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Not the No. 80 I remember

Posted August 11, 2007

The first week of camp has included plenty of hype about three freshmen wide receivers and most of it is justly deserved. But the biggest surprise at wide receiver thus far might be a sophomore.

Remember Jarrell Yates, the speedy product of Montbello HIgh School in Denver?

Yates has been making plays this week and he seems to be playing with a level of confidence that seemed to have been missing from him in the past.

Yates injured his knee in the first week of camp two years ago as a true freshman and it might have taken him two years to regroup. Last season, he spent the fall riding a wave of inconsistency and coaches also questioned his toughness.

Coach Dan Hawkins asked reporters Saturday morning to give Yates a hand signal every time they see him. The signal is moving a hand across the body at a steady upward angle. Hawkins said he wants to Yates to get away from the peaks and valleys of his past.

“Last year it seemed like every time he’d get healthy and start looking good, ‘Oh, my shoulder is bothering me.’ or ‘Something this or something there,’ Hawkins said. “He just could not maintain a steady stream. He’s done a nice job so far.”

...Speaking of inconsistency, I've now seen senior place-kicker Kevin Eberhart go through a practice without really missing a kick and I've also seen him go through several rough stretches where he just can't seem to find the uprights. Saturday morning he was 2-for-5.

...Bernard Jackson, Alvin Barnett, Keenan Stevens and Erick Faatagi were finally back at practice Saturday morning after dealing with academic problems. We should know within a week to 10 days who is academically eligible this season and who, if anyone, is not. All must complete three days in shorts and helmets before being able to put on the pads.

...The Buffs are back on the field this afternoon from 4-6 p.m. in shorts and shells.