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Young receiver core could make big impact on Spartan offense this season

August 9, 2016
Head coach Mark Dantonio responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8, 2016 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team's coaches and players.
Head coach Mark Dantonio responds to a question from the media during Media Day on Aug. 8, 2016 at Spartan Stadium. Media Day allowed for the media to converse with the team's coaches and players. —
Photo by Nic Antaya | and Nic Antaya The State News

Last season MSU made a run to the College Football Playoff, and the team is now getting ready to take the stage again after one of its most successful seasons in the last 50 years. And with the 2016 season now less than a month away, head coach Mark Dantonio and his offensive staff must find a rotation of wide receivers to accompany the new quarterback.

True freshmen Donnie Corley and Cam Chambers are two viable options and have shown to be big playmakers already.

Although both Corley and Chambers are true freshmen, they enrolled in early classes for the Spring 2016 semester and have been on campus and working out with the team since January. The highly prospected tandem recently played in the annual spring Green and White game.

“Based on the spring I thought Cam (Chambers) and Donnie (Corley) did very very well,” Dantonio said at his annual Media Day press conference. “They understand the system.”

Chambers received most of the spotlight after the Green and White game: he made two receptions for 45 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception from fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler O’Connor.

“It was awesome to see those guys leave high school early and have them join us in the spring,” O’Connor said. “They’ve done such a good job already, picking up on the pro-style offense because it’s really a lot to learn. Once they slow down with their thinking and just go out and play, that’s when you really see their true colors and I think they’ve got to that point already.”

On top of that, the Sicklerville, New Jersey native also capped a 32-yard reception from freshman QB Brian Lewerke. Chambers was ranked as the No. 106 overall prospect by Rivals.com and was rated as the No. 21 best receiving prospect by Rivals.com.

Corley is also a highly rated prospect, but only was only showed in limited action during the spring game — an 18-yard reception from junior QB Damion Terry. The freshman who made his early arrival from Martin Luther King high school in Detroit is rated as the No. 70 overall prospect in the country and the No. 14 receiver by Rivals.com.

“Donnie Corley is an explosive player,” Dantonio said. “You can see him making plays and getting along with the other guys that have already been here. He’s one of the young guys that’s really exciting to watch.”

Corley has also been regarded as one of the fastest and most evasive guys on the team, and may perhaps see time as the punt returner.

“If you can catch the ball, especially on punts or kickoffs,” Dantonio said, “then you’re going to be considered for the job.”

Where they are on the depth chart, Chambers is listed behind sophomore Felton Davis III, and fifth-year seniors Monty Madaris and Edward Barksdale III. On the other side, Corley is listed as the number two guy behind senior R.J. Shelton.

Another receiver to keep eyes on is redshirt freshman Darrell Stewart Jr. The 6-foot-1 Houston native missed playing time last season to injury but it’s noted he was named Scout Teams Special Teams Player of the Week against Oregon.

“He’s like R.J. (Shelton) but he’s a little thicker,” wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Terrence Samuel said. “Once he catches it, you know he’s going to run you over, or run right by you or just make you look silly with a juke move. He really brings a lot to the table with the ability to move with the ball after the catch.”

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves — these are only ratings and scouting reports. Both guys look they have the potential to be big names down the road and will likely be key pieces to the offensive formula in the future, maybe even this season. But at the end of the day Corley and Chambers are still true freshmen and the only way for them to grow is for them to learn from past experiences.

“It’s still too early to tell (where Chambers and Corley will play)... but there is a lot of guys,” Dantonio said. “So we’re going to have to wait a week and how things shake out. I know a week seems like a really short time but in fall camp it’s a long time and there’s a lot of work to be done until then.”

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