Volume 125 Issue 103
Monday, April 15, 2013
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COMMENTARY
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MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
game. Neitner Heaps nor McCay have proven themselves.
Junior quarterback Jake Heaps passes the ball during the second half of the Spring Game Saturday afternoon. Kansas' 2013 season will begin on Sept. 7 against South Dakota.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
But why not make the comparison?
The past three years have been a disaster for the Kansas quarterback-receiver duos. Last year, it was Crist and Kale Pick, and no wide receiver caught a touchdown. The year before that was Jordan Webb and Pick, which resulted in two touchdowns. In 2010, the duo was Webb and Daymond Patterson.
The big-time combination has been drastically missing since Reeing and Briscoe, but that might soon change.
Heaps doesn't have the mobility like Reeing, but he certainly has the arm. McCay is lacking in speed, but he has a similar frame and athleticism as Briscoe.
Look, it's a long stretch, but the possibility is there and has time to develop with both being juniors.
We'll just have to wait and see it develop in the fall.
Edited by Allison Hammond
media voted Heaps co-ottensive MVP for the game.
Kansas coach Charlie Weis said there were a couple of plays that Heaps could have executed better, but for the most part, the BYU transfer lived up to Weis' expectations.
Heaps' biggest target in Saturday's spring game was junior wide receiver Justin McCay, who shared the offensive MVP title with Heaps. McCay's eightceptions helped produce 99 yards and a touchdown for the Blue squad.
"You've got to be encouraged when you watch him play," Weis said. "Strong arm, accurate, and knows how to read coverages."
Heaps and McCay spent a lot of time this offseason working together and carried it over to Saturday for fans to see. McCay sat out last year, but will be an essential part of the lajhawks' offense in 2013.
"What we need is a dynamic football player to go down and stretch the defense and make plays down field." Heaps said. "With him
and learning as much as they could before stepping into their shoes.
Although McCay has yet to make a name for himself, he is already a key player as Heaps continues to be the leader for Kansas. The quarterback-wide receiver duo showed a lot of potential for this season in the spring game.
McCay played in three games as a redshirt freshman at the University of Oklahoma in 2011, including one against Kansas. As a Sooner, McCay did not accumulate any statistics and still awaits his first catch in a college football game.
"It's a lot of fun to see him go out there and perform and play as well as he did." Heaps said. "Now we're going to expect that from him every single day."
Weis opted out of coaching in the spring game and scouted the team from the press box. He liked what he saw in the duo.
"I think one of the reasons why Jake had a big day is because Justin
had a big day, and vice versa." Weis said. "One of the reasons Justin had a big day is because Jake knows where to throw and where he's going to be."
McCay said after the game that Heaps "amazes" him in practices as the two have built a lot of chemistry and camaraderie this year.
Like Heaps, he sees the new opportunity to go from being a quiet football player to being a big
4
contributor under Weis' offense.
"It definitely humbles you; McCay said." It makes you more hungry when you get on the field. I'm just trying to compete.
On Monday, the players will visit doctors and trainers to check up on injuries. Later in the week, the players will watch the spring game and receive offseason evaluations from the coaching staff. The players will have meetings with their
position coaches on Wednesday and Thursday.
The players will soon begin summer conditioning. The team will report for fall camp in August to prepare for its season opener at home against the University of South Dakota on Sept. 7.
Edited by Tara Bryant