By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff
A&M receivers are young but show promise
Individually, they're an unknown quantity. Collectively, they have immense potential.
The subject is Alabama A&M's receiving corps, a group that coach Roger Totten says can be as good as any in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
"We've got speed, size and strength and that's what you have to have to be good in this league," Totten said.
While they have all those things collectively, individually they have accomplished little.
Sophomore Thomas Harris is the only proven receiver on the roster. He was the Bulldogs' second-leading receiver a year ago, finishing with 27 catches for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Anthony Mitchell was A&M's third-leading receiver last season with 20 catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns, but his eligibility is in question.
Juniors Gerald Stockdale and Paul Kellum have played sparingly throughout their careers. Stockdale has 18 catches for 148 yards, while Kellum, who has been hampered by injuries, has eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt freshmen Nate Baxter and Rashad Johnson, who have been terrific in preseason practice, have yet to suit up for the Bulldogs.
Despite their lack of experience and production, Harris believes his group will be successful.
"I've got faith in them," he said. "They've been making plays in practice."
Harris and Johnson, Totten says, gives A&M two speedy receivers that will be able to stretch the field. Johnson, a former walk-on, had four catches for 52 yards, including three touchdowns in A&M's third scrimmage Saturday night.
"Thomas and Rashad are our vertical guys," said Totten, who played alongside Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State. "Thomas is very smooth and runs great routes. Rashad runs with intensity. He explodes off the line and he will put fear in defensive backs. We feel very good about them."
Harris has been equally pleased with Totten, who is in his first year as receivers coach.
"He's going to get us where we need to be," he said. "We've worked a lot harder and he has emphasized scoring touchdowns and not just settling for the catch."
Totten lights up when talking about Stockdale and Baxter.
Stockdale, 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, and Baxter, 6-3 and 212, give A&M a pair of big receivers that it hasn't had in recent years.
"Those are our two physical, inside guys," he said. "We're also going to use Nate some outside and down on the goalline because he's so big and strong.
"They're too small to be tight ends and they're not fast enough as outside guys, but I don't think you're going to find two better inside guys in the conference. We believe they're perfect for what we're trying to do and they'll be intricate parts in our passing game."
Baxter says he can't wait. "I'm really pumped up," he said.
A&M receivers are young but show promise
Individually, they're an unknown quantity. Collectively, they have immense potential.
The subject is Alabama A&M's receiving corps, a group that coach Roger Totten says can be as good as any in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
"We've got speed, size and strength and that's what you have to have to be good in this league," Totten said.
While they have all those things collectively, individually they have accomplished little.
Sophomore Thomas Harris is the only proven receiver on the roster. He was the Bulldogs' second-leading receiver a year ago, finishing with 27 catches for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Anthony Mitchell was A&M's third-leading receiver last season with 20 catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns, but his eligibility is in question.
Juniors Gerald Stockdale and Paul Kellum have played sparingly throughout their careers. Stockdale has 18 catches for 148 yards, while Kellum, who has been hampered by injuries, has eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Redshirt freshmen Nate Baxter and Rashad Johnson, who have been terrific in preseason practice, have yet to suit up for the Bulldogs.
Despite their lack of experience and production, Harris believes his group will be successful.
"I've got faith in them," he said. "They've been making plays in practice."
Harris and Johnson, Totten says, gives A&M two speedy receivers that will be able to stretch the field. Johnson, a former walk-on, had four catches for 52 yards, including three touchdowns in A&M's third scrimmage Saturday night.
"Thomas and Rashad are our vertical guys," said Totten, who played alongside Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State. "Thomas is very smooth and runs great routes. Rashad runs with intensity. He explodes off the line and he will put fear in defensive backs. We feel very good about them."
Harris has been equally pleased with Totten, who is in his first year as receivers coach.
"He's going to get us where we need to be," he said. "We've worked a lot harder and he has emphasized scoring touchdowns and not just settling for the catch."
Totten lights up when talking about Stockdale and Baxter.
Stockdale, 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, and Baxter, 6-3 and 212, give A&M a pair of big receivers that it hasn't had in recent years.
"Those are our two physical, inside guys," he said. "We're also going to use Nate some outside and down on the goalline because he's so big and strong.
"They're too small to be tight ends and they're not fast enough as outside guys, but I don't think you're going to find two better inside guys in the conference. We believe they're perfect for what we're trying to do and they'll be intricate parts in our passing game."
Baxter says he can't wait. "I'm really pumped up," he said.
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