Griz wide receivers coach Torrey Myers pleased with the players he oversees

Aug 13, 2013

One of the big question marks going into fall camp this year was at the wide receiver spot, and although the progress of some of the players at that position has been slowed down due to injuries, it should be a solid position in 2013.

Montana wide receivers coach, Torrey Myers, who joined the team this past spring, talked highly of the players that he oversees following today's (Tuesday, Aug. 13) morning practice in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

UM lost its top two receivers to graduation, in wide-out Sam Gratton (29-397-4 TDs) and tight end Greg Hardy (29-273-1), but return two of their top four guys there.

The two returning starters are Ellis Henderson, a 6-0, 185-pound sophomore, who is UM's leading returning receiver with 23 receptions last season (which were the third most on the team), while junior Mitch Saylor, a 6-5, 222-pound junior was right behind him with 22 catches in 2012. Both of those players recently returned to action after missing a couple of days because of minor injuries.

"I feel like we're learning a lot quicker than we did in the spring and doing a good job as a group, and we're trying to get some of the rookies going, and trying to keep the Montana tradition going - it's been fun," said Henderson, who transferred to UM from Hawaii and is from Portland, Ore.

"I think last year I was kind of unaware of my body; taking that year off (he was a redshirt at Hawaii in 2011) and then coming back a lot of thing kind of felt awkward," Henderson said. "This year I feel a lot more comfortable and just trust my body a little bit more and not think about things so much. Not thinking and just doing makes things a lot easier and a lot better." 

Returning lettermen who should also contribute are Sean Haynes (6-3, 185, Jr., 2V), Chase Naccarato (5-7, 166, So., 1V), Taylor Walcott (6-0, 177, So., 1V), Cam Warren (6-0, 177, Sr., 2V), Kevin Berland (5-9, 175, Jr., SQ) and Ryan Burke (6-4, 190, Fr., RS).

"Our returners are really, really skilled and starting to understand our offense, and what we did in the spring has carried over to the fall, and that's been positive," said Myers, who came to Montana from the University of Washington and was a three-year starter at wide receiver at Western New Mexico University, where he played from 1997-2001.

A big boost to the receiving corps will be provided by sophomore Jamaal Jones, a 6-1, 188-pound transfer from the University of Washington. Myers obviously was familiar with Jones' talent from his stint at UW, and Jones is competing for a starting job.

Jamaal Jones has done a really good job for us so far in fall camp," Myers said. "Our schemes are kind of similar (to UW's), so he's been able to adjust to the offense quickly. The guys who are really intelligent like Cam Warren,Chase Naccarato, and Kevin Berland, and Ryan Burke give us a ton of flexibility, because we can literally line them up at every position because they know the offensive so well."

"Coach Myers has been great, he's come in (to UM) with a lot of enthusiasm, and he really cares, and shows us that he wants to win," said Warren, from Bellevue, Wash. "He already has that Montana attitude of do what it takes. As a group we are pretty deep now. We've got six or seven guys who can all play, and who are all going to play. We each have our own specialties that we are all good at.

"Seeing him (QB Jordan Johnson) just puts a smile on my face," Warren said. "He's a good person and a great leader. It's good to see him back there having fun with the guys, and having him back on the field is the most important part."

The speedster Walcott, the steady Warren (tied for seventh on the team with running back Jordan Canada with 15 catches last season), and the fast and tall Haynes (8 grabs in 2012) will all contribute, if not earn starting berths. Walcott (5 receptions a year ago) has also been slowed down by an injury.

Marq Rogers, a 6-4, 181-pounder from Concordia Lutheran HS (Fort Wayne, Ind.) is having a very good fall camp so far and could see action this season as a true freshman.

"He's (Rogers) very talented, and he's going to be a really good player for us," Myers said. "We have a lot of skill, and the thing that I like best about it is that it's competitive. So if you're going play for us you have to be really good and you have to practice well; because if you don't, we have other guys on the team who will. I think that makes everybody better every day."

Montana's second practice today begins at 7:45 p.m. in the stadium. Today is the second of six two-a-day practices. The Griz will have a scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 17, starting around 10:10 a.m. in WGS, and it is open to the public.

TEAM & SKELLY DRILLS HIGHLIGHTS: In team, junior defensive end Zack Wagenmann had a pass deflection, sack, and tackle for loss...freshman tight end Jordan Harper made a nice over-the-shoulder pass on a pass from Johnson...junior QB Shay Smithwick Hann connected with Haynes on a 40-yard completion...promising freshman halfback Treshawn Favors (from Glendale, Ariz.) had runs of 10 and 20 yards...sophomore cornerback had a diving interception...junior DT Tonga Takai had a sack and a TFL.

In skelly, sophomore QB Trent McKinney had a 65-yard scoring pass to Rogers....in the next series redshirt freshman quarterback Brady Gustafson connected with Rogers for another 65-yard TD.

Punting from the 45-yard line of the defense, Stephen Shaw's two punts were both downed inside the 10-yard line, the first time by senior cornerback Sean Murray and the second by Harris.