Clearing the air
As the football careers of Eastern Washington University stalwarts Eric Kimble, Raul Vijil, Craig McIntyre and Richmond Sanders drew to a close last fall, wide receivers coach Keith Murphy wasn’t panicked.
“It helps when every two or three weeks a receiver was winning scout team player of the week,” he said. “You’re thinking, ‘OK, we’re not going to be so bad.’ It was comforting when Tony Davis was named scout team player of the year. We definitely had something to work with.”
When practice started last week, the only numbers Murphy had to work with were 27 catches, 378 yards and two touchdowns – all belonging to junior Tyler Coleman.
To replace 503 career receptions, 7,858 yards and 74 touchdowns Murphy has eight other receivers at his disposal: seniors Charles Searcy, a converted cornerback, and Brandon Nicholson, out two years with injuries; junior college transfer Shane Eller; redshirt freshmen Davis, Aaron Boyce, Nick Ramos and Brynsen Brown; and true freshman Jesse Hoffman, an impressive running back who switched positions less than a week ago.
The new receiving corps has a mix of size, strength, speed, hands, feel and tremendous athletic ability.
“I’m pretty confident we have the whole array of talent,” Murphy said. “A few years ago we had three or four guys with those (various) qualities. This whole group has that. One thing with this group is they’re all football junkies, locker room rats, whatever you want to call them. I can’t remember a day when I haven’t seen three or four of them in the locker room. They all love football.”
What’s lacking is experience and the identity of at least one playmaker in the mold of Kimble, a two-time All-American.
“We’re looking pretty good,” Coleman said. “We’re young, but everybody’s working hard every day to get better. … We have size, speed – a lot of different qualities you need in a receiving corps.”
If the Eagles were playing Oregon State today instead of in two weeks, Coleman, Searcy and Boyce would be the starters with Davis up in four-wide sets. But Murphy isn’t counting out anyone. He usually travels with six receivers and a seventh for special teams/emergencies. Either Hoffman or Eller could redshirt.
Wide receiver will be a focal point in this afternoon’s 50- to 70-play controlled scrimmage at Woodward Field.
“I think they’re making progress,” head coach Paul Wulff said. “There is still a ways to go. The big things this group needs to work on are assignments and technique and who will make plays. If you don’t make them in practice, chances are you won’t in games.”
The loss of four seniors also leaves a void in leadership.
“I’m definitely out there being a leader,” Coleman said. “The best way for me is to lead by example. Young guys make mistakes. I want to help them keep their chin up.”