New WVU receivers coach Shannon Dawson says the potential is there for his group to put up some astonishing numbers this season.
"I’ve coached in this offense my whole life," Dawson said. I feel like we get (players) the ball in space and give them the opportunity to make plays. I don’t think every offense is geared that way.
"And if someone is especially hot," Dawson continued. "it is not unusual for them to get 15-20 catches in a game."
Dawson came to WVU from Stephen F. Austin where he coordinated an offense that led NCAA FCS in passing offense and scoring offense last year. And he goes way back with new WVU offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as Holgorsen coached Dawson as a player at Wingate back in 1999.
Dawson says the production of WVU’s receivers could improve exponentially.
"(Justin) Blackmon at Oklahoma State caught 20 balls the year before and then he caught 111 balls the next year. He got more balls thrown to him."
Blackmon was the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver last year while working in Holgorsen’s offense at Oklahoma State.
And Dawson says that production can come from anywhere on the field.
"Wes Welker at Texas Tech caught over 100 balls two years in a row and he played ‘H," Dawson said. Michael Crabtree caught over 100 (at Texas Tech) and he play ‘Z.’ I had two receivers back to back that caught over 100 and that played ‘X.’ Then I had a guy catch 119 that played ‘Y.’
"It just depends on where that guy lines up," Dawson continued. "The ball finds the play makers . Regardless of where you line them up. The ball finds the play makers . That is just the way it works out."