http://www.themercury.com/k-statesports/article.aspx?articleId=7d92a1aadee442c990f3481939448c8eNew wide outs plan to be in mix at K-StateMark Janssen
[email protected]Kansas State may have starters returning in the X, Y, Z positions of wide receiver, but there are two newcomers who hope to make the veterans - Jordy Nelson, Daniel Gonzalez and Cedric Wilson — earn their snaps.
"I'm here to start," said freshman Lamark Brown. "That's my goal. I didn't come here not to start."From the junior college ranks, Ernie Pierce was saying much the same:
"I want to break into the starting lineup. That's always been my dream and my goal."Brown is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound freshman from Hazelwood, Mo., where at Hazelwood West High, he was ranked as the No. 4 athlete and No. 71 overall prospect by Rivals.com. In the St. Louis metro area he was ranked No. 1, and No. 11 on the entire listing of recruits by Big 12 Conference schools.
That was when Brown was a dasher totaling 584 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior year, after a 1,249-yard, 21-TD junior season.
"I always wanted to play wide receiver, but in high school a wide receiver didn't fit into the offense," said Brown, who caught just three passes last year. "When I found out Kansas State was interested in me as a receiver, that made up my mind where I was going."Asked if his hands were "good," and Brown said, "Yeah."
Asked if his hands were "great," he flashed a smile before answering, "Yeah."
But he also realizes his "4.4 to 4.5" 40-speed will be semi-unless "... until I do a better job learning routes and learning about coverages."
Brown admits that he might miss some of the glamour that goes with being the star-stud of his team's backfield, but he quickly adds, "I'm guessing the same glamour comes with wide receiver if you make plays."
Another blazer with 4.4 speed, Pierce arrives at K-State from Santa Barbara City College in California.
Ranked the No. 80 junior college player in the nation last year, the 6-4, 204-pounder had a two-year career of 66 receptions for 1,153 yards, or 17.5 yards per catch. Thirteen of those nabs were of the six-point variety.
A two-time second-team all-Western States Conference selection, Pierce looked at Oregon State, Fresno State and Troy, but was impressed with the amount of attention K-State showed during the recruiting process.
"I think they sent about every coach they had, including the head coach, out to see me," Pierce said. "They really seemed to want me, and once I came for a visit, I knew the fit was right."Pierce said he gained conditioning, plus became "comfortable with the guys," during his summer in Manhattan, but he openly admits that the speed of the Big 12 game will be an adjustment.
One thing that both newcomers are excited about is being on the receiving end of Josh Freeman passes.
"He's a freak," Pierce said. "Such a big kid with a lot of talent."Brown added,
"He's a great quarterback with a great arm and is a great guy."
