Utah State football: wide receiver preview


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LOGAN — Utah State has the weapons on the outside to make life easy for Chuckie Keeton. A mix of experience and depth make this a great group of wide receivers even with the loss of JoJo Natson.

Hunter Sharp returns for his senior season after a great run in 2014 that saw him named Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference. Sharp caught 66 passes for 939 yards and seven touchdowns, while starting in 12 games last season. Sharp is a speedy receiver with the ability to make tough catches in traffic. Sharp will be looked at to become the next big playmaker on the outside after he serves his two-game suspension to start the year.

After missing nearly the entire 2014 season, senior Brandon Swindall returns with big expectations. Swindall tore his Achilles tendon on a non-contact play a week after a solid five-catch, 37-yard outing against Tennessee. Swindall hopes to return to his sophomore year form where, in just five starts, he led the team in touchdown receptions with six. At 6-4, Swindall gives the Aggies a tall target on the outside with great explosiveness and the ability to get behind the defense for big plays.

Returning senior Devonte Robinson will get bumped into the slot receiver role so the Aggies can get the best three receivers on the field. Robinson caught 24 passes for 226 yards and touchdowns while starting in seven of the 14 games he played in last year. Robinson has the ability to find space out of the slot and the acceleration to get by defenders in the open field.

Looking like a great backup and solid rotational player is redshirt freshman Tyler Fox. Fox, who took a grayshirt season in 2013 before redshirting in 2014, looks ready to finally hit the field as an Aggie. Spending nearly two years in the Utah State system has allowed Fox to develop more as a receiver. He possesses great reaction ability to go along with tremendous ball skills. Fox has all the tools to be an electrifying receiver.

Backing up Robinson in the slot will likely be redshirt junior Andrew Rodriguez. Rodriguez sat out the 2014 season at Utah State as he had transferred from the University of Houston. Rodriguez had a solid fall camp and is ready to contribute on a consistent basis. Rodriguez has the ability to make catches in traffic and isn't afraid to go across the middle.

Fall camp has seen many young receivers emerge as rotational players. Redshirt freshman Zach Van Leeuwen, younger brother of former Aggie standout Travis Van Leeuwen, has seemed to be a favorite target of multiple quarterbacks. Zach has all the tools to become a great wide receiver as he has displayed precise route running skills, great hands and has become incredibly reliable.

Transferring in from Mesa Community College is redshirt sophomore Ethan Cortazzo. In 2014, Cortazzo caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in his one game with Mesa Community College before an injury kept him out the rest of the season. Cortazzo has earned multiple new comer of the day awards throughout fall camp.

Former Oklahoma State player and junior college transfer Jaren Colston-Green has the speed and height, 6-3, to be a big-time playmaker for the Aggies. Colston-Green didn't put up big numbers in his year at Arizona Western Community College, grabbing just 11 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. However, Colston-Green has a lot of potential, which has started to show through fall camp.

While the loss of Natson will be felt, the depth at the wide receiver position along with the senior leadership of the starters will mitigate his departure. As the Aggie offense looks to improve on it's 2014 numbers, these wide receivers could be the ones leading the way.

Starters: senior Hunter Sharp, senior Devonte Robinson, senior Brandon Swindall

Second string: redshirt freshman Tyler Fox, junior Andrew Rodriguez, sophomore Jaren Colston-Green

Up next: Running backs Parker Robertson is a graduate of Utah State University, a freelance contributor and an avid fan of sports. Follow me on Twitter @ParkerRob78 Email: ParkerRobertson18@gmail.com

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