Tula Football Preview: Wide Receivers

Six lettermen return to the Tulsa receiving corps, including four of the top five receivers from the 2019 campaign.

A more experienced receiving corps has made steady progress during preseason camp.

"I love the way tour receivers have been working. They're hungry. They set a new standard among themselves and they feel like they have a lot of ownership of what they're doing. They understand now how to work the route within the route system and within the play that we're running," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery.

"Finding those areas to sit in, move in, be able to set a guy and react off of that, that's what I'm really pleased with this group of receivers. We're catching the ball better. We need to be more consistent, but our catch radius has improved and overall the hands of our receivers has as well."

In all, five receivers who caught passes a year ago are back for the 2020 campaign and represent 76-percent of Tulsa's total receiving yardage from last season, as well as 13 of Tulsa's 20 total touchdown receptions.

Keylon Stokes looks to get away from defenders — Keylon Stokes

Leading the way for the Hurricane receivers is fourth-year senior Keylon Stokes (6-0, 194). The inside receiver caught 62 passes for 1,040 yards and six touchdowns in 2019 and for his career now has 109 receptions for 1,758 yards.

A return specialist as well, Stokes totaled 1,530 all-purpose yards last year for a career total of 3,157 yards.

Behind Stokes on the receiving chart a year ago was sophomore Sam Crawford, Jr. (6-1, 209). Crawford returns for his junior season after catching 59 passes for 777 yards and five TDs last year.

Sam Crawford, Jr. eyes the end zone — Sam Crawford

"For the first time in a long time we have some experience at the receiver spot returning, but obviously Keylon is the leader of that group. He has the most experience and has shown up over and over in big games," said Montgomery.

Two more returning juniors – Josh Johnson (5-11, 171) and JuanCarlos Santana (6-1, 173) – are back after turning in break-out seasons in 2019.

Johnson burst onto the scene after transferring from Iowa State. He caught 44 passes for 495 yards and one touchdown, while Santana added 19 receptions for 233 yards.

At the inside slots, Stokes and Johnson will get help from junior Cannon Montgomery (5-10, 174), who caught two passes for 11 yards a year ago, and Malik Rodgers (5-10, 170), who becomes eligible after sitting out 2019 following his transfer from the Air Force Academy. As a receiver at Shadow Creek (Texas) High School, Rodgers totaled over 2,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in his prep career.

Josh Johnson looks to gain yards — Josh Johnson

"We're building a good nucleus of guys that can come in and do some big things for us," added Montgomery.

Walk-ons Kamdyn Benjamin (5-9, 165) and Hanan Jones (5-8, 177) are listed as back-ups at inside receiver.

Crawford is backed up by junior redshirt Dhailon Phillips (6-3, 200), who transferred to Tulsa from Trinity Valley Community College at mid-semester 2019. At Trinity, Phillips caught 32 passes for 425 yards and three TDs in 2018.

In addition, walk-on Joseph Breedlove (6-1, 1984) and newcomer Jalen Paxton (6-1, 180) are listed as backups to Crawford. Paxton caught 41 passes for 854 yards and 11 TDs his senior season at Manvel (Texas) High School, the same school that produced Stokes.

On the outside, Santana will battle the second of two seniors on the receiving unit as Josh Stewart (6-3, 205) looks to regain his form that saw him catch 13 passes for 162 yards as a redshirt freshman in 2017. He has only caught two passes in a total of nine games over the last two seasons

Redshirt freshman La'Darrion Florez (6-2, 175) will battle for playing time at outside receiver as well. He played quarterback and receiver at Clear Brook (Texas) High School, where he had 110 catches for 1,288 yards and 13 TDs in his career. Rookie Malachai Jones (6-0, 180) brings solid credentials from the high school ranks, where he totaled 87 receptions for 1,806 yards and 19 TDs in his three seasons at Westfield (Texas) High School.

With Zach Smith returning for his second year as the Tulsa quarterback benefits the receivers as well.

"I think that's been a big a part of it. Those receivers understand what Zach can do and he understands what they can do. It's about timing, reps, experience and being on the same page. That just comes with the amount of work you put in together," added Montgomery.

Tula Football Preview: Wide Receivers

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Players Mentioned

Kamdyn Benjamin

Josh Johnson

Hanan Jones

Malachai Jones

Cannon Montgomery

Jalen Paxton

Dhailon Phillips

Malik Rodgers

JuanCarlos Santana

Zach Smith

Josh Stewart

Keylon Stokes

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