Jalen Rima looks to build on breakout freshman season at UNI

CEDAR FALLS - It wasn't until week five of the 2016 season that UNI football fans started to get their first glimpses of Jalen Rima - and it wasn't until weeks six and seven when the Cedar Rapids Prairie alumnus really began to flash his potential.

For a sophomore receiver that's been talked highly of all offseason by his teammates and coaches, it's easy to forget that it wasn't until Oct. 8 against South Dakota that Rima first put himself on the stat sheet. Two kick returns for 55 yards and one reception for five yards was the tale of the tape for Rima's first contributions as a Panther.

A week later against Youngstown State he reeled in one catch for 30 yards, and while the speed and athleticism was apparent, Panthers fans were still wondering about how much the true freshman was going to be able to contribute.

Fast forward one more week against Missouri State, and the Jalen Rima breakout began in earnest. Four receptions for 68 yards, with a 17-yard touchdown reception delivered by Eli Dunne, and the march toward 764 all-purpose yards was on.

Over the final four games in 2016 Rima provided 93, 176, 112, and 165 all-purpose yards respectively. Those efforts were highlighted by a school-record 94-yard punt return touchdown, a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, and a 34-yard touchdown reception.

By season's end it was unquestioned that the Panthers had a special talent on their hands. Going forward it was going to be about polishing Rima's game and putting him in the best positions to contribute.

'At the end of the day it is our job as coaches to make sure that, one, we're doing things schematically to put guys in the position to succeed.” said first-year wide receivers coach Pat McCann. 'And then two, as coaches we've got to identify what those skill-sets are and maximize that.”

McCann said as they've progressed from spring ball through most of fall camp they've identified how to maximize Rima's talents. Starting quarterback Eli Dunne didn't appear to be the type of quarterback in his five games last year to have a go-to receiver. That said, the junior signal-caller is well aware of Rima's game breaking abilities.

'He's very fast. He's got good hands,” Dunne said. 'When you get the ball to him in space you feel like he can make a guy miss and break one loose.”

Beyond the direction he's getting from his coaches, Rima has added more to his plate this offseason in terms of preparation. A year ago he said he was focused on what his coaches were telling him and improving as much as he could. This offseason he says he's doing even more to improve his game.

'This year I've been watching NFL wide receiver tape,” Rima said. 'Watching to see what (cornerbacks) are looking at. I've definitely done a lot more work this year knowing what to work on. I've still got a lot to learn.”