2010 BYU Preview: Wide Receivers

BYU approaches the upcoming football season with an abundance of riches at wide receiver.

The Cougars return all four members from last year's primary rotation and add a promising star to the mix in 2010.

Don’t be surprised to see the receivers play a bigger role this year, seeing as the Cougars also start the season with freshmen attempts to replace Dennis Pitta and Andrew George at tight end.

Cougar fans are likely to see more three, and even four receiver sets.

Here’s how things break down at wide receiver.

I selected McKay Jacobson (5'11", 189 lbs. Jr.) as a preseason first-team All-MWC receiver because I expect him to have a monster year in 2010.

Look for Jacobson to see significant time in the slot matched up with opposing safeties, as the Cougars seek to exploit McKay’s speed more this season.

Fresh from his mission in 2009, Jacobson caught 23 passes for 556 yards, and scored four touchdowns. However, as is often the case for returned missionaries in their first year back, McKay struggled with injury. He suffered a pulled hamstring that slowed him up and forced him to miss four games.

This year Jacobson enters fall camp in top form and ready to take his game to the next level. He has been working hard in the offseason with the new quarterbacks. Rumor has it, he has formed a particularly strong bond with Jake Heaps at the player workouts this summer.

Another receiver that is poised to lift his game in 2010 is O’Neill Chambers (6'2", 210 lbs. Jr . ). Last season Chambers pulled in 32 receptions, which is good for second on the team behind Dennis Pitta. He tallied 376 yards and one touchdown receiving, while adding 618 yards in punt and kick returns. This included a MWC record 97-yard punt return against UNLV.

News from the summer workouts also indicate that Chambers has been working on plays that will make him more effective this year and that will allow him to maximize his size and strength advantage on opposing corners.

He may also be relieved from return duties depending on how some of the newcomers perform in that role. This should allow him to more readily concentrate on his receiving duties. Don’t be surprised to see Chambers bust out this season.

Ross Apo (6'5", 200 lbs. Fr.) is a star that BYU won't be able to keep under wraps. He has put on a show in player workouts and the reports say that defenders have had no answer for him this summer. He has demonstrated excellent speed, great route running, sticky hands, and an uncanny ability to go up over any defender to get the ball.

I thought that perhaps Apo would be a candidate to redshirt this year, as a result of an offseason shoulder surgery.

I was dead wrong.

In fact, don’t be surprised to see Ross on the field a lot this season. His shoulder is reportedly 100 percent, and despite being a true freshman, he appears to be too much of a talent to keep on the sideline.

It's also worth noting that Apo and Heaps have built a chemistry over the past couple of years at camps, and that has continued to develop this summer. If  Heaps wins the quarterback battle, Apo could see more time on the field.

Cougar fans, think about Apo and Chambers playing wide with Jacobson in the slot. Then throw in JJ and/or Juice in the backfield and this offense could be fun to watch.

Luke Ashworth (6'2", 196 lbs. Sr.) brings his steady play and senior leadership to the table this season. Last year, Luke caught 28 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns—all career highs. Look for him to continue his role as a significant contributor in the receiving rotation, building on last year's success.

Spencer Hafoka (6'0", 196 lbs. Jr.) bounced back from what appeared to be a career ending sickness to make a solid contribution in 2009, including making four starts for the injured Jacobson. As a sophomore Spencer caught 16 passes, one for a touchdown. It will be interesting to see the strides Spencer makes as a receiver with healthy spring and fall camps under his belt.

Another intriguing addition to the receiver corp this year is redshirt freshman Cody Hoffman (6'4", 200 lbs. Fr.) . Hoffman certainly passes the "eyeball test" and it will be interesting to see if that translates to the field. Hoffman played at a smaller school in California and came to BYU last year as a raw player with a lot of upside.

JD Falslev (5'8", 173 lbs. Fr.) also redshirted last year after walking onto the program. He demonstrated promise and turned coaches' heads as a return man last year on the practice field. He may get his chance to show it on the playing field this year. He’s also an interesting prospect as a receiver in the slot.

Jordan Smith (6'4", 190 lbs. Fr.) is another receiver with good size who returns to the program in 2010. The former Spanish Fork High star is back from his mission in time for fall camp. Jordan redshirted in 2007.