Cougars know growing pains likely with receiving corps
New University of Houston wide receivers coach Drew Mehringer walked into the meeting room and asked the group a couple of questions.
“Raise your hand if you are 19 years old,” Mehringer said.
Eleven of the 16 players raised their hands.
“Raise your hand if you’ve actually taken a reallife snap here,” Mehringer continued.
Only two raised their hands.
“OK,” Mehringer said, “we’ve got some experience to overcome.”
With preseason camp underway, the wide receiver position remains a work in progress for the Cougars following the departure of four of the top five receivers from last season.
Deontay Greenberry, who had a team-best 72 receptions, opted to skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft. He went undrafted and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. Markeith Ambles and Daniel Spencer graduated, and Wayne Beadle was granted a medical hardship that ended his playing career.
The group accounted for 74 career starts and 60 percent of the Cougars’ receiving totals from last season.
UH’s leading returning receiver is junior Demarcus Ayers, who caught 33 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Ayers said. “I’m excited to start my junior year as the oldest guy in the room with the most experience. I’ve learned a lot each year I’ve been here.”
The only other returner with any meaningful game experience is Steven Dunbar, who had 20 catches for 286 yards and played in all 13 games as a freshman last season.
“I got my feet wet,” said Dunbar, who sparked a late November victory over Tulsa with seven catches for 150 yards. “I know what to expect now.”
At the start of camp, coach Tom Herman said the Cougars have four receivers “I would trust” if the season began today: Ayers, Dunbar, redshirt freshman Isaiah Johnson and junior Chance Allen, a transfer from Oregon and the only other upperclassmen among the receivers.
The Cougars would like to have a rotation of six or seven receivers to bolster depth. When evaluating the options at receiver, Herman said “it’s an experience thing, not necessarily a talent or development issue.” For some, it’s a matter of staying healthy.
Sophomore John Leday had a touchdown catch in his first collegiate game against Southern in the 2013 season opener but hasn’t played since because of injuries. Sophomore Donald Gage III is coming off an ACL injury. Sophomore Linell Bonner is a former walk-on put on scholarship after spring practice. Latrell Martin and Johnson are coming off redshirt seasons, and Devin Smith is a true freshman.
“Our young receivers have really bought into the culture,” Mehringer said. “We’ve thrown a lot at those guys.”
The wild card of the group could be Allen, who played in 14 games the last two seasons at Oregon.
“I think Chance is a guy that is going to shock a lot of people,” Ayers said.
With so many young receivers, Ayers said he welcomes the opportunity to be a leader and share his experience. His first advice: learn the playbook.
“To see how I have matured from a freshman,” Ayers said, “I’m trying to rub off some of the knowledge with some of these young guys.”