2013 MSU Position Preview: Wide Receiver

Head coach Dan Mulen and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales have a dilemma. Chad Bumphis, Chris Smith, and Arceto Clark, all mainstays in the Bulldog receiver rotation the last four years, graduated. So, for the first time in Mullen's tenure at MSU he'll have to break in all new starters at the position. Fortunately, the Bulldogs have some talented guys, who have shown flashes in their limited playing time, currently battling it out for starting spots.

NAMES YOU KNOW. Junior Robert Johnson caught 17 balls for 164 yards and two touchdowns last season. "RoJo" looks to have the physical tools and hands to make an impact in the SEC and now he will have his opportunity. Jameon Lewis is another junior that's shown flashes in his career, especially as a kick returner. You don't have to go back very far to watch him make the longest play in Egg Bowl history.

I've heard positive reports that Lewis has been on another level with quarterback Tyler Russell during fall practice so far and I'm expecting a breakout year from him. The player I think a lot of people are hoping breaks out this year is sophomore Joe Morrow. His height (6'4) and speed should make him a big-time weapon in Mullen's offense, but Morrow has had issues with drops that have limited his playing time in his career.

NAMES YOU NEED TO KNOW. True freshman Fred Ross is arguably the best wide receiver recruit that Dan Mullen has signed at MSU. He caught 180+ balls in his final two years of high school and comes to Starkville with an already polished game for a youngster. He's already wowed the coaches in the first few weeks of practice and could find himself in the starting line-up sooner than later. JUCO product Jeremy Chappelle boasts some of the best hands on the team and had to enter this fall with a lot of confidence after catching eight balls for 114 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs' spring game. A player that is hard to miss is freshman De'Runnya Wilson. At 6'5 and 215 lbs, he's easily Bulldogs' biggest target and seems to get positive reviews in pretty much every practice report I read.

SPEEEEEEEEED. Redshirt freshman Brandon Holloway is really, really, really, fast. The official roster lists him as an "ATH," but we can expect to see him (and his 4.3 40-yard speed) line up at wide receiver and running back this season. Holloway was nearly untouchable in the spring game (12 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs) where he lined up as a running back. A couple of reports from fall practice say he's struggled catching the ball, but he's a home run threat and I think Mullen will find a way to get him some touches.