Oft-injured receiver looks to make bigger impact next season
Last year:
As a wide receiver, Jarrell Yates saw action in five of the Buffs’ 12 games. He missed the majority of the season with a shoulder injury. The injury was recurring and although it wasn’t major, he decided to sit out most of the year to play it safe. Yates finished the season with two receptions, including a 29-yard touchdown against Texas Tech.
Jarrell Yates
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 200 pounds
Position: wide receiver
Hometown: Denver
Experience: 1 letter
This season:
Yates enters spring practice with the potential to be a primary receiver in the offensive. Although he has yet to fully develop at the college level, Scout.com ranked Yates as the 3rd best receiver in the country as a high school senior. Yates, with receivers Alvin Barnett, Patrick Williams, newcomer Kendrick Celestine and tight end Riar Geer give the Buffs ample targets in the passing game.
Straight from the player:
On the big catch against Texas Tech last season:
“It definitely helped my confidence. When you get out there again and get the feeling back of playing football, it is nice. Instead of sitting around watching the games and not doing too much, you actually have to get in the game and be active for your confidence to build.”
On where he stands on the depth chart in spring:
“The way our system runs, it isn’t about who is a starter and who is second string. It is all about reps and we have the reps separated (between the receiving corps). It is really on me to earn my reps. So the more I earn, the more I’ll be in the game.”
On the potential of the wide receiver core:
“We are looking 100 times better then we did last year. We are all confident and we have the playbook down. Everyone is comfortable and we all feel really secure with what we have to do.”
On what the wide receivers are working on during spring:
“We are working on things as simple as our releases, where our splits are, how many steps to take on our routes, just the basics. We are covering everything, from the basics to the difficult stuff. We want everything to advance.”
On his past injury and how he feels going into fall:
“I’m feeling pretty good heading into this year. Since it is football, you are always going to be a little banged up, but nothing is too serious right now.”
On his individual goals for the year:
“My individual goals are to help the team be successful. I know that doesn’t seem like an individual goal, but it is. If I do my part and everybody else does their part-that is how we are going to be successful.”
On how he feels about the team heading into fall:
“If you heard coach Hawk talk about us, he thinks we are way better right now then we were last year and we are not even close to beginning the season. That is a real boost for us.”
Contact Campus Press staff writer Ben Dignan at benjamin.dignan@thecampuspress.com
