Receiver corps taking shape for UNI football

CEDAR FALLS - Before this season got rolling, there were several position groups that needed guys in new roles to step up in a hurry. What got the most attention were, in some cases, obvious: quarterback, running back and linebacker.

The wide receivers had as much or more to replace than any position on the team, though. The Panthers lost their top four receivers from last season, which represented 70 percent of the catches and 68 percent of the receiving yards.

It was a position to which Coach Mark Farley had to move former running backs and cornerbacks to even have a full group. Week 1 against Iowa State was not a great showing for them, but Weeks 2 and 3 got better as the offense got more comfortable.

But if the Panthers want to have the offense they've hoped for and get through the gauntlet of a schedule they have, the group has to keep making marked improvements - starting with Saturday at Illinois State.

'We did emphasize that (in the bye week), to increase the depth at receiver,” Farley said on Monday. 'I think we had a better understanding after the first three games who the receivers are and how to put them in a better spot so they can be more effective.

'You see what Marcus Weymiller can do, you see what (Logan) Cunningham can do, and Charles Brown and (Daurice) Fountain. (Before) the first three games, we didn't know about any of those guys. Now I think, after three games, we have a sense of what their ability is in a game situation. We may have to change a few things to hopefully make them more successful.”

Fountain is the leading receiver for UNI (2-1) with 14 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown. Brown has eight catches for 69 yards and Cunningham has five catches for 42 yards and one touchdown.

Those numbers are leaner than anyone on the staff or the roster had hoped they'd be, but players and coaches stressed not getting ahead of themselves on specific aspects of production. The adage of 'getting better every week” is applied here, and the bye week was no different.

'We're steady working. We always knew we were talented enough. We just knew we were young and we were going to have to come together to make this whole thing click,” Fountain said. 'We knew the first game wasn't our greatest, but we just told each other to stick together and keep working and we know we'll be able to display our talents the right way to people.”

Brown, who has started all three games, struggled at Cal Poly with a few key drops in situations that would've kept the offense on the field. Fountain, Cunningham and Weymiller have all had their own struggles with routes, blocking assignments and consistency as well.

First-year receivers coach Jason Ray has worked extra with the group, 'having me do ball drills before practice and even after practice - stay after a little bit and do extra ball drills and get even better,” Fountain said.

With their youth and relative inexperience - Brown and Cunningham are juniors, Fountain a sophomore, Weymiller a red-shirt freshman and just 32 catches collectively last season - none have really stepped up into a true leadership role in the position. They've tried to all bring something different.

'I really think we all lead in different ways. If I have to take that role, I'm more than welcome to take it,” Fountain said. 'We all take it and lead the receiver group. One day Logan will have to push the unit up, another day Charles will have to, and other days I have to. It just depends. We all pitch in in our little ways.”

It's Fountain, though, who's risen above the rest as the go-to guy so far this season. He had a highlight-reel grab at Cal Poly in a game where he finished with eight catches for 123 yards.

His speed got him recruited, but his hands have kept him on the field. It's something he said he worked hard on over the summer to be technically better. If the Panthers are to start their Missouri Valley Football Conference season with a win at Illinois State, he'll have to continue the steady improvement he's shown this season - and maybe make a spectacular catch or two.

'He's a more confident player right now; he's made some nice catches. He's a quality player. We just need to see more consistent play, but I think that comes with being a starter,” Farley said. 'He's gotten better each game he's played in. Hopefully we did him justice this last week to improve some of the things he can improve on so he can take another notch up this weekend.”

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