This is part of The Sun’s position-by-position preview of the football team.
Cornell receivers hauled in almost 1,400 yards through the air last season, and with few graduations from last year’s group and lingering injuries healed, the Red’s receivers are poised for a big season.
Senior wide receiver Ben Rogers will be returning for his fifth year this season and will likely lead the way for this year’s receiving corps. Joining Rogers as likely starters are seniors Brady Malone and Marshall Deutz.
Rogers, who was elected captain earlier this year, led Cornell in receptions and receiving yards last year, snagging three touchdowns in nine games.
“[He’s] just a tough, dependable, selfless kid,” head coach David Archer ’05 said. “He’ll be a key, key feature in the receiving game. Provides great leadership.”
Malone, at 6-foot-3, will likely be a threat in jump ball scenarios and in the red zone on fade routes, according to Archer.
“He just has a real knack of really controlling his body and going up and getting [the ball],” Archer said.
Junior James Hubbard and senior Collin Shaw are also back for Cornell. Hubbard was one of Cornell’s most consistent wide-outs last year, seeing time in all 10 of the Red’s games. After not seeing time in his freshman season, he hauled in 254 yards on the season to go along with his three touchdowns last year.
Shaw jumped out to a fast start last season, catching 10 balls for 172 yards in the Red’s first three games of the season, but an ankle injury derailed his season. As a sophomore, he led Cornell in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
In addition to the guys who have seen play time in the past, Archer also mentioned that senior Jordan Young, sophomore Lars Pedersen and junior Demetrius Daltirus would earn some time at receiver. Pedersen and Young competed mainly on special teams in previous season, while Daltirus was a tailback.
Key Losses:
- Chris Lenz ‘16
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