Pass Happy Pokes (Casper Star Article)

[MrTitleist]

From the Casper Star Tribune

By ERIC SCHMOLDT
Star-Tribune staff writer Monday, August 20, 2007

Chris Johnson knew exactly what he was getting himself into.

It's a long way from Solano (Calif.) Community College to the University of Wyoming, but as a wide receiver, he was stepping into a golden opportunity -- working with an offense that can work out of a spread formation, allowing Johnson to help stretch the field.

But the junior also knew he was joining a roster already loaded with talent and promise at the receiver position.

Still, he said, his decision was a no-brainer.

"I knew the depth," Johnson said. "They told me about Mike Ford, they told me about Travis (Burkhalter), they told me about everybody. But I took it as a challenge, to test and see how good I am, trying to play with everyone else who's good."

Johnson, who caught 26 passes for 554 yards and four touchdowns at Solano a year ago, is another piece of the Cowboys' wide receiving puzzle, one that could be a dangerous combination of veteran leaders and youngsters with plenty of potential.

"We're deep," senior wide receiver Hoost Marsh said. "We've got a lot of younger guys who can step up and make big plays just like (the older guys) can."

One of those veterans is Michael Ford, a senior who was named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference a year ago. Ford led UW with 60 catches, 674 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

He noticed teams covering him a little closer in the final games of 2006, and Ford is looking forward to the challenge even more this season.

"I think that I'm going to just go out there and perform the way I know how to," Ford said. "I don't know how to just let people cover me on a consistent basis. I'm just going to try to go out there and help us win games."

Ford and Kyle Jacobo -- who had 10 catches for 74 yards and a score last year as a sophomore -- are experienced possession receivers, while Marsh will help stretch the field with his game-breaking speed.

The Cowboys' return specialist, Marsh broke onto the receiving scene a year ago when he caught 23 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

"Mike Ford is more of a possession guy ... and the same with Jacobo probably, he's a bigger guy," Marsh said. "Me and Greg (Bolling) are probably more of a deep threat.

"We've got some versatility there."

UW head coach Joe Glenn hasn't been shy about expressing his excitement over Bolling. Coming off a freshman season where he caught just one pass, Bolling has spent much of fall practice hauling in highlight-reel catches.

"You're going to see some stuff from Greg Bolling that you're going to love," Glenn said. "He's a fun guy to watch."

Johnson gives the team another deep threat, greyshirt freshman Tyler Burkhalter had an impressive spring and David Leonard could make an impact right away as a true freshman.

"People have asked me, 'How about incoming freshmen, are any of them going to play?'" Glenn said. "I think we've got a lot that could play, but they're log-jammed a little bit on the depth chart.

"But No. 33 is David Leonard, and if he continues to play like he's playing ... look for him to maybe help us out in his first year."

The Cowboys have no shortage at the receiver position, but that leaves one simple question heading into the 2007 campaign: Will there be enough passes to keep everyone happy?

"As long as we win," Marsh said. "As long as everybody plays hard and does their assignment, I think everybody will be happy no matter who gets the ball."