Football Fall Camp: Wide Receivers Looking To Find the End Zone Often
The Kansas wide receivers and quarterbacks met with the media Monday during fall camp, a day that head coach Charlie Weis also announced the members of the leadership council and this year’s captains. Here’s a look back at the media session for this year’s aerial assault team.
Quotables
Ron Powlus, Quarterbacks Coach
On Jake Heaps being named a team captain…
“I think he has done a great job of really grabbing hold of the reins of the team as far as leadership goes. Being a quarterback, a position of leadership, it all depends on what you do with that power, and I think Jake (Heaps) has done a nice job of handling himself and having a direction for this team in the offseason. I think it is good for him.”
On one quality that makes Jake Heaps a team leader…
“Passion. He is very passionate about the game of football and the quarterback position. He takes being a leader very seriously. He cares about the direction of the team, he cares about his teammates and he cares about the way we represent the University of Kansas and everybody involved. His passion is just very impressive.”
Rob Ianello, Wide Receivers Coach
On Christian Mathews’ progression as a receiver…
“He was voted on a leadership committee by his peers which is a big deal, and I think it speaks volumes to Christian (Mathews). He is certainly a leader in our room, he sets a good example for our guys and has been a good practice player for us. He had very good production Saturday during our scrimmage. He appears much more comfortable at the receiver position now than he has ever been. We have had great competition with our receiver group and we are all in great spirits right now. Christian has been fun to work with so far during camp.”
On what Justin McCay will do to gain attention of fans…
“He is a big target and he is a big, physical player. Justin is big and physical in the way he runs his routes, the way he run-blocks and in the passing game as a whole. We try to pride ourselves in our receivers being physical players. There has to be a certain toughness that we bring to the game in playing receiver at Kansas. We have prided our group on that and talked about mental and physical toughness in playing the position and Justin has jumped right in with that, day in and day out.”
Michael Cummings, So., Quarterback
On his own progression during the offseason…
“My decision-making has improved. I know the offense and I am more familiar with what we are trying to do. I can anticipate what we might do on a second-and-short or third-and-short call and I can sometimes anticipate what the defense is doing in certain situations.”
On how he can prove you are a better quarterback than last year…
“Ninety percent of playing quarterback is mental so if I am more mentally-equipped, then naturally I will be a better, more efficient quarterback. It has been a natural progression throughout the summer and spring, getting more into the playbook, getting more familiar with my receivers. I feel a lot more confident about my game right now.”
Justin McCay, Jr., Wide Receiver
On the game day anticipation and keeping emotions in check…
“Yeah, I don’t think you’re human if you don’t feel some excitement and butterflies in your stomach. I don’t know the feeling I will be feeling on game day, but trust me I will be excited.”
Josh Ford, Sr., Wide Receiver
On what he hopes to accomplish this year…
“I’m definitely hoping to start. Today was my first time getting reps with the No. 1 offense, and contributing to the team in a major way. And definitely getting some wins, I’m not selfish so I want to contribute to the run game as well, and the passing game to help Jake (Heaps) out.”
On what he brings to the receiver position…
“Size, strength, speed, hands, ball skills. I can go up and get the ball, I’m not easily jammed at the line because I’m just as big as any other big corner like Dexter McDonald who’s about 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and he has a hard time jamming me. So me and Justin (McCay) are two pretty big guys at receiver and that’s a deadly combination.”
Looking Ahead
Kansas head coach Charlie Weis will conclude the media portion of fall camp with a press conference at the Anderson Football Complex Friday at 11:45 a.m. (CT). Subscribers to Jayhawk Digital Passport can watch or listen to the press conference live by visiting www.kuathletics.com/digitalpassport. Subscriptions to the digital platform, which will feature live audio access to all football and basketball games and most of the volleyball, soccer, baseball and softball schedule, start at $2.95 for a day pass, $6.95 for a monthly pass (recurring), and $49.95 for a yearly pass. Subscribers can also access archived press conferences and games.
Kansas will open the 2013 football season by hosting South Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Memorial Stadium. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by contacting the Kansas Ticket Office at 1-800-34-HAWKS or via the web at KUAthletics.com.
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