Keylon Stokes
CAMP UPDATE: The Receiver Position
8/15/2022 6:02:00 PM | Football
TULSA, Okla. –– The receiving corps has a mix of experience, young talent and transfers that have turned in a solid preseason camp.
"I love the way that our receivers are working together right now. I think they're embracing and understanding all the nuances that they can do within the offense and then working on their personal craft," said Tulsa Head Coach Philip Montgomery.
Tulsa returns second-leading receiver JuanCarlos Santana (6-0, 183) from a season ago and 2020 leading receiver Keylon Stokes (5-10, 202) returns from injury. A group of young receivers look for a break-out season, while three transfers add size and speed.
Santana caught 51 passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns last year and comes into the 2022 season with 1,466 yards and eight TDs.
Stokes missed all but for games last year with an injury, catching 11 passes for 148 yards. He enters his final season with 2,550 career receiving yards and 11 touchdowns and is 793 yards shy of the school's all-time receiving record that has stood for nearly 60 years. In just nine games in the 2020 season, Stokes led Tulsa with 644 receiving yards on 46 receptions.
"It's vitally important to have the type of leadership we have in the wide receiver room right now, especially with JC and Keylon leading the way. Those guys have been here, done it and know what it takes to be successful on and off the field. You can't put a price on that type of leadership."
Sophomore Malachai Jones (6-0, 189) saw valuable playing time a season ago at receiver, starting three games and catching three passes for 47 yards. Former walk-on Kamdyn Benjamin (5-9, 172), who handled punt return duties for Tulsa a year ago, will be in the mix at receiver this season as well.
The redshirt freshmen duo of Scottie Alexander (6-2, 205) and Marquis Shoulders (5-10, 165) sat out last season, but both had impressive spring campaigns.
Tulsa added size to the receiving corps with three transfers. Isaiah Epps (6-2, 190) and Nick Rempert (6-2, 186) made a splash during spring drills. Epps, a transfer from Kentucky who played his prep football at local Jenks High School, had 31 career receptions for 365 yards with the Wildcats. Rempert began his career as a defensive back in 2019 at Northern Illinois but spent two seasons at Tyler Junior College honing his receiving skills.
A third transfer is 6'4" Carl Chester (6-4, 195) from Trinity Valley Community College. In his only JUCO season, Chester caught nine passes for 104 yards.
Freshman newcomers to the receiver position include Keith Wheeler II (6-1, 175), who went through spring drills after graduating early from Atascocita (Texas) High School, Charles Hodge IV (6-1, 165) and Devan Williams (6-2, 189).
"The connection between the receivers and our quarterbacks and the work they're putting in now is going to pay dividends. As a group, they're working extremely hard and are being intelligent about how they work. We just need to continue taking those steps," said Montgomery.
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