Spurrier said. "He's a talented player. He's got quick feet and his hands have gotten better. He's done well."
State also inked a trio of talented outside receivers from the high school ranks too, headlined by four-star Antonio Harmon. Harmon is a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Kosciusko that was rated the No. 4 player in Mississippi by Rivals.com.
Joining Harmon from last year's signing class are Rara Thomas and Jacobi Moore, both of whom are listed at 6-foot-2 and 200-pounds. Thomas grabbed 55 passes for 945 yards and 13 TDs during his senior year while Moore made 43 receptions for 831 yards and 10 scores despite missing four games due to injury.
Thomas caught three balls for 47 yards during the Bulldogs' second preseason scrimmage.
"He's been doing some good things in practice and slowly emerging," said head coach Mike Leach. "It was good to see him have a good day (last Saturday). He's starting to put together a little more consistency with what we see him do."
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