The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Positional Preview: The Wide Receivers
5/27/2020 9:42:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Led by the lethal combination of Austin Watkins Jr. and Myron Mitchell, UAB's wide receivers should once again be one of the top units in Conference USA, if not the entire country.
Watkins Jr. and Mitchell combined for 91 catches, 1,646 yards and 10 touchdowns, while these two and graduated senior Kendall Parham were responsible for 80 percent of the team's receiving yards last year.
Markus Grossman played in every game last year and proved to be UAB's go-to receiver on third down. He is the leading candidate to move into the starting slot receiver position left by Parham and round out another formidable big three.
Entering his senior year, Watkins Jr. looks to build upon his breakout junior campaign in which he put together one of the most prolific seasons for a UAB wideout in program history. The Miami native became just the third player in school history to have over 1,000 receiving yards in a season, finishing with 57 catches for 1,092 yards and six scores.
Watkins Jr. had three 100-yard receiving games, highlighted by 167 yards at UTSA, and a monster performance in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against No. 20 Appalachian State, finishing with 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Mitchell posted 34 catches for 554 yards and four touchdowns, which included multiple highlight reel diving catches. The Jasper, Ala. native also added 19 kickoff returns for 403 yards and a 98-yard touchdown return vs. Alabama State in the season opener. His 1,005 all-purpose yards were second on the team only behind Watkins Jr.
Grossman finished his first season with the Blazers by posting 13 catches for 100 yards. As mentioned, the majority of his catches came on third down and Grossman should see a huge spike in production as a senior in the absence of Parham.
Redshirt junior Kevin Davis is a name that could produce numbers in a supporting role of Watkins and Mitchell, while Rob Johnson, in his first eligible season, is someone to keep an eye on as well. RaJae' Johnson-Sanders played in four games last year and exercised the redshirt rule. Johnson-Sanders is poised to contribute in a big way as a redshirt junior, while the redshirt tag is off of promising freshman Ryan Davis.
UAB returns nine starters on offense and could produce record setting numbers this year with veterans at every offensive position. Along with a stacked wideout unit, UAB brings back starting quarterback Tyler Johnston III, all-time leading rusher Spencer Brown, four year starting tight end Hayden Pittman and four starting offensive linemen.
The Blazers aim for their third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020. UAB is the winningest team in the league since returning to action in 2017 with 28 victories.
Season tickets for the upcoming season are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
Watkins Jr. and Mitchell combined for 91 catches, 1,646 yards and 10 touchdowns, while these two and graduated senior Kendall Parham were responsible for 80 percent of the team's receiving yards last year.
Markus Grossman played in every game last year and proved to be UAB's go-to receiver on third down. He is the leading candidate to move into the starting slot receiver position left by Parham and round out another formidable big three.
Entering his senior year, Watkins Jr. looks to build upon his breakout junior campaign in which he put together one of the most prolific seasons for a UAB wideout in program history. The Miami native became just the third player in school history to have over 1,000 receiving yards in a season, finishing with 57 catches for 1,092 yards and six scores.
Watkins Jr. had three 100-yard receiving games, highlighted by 167 yards at UTSA, and a monster performance in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl against No. 20 Appalachian State, finishing with 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Mitchell posted 34 catches for 554 yards and four touchdowns, which included multiple highlight reel diving catches. The Jasper, Ala. native also added 19 kickoff returns for 403 yards and a 98-yard touchdown return vs. Alabama State in the season opener. His 1,005 all-purpose yards were second on the team only behind Watkins Jr.
Grossman finished his first season with the Blazers by posting 13 catches for 100 yards. As mentioned, the majority of his catches came on third down and Grossman should see a huge spike in production as a senior in the absence of Parham.
Redshirt junior Kevin Davis is a name that could produce numbers in a supporting role of Watkins and Mitchell, while Rob Johnson, in his first eligible season, is someone to keep an eye on as well. RaJae' Johnson-Sanders played in four games last year and exercised the redshirt rule. Johnson-Sanders is poised to contribute in a big way as a redshirt junior, while the redshirt tag is off of promising freshman Ryan Davis.
UAB returns nine starters on offense and could produce record setting numbers this year with veterans at every offensive position. Along with a stacked wideout unit, UAB brings back starting quarterback Tyler Johnston III, all-time leading rusher Spencer Brown, four year starting tight end Hayden Pittman and four starting offensive linemen.
The Blazers aim for their third straight C-USA West Division title in 2020. UAB is the winningest team in the league since returning to action in 2017 with 28 victories.
Season tickets for the upcoming season are on sale starting as low as $75 with the Family Four Pack. Blazer Boosters members and current season ticket holders will have top priority for Protective Stadium entering 2021. Click here to purchase season tickets.
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