There has been a lot discussion across several different message boards the last several months about the state of our receiver corp. Discussions around production, consistency, and recruiting. I think the crux of it all falls on that third topic. It’s recruiting. Overall Doc and the staff he has assembled has done a pretty darn good job constructing this team. The proof is in the results. However it does seem like the WR position has left a lot to be desired.
Doc has yet to bring in that one WR that can take the top of the defense on a consistent basis. He’s failed to bring us a Moss, a Watts, even a Passmore. Since Dobson moved on to the Patriots that consistent threat that defenses fear has not been there. It’s been done by committee.
Sure you have Davonte Allen but he’s there one game and not the next. McManus is more Anquon Boldin instead of Larry Fitzgerald. That leaves who? Reaves. He has the speed for sure but not the size. You need size as well as speed to truly become a dominant threat at the X position.
So why have we come to this point? Why has this staff not gone out and got that guy. Is it philosophy? If it is in needs to change because something is amiss right now at that X position and now the entire corp in general.
Here is how the wide receiver position has been recruiting since Doc took over with his first class in 2010.
2010 Class
Demetrius Evans – Evans was here for five seasons however his production never came together with his athleticism. His mistakes on the field are more memorable than his production. You can more easily bring to memory a blunder by Evans than a highlight reel catch and even if you can think of one you can’t think of many.
Stefone Grace – He’s listed as a receiver but he never played there. Couldn’t get eligible out of high school, flunked at prep, then after talking to Doc was able to come in as a non-qualifier. In the end though he would change positions a few times before ultimately leaving the team.
Jazz King – Jazz had potential coming out of high school, however he could never find consistent play. He did have his moments and some expected him to maybe factor in the rotation last year but after graduating with a degree from Marshall he transferred to the FCS level for his final year of eligibility.
Fred Pickett – Who knows what could have been. He never made it to camp. Mr. Pickett will forever be known in Marshall lore as one of the infamous Pizza Boys.
2011 Class
Davonte Allen – Here’s the guy that should have been the guy. Right? He’s got the measurable. He’s got the athleticism. He had the big offers. However in the early going of Allen’s career every time he started to gain momentum he’d suffer an injury. In his junior season he really looked like he finally broke through just to get injured at Akron and miss several games. He came back and played in 2014 and 2015 looked to be the year but it hasn’t been. His play has been inconsistent and his triumphs on the field have come against teams that were way overmatched. When Allen has really been needed he hasn’t been able to make it happen. Even Coach Pruett commented on him not living up to all he had heard about him on his radio show when they were having their own discussion about our lack of a deep threat.
Chris Alston – There was some excitement surround his commitment. After gray shirting due to a leg injury Alston arrived to campus but never really had much of an impact on the team. Alston eventually left the team.
Lavern Jacobs – After committing to Marshall and arriving to campus Jacobs was asked to gray shirt. Begrudgingly he agreed. However just after he was getting over being asked to sit for a year and head to Marshall for the 2012 season Randy Edsell took the Maryland job and after hearing of him sitting at home in their backyard he poached him. Marshall fans would get their first and only look at Jacobs in the 2014 Military Bowl. He should have been on our sidelines. Not theirs.
Tommy Shuler – Tommy was a homerun. He compiled stats that not a lot of people in the history of college football have achieved. Tommy’s connection with his best friend and fellow future Marshall Hall of Famer Rakeem Cato made for an unstoppable force that helped propel Marshall’s offense into the Top10 for three straight years and several victories. Truly one of the greatest players and leaders to ever wear the green and white.
Craig Wilkins – Wilkins had pretty good potential. We were all pumped when he chose us over Cincinnati back in 2011. He had some highlight worthy catches and could tip toe that sideline, however the easy catches were the ones he struggled with. For every catch that would leave fans high fiving in the stands and on their couches he’d follow it up with drop on what should have been a routine catch. Wilkins was a good 3rd or 4th option but could never put together much more than that. He just wasn’t a consistent threat.
Deandre Reaves – Up until this season Reaves had done very little on offense. He played sparingly if at all on offense in 2012 or 2013 and in 2014 never saw the field at WR again after fumbling on the opening drive in the second half at Little Miami. Until this season Reaves made his impact on special teams where he has become probably the most dynamic return men in Marshall history. However in 2015 he has been able to shine at WR as he and first year QB Chase Litton have built a good chemistry together. Reaves has brought us back in games (see Kent State) and put some to bed (see S.Miss) in 2015.
2012 Class
There were no WRs taken in the 2012 class. Kind of a head scratcher don’t you think.
2013 Class
Justin Hunt – He has shown flashes here and there but has never really been able to put it together on a consistent basis in his three seasons at Marshall. 2015 has by far been his best season and has been hurt at times but he’s just a compliment out there at best to the WR corp. Prior to the 2015 season most people thought he may transfer to a lower division in order to seek playing time.
Angelo Jean-Louis – Man did this guy have potential and budding star written all over him. He was a 4-star prospect and top ATH recruit in two different classes. His freshman campaign looked to be the start of something great at Marshall. However as it had done in his past his attitude and off the field work ethic brought an abrupt end to his Marshall career.
Josh Knight – Until late in the 2015 season Knight hadn’t really been a factor and hadn’t seen the field much. Like Hunt several thought be may leave Marshall to chase playing time at a lower division school.
Deon-Tay McManus – Like AJL, McManus was a heralded stud coming out of two different classes. After being moved to TE he was forced into action at the X WR position in the ODU game in 2014 to replace the injured Davonte Allen and man did he shine. He overpowered DBs and went on to have a very nice freshman campaign. Heck his performance and advanced age had a lot of Marshall fans worried he may leave early for the NFL draft if he had a break out year. However like most of the offense McManus has been inconsistent. Of course he’s not and X WR. He’s more of a Y and a go over the middle guy. He’s more Anquon Boldin than Larry Fitzgerald. Some of his production failing to meet fan expectations can be attributed to a first year QB who doesn’t have full knowledge of the playbook and has been working with a patchwork offensive line. In some games where he’s been needed the most the ball just hasn’t had time to come back to his side of the field but when the ball does get in his hands the offense moves. When we went to him early in the second half at WKU we marched down and scored. He also had some good games early on but it has been very inconsistent. McManus is only a sophomore so let’s not rush to judgment calling him a bust just yet.
Shykeem Pitts – First and foremost God Rest Pitts’ soul. As we know his life was taken way too early. Pitts had potential as a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Not sure which side he would have stuck on at Marshall and unfortunately we will never know. I can’t remember if he was on track at prep school to make it to Marshall but I know I would have loved to see him play.
Doc has yet to bring in that one WR that can take the top of the defense on a consistent basis. He’s failed to bring us a Moss, a Watts, even a Passmore. Since Dobson moved on to the Patriots that consistent threat that defenses fear has not been there. It’s been done by committee.
Sure you have Davonte Allen but he’s there one game and not the next. McManus is more Anquon Boldin instead of Larry Fitzgerald. That leaves who? Reaves. He has the speed for sure but not the size. You need size as well as speed to truly become a dominant threat at the X position.
So why have we come to this point? Why has this staff not gone out and got that guy. Is it philosophy? If it is in needs to change because something is amiss right now at that X position and now the entire corp in general.
Here is how the wide receiver position has been recruiting since Doc took over with his first class in 2010.
2010 Class
Demetrius Evans – Evans was here for five seasons however his production never came together with his athleticism. His mistakes on the field are more memorable than his production. You can more easily bring to memory a blunder by Evans than a highlight reel catch and even if you can think of one you can’t think of many.
Stefone Grace – He’s listed as a receiver but he never played there. Couldn’t get eligible out of high school, flunked at prep, then after talking to Doc was able to come in as a non-qualifier. In the end though he would change positions a few times before ultimately leaving the team.
Jazz King – Jazz had potential coming out of high school, however he could never find consistent play. He did have his moments and some expected him to maybe factor in the rotation last year but after graduating with a degree from Marshall he transferred to the FCS level for his final year of eligibility.
Fred Pickett – Who knows what could have been. He never made it to camp. Mr. Pickett will forever be known in Marshall lore as one of the infamous Pizza Boys.
2011 Class
Davonte Allen – Here’s the guy that should have been the guy. Right? He’s got the measurable. He’s got the athleticism. He had the big offers. However in the early going of Allen’s career every time he started to gain momentum he’d suffer an injury. In his junior season he really looked like he finally broke through just to get injured at Akron and miss several games. He came back and played in 2014 and 2015 looked to be the year but it hasn’t been. His play has been inconsistent and his triumphs on the field have come against teams that were way overmatched. When Allen has really been needed he hasn’t been able to make it happen. Even Coach Pruett commented on him not living up to all he had heard about him on his radio show when they were having their own discussion about our lack of a deep threat.
Chris Alston – There was some excitement surround his commitment. After gray shirting due to a leg injury Alston arrived to campus but never really had much of an impact on the team. Alston eventually left the team.
Lavern Jacobs – After committing to Marshall and arriving to campus Jacobs was asked to gray shirt. Begrudgingly he agreed. However just after he was getting over being asked to sit for a year and head to Marshall for the 2012 season Randy Edsell took the Maryland job and after hearing of him sitting at home in their backyard he poached him. Marshall fans would get their first and only look at Jacobs in the 2014 Military Bowl. He should have been on our sidelines. Not theirs.
Tommy Shuler – Tommy was a homerun. He compiled stats that not a lot of people in the history of college football have achieved. Tommy’s connection with his best friend and fellow future Marshall Hall of Famer Rakeem Cato made for an unstoppable force that helped propel Marshall’s offense into the Top10 for three straight years and several victories. Truly one of the greatest players and leaders to ever wear the green and white.
Craig Wilkins – Wilkins had pretty good potential. We were all pumped when he chose us over Cincinnati back in 2011. He had some highlight worthy catches and could tip toe that sideline, however the easy catches were the ones he struggled with. For every catch that would leave fans high fiving in the stands and on their couches he’d follow it up with drop on what should have been a routine catch. Wilkins was a good 3rd or 4th option but could never put together much more than that. He just wasn’t a consistent threat.
Deandre Reaves – Up until this season Reaves had done very little on offense. He played sparingly if at all on offense in 2012 or 2013 and in 2014 never saw the field at WR again after fumbling on the opening drive in the second half at Little Miami. Until this season Reaves made his impact on special teams where he has become probably the most dynamic return men in Marshall history. However in 2015 he has been able to shine at WR as he and first year QB Chase Litton have built a good chemistry together. Reaves has brought us back in games (see Kent State) and put some to bed (see S.Miss) in 2015.
2012 Class
There were no WRs taken in the 2012 class. Kind of a head scratcher don’t you think.
2013 Class
Justin Hunt – He has shown flashes here and there but has never really been able to put it together on a consistent basis in his three seasons at Marshall. 2015 has by far been his best season and has been hurt at times but he’s just a compliment out there at best to the WR corp. Prior to the 2015 season most people thought he may transfer to a lower division in order to seek playing time.
Angelo Jean-Louis – Man did this guy have potential and budding star written all over him. He was a 4-star prospect and top ATH recruit in two different classes. His freshman campaign looked to be the start of something great at Marshall. However as it had done in his past his attitude and off the field work ethic brought an abrupt end to his Marshall career.
Josh Knight – Until late in the 2015 season Knight hadn’t really been a factor and hadn’t seen the field much. Like Hunt several thought be may leave Marshall to chase playing time at a lower division school.
Deon-Tay McManus – Like AJL, McManus was a heralded stud coming out of two different classes. After being moved to TE he was forced into action at the X WR position in the ODU game in 2014 to replace the injured Davonte Allen and man did he shine. He overpowered DBs and went on to have a very nice freshman campaign. Heck his performance and advanced age had a lot of Marshall fans worried he may leave early for the NFL draft if he had a break out year. However like most of the offense McManus has been inconsistent. Of course he’s not and X WR. He’s more of a Y and a go over the middle guy. He’s more Anquon Boldin than Larry Fitzgerald. Some of his production failing to meet fan expectations can be attributed to a first year QB who doesn’t have full knowledge of the playbook and has been working with a patchwork offensive line. In some games where he’s been needed the most the ball just hasn’t had time to come back to his side of the field but when the ball does get in his hands the offense moves. When we went to him early in the second half at WKU we marched down and scored. He also had some good games early on but it has been very inconsistent. McManus is only a sophomore so let’s not rush to judgment calling him a bust just yet.
Shykeem Pitts – First and foremost God Rest Pitts’ soul. As we know his life was taken way too early. Pitts had potential as a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Not sure which side he would have stuck on at Marshall and unfortunately we will never know. I can’t remember if he was on track at prep school to make it to Marshall but I know I would have loved to see him play.
