We couldn’t put all the standout players in HBCU football on our Starting Five series, but these couldn’t go unrecognized. So here go a few more standout receivers for 2013. Check the bottom of the page for the original lists.
Willie Young, UAPB
Young is just one of several talented UAPB receivers, but don’t be suprised if he separates himself from the pack in 2013. The freshman didn’t catch his first pass until Nov. 3, and only finished with eight total receptions, but he gets the nod for coming up big down the stretch. Despite finishing fifth on the team in receptions, he finished second with 314 yards, 95 which came on a touchdown pass from Ben Anderson that went a long way to securing UAPB’s SWAC title.
Jonathan Booker, Howard
Howard’s passing game may have regressed last season, but Jonathan Booker was one of the team’s bright spots. The freshman from Winston-Salem, NC was the team’s second leading receiver with 20 receptions and two touchdowns as the team finished with its best season in over a decade. With another year under his belt, look for those numbers to increase in 2013.
Gary Langston, Elizabeth City
Though his production was erratic in 2012, Langston has the potential to be one of the conference’s more dangerous targets. He started slow, then came up big in the middle of the season. The Portsmouth, VA native had his best game of the season against Chowan when he caught five passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, one of those passes going for 85 yards. He finished the season with 35 catches, averaging 18.2 yards per catch and four touchdowns. He will be one of the key players for an Elizabeth City State team that will need to replace the production of running back Daronte McNeill.
Ta’Juan Brown, Shaw
Brown finished in the top ten of CIAA receiving yards, despite playing in just nine games and having only 26 catches. Brown made the most of his touches, however, as he averaged a conference-high 21.8 yards per catch and hauled in six touchdown passes. 13 of those 26 catches came in the final two games against Winston-Salem State and St. Aug, as Brown gained over 250 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns. In 2013, Brown will combine with Derek Grant to form one of the top receiving duos in the CIAA.