North Carolina wide receiver coach Lonnie Galloway details receivers growth

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•07/12/22

The North Carolina Tar Heels got more than half of their production at wide receiver from one player last year, junior Josh Downs. However, wide receivers coach Lonnie Galloway sees a different story for the Tar Heels wideouts in 2022. During a recent press conference, Galloway details growth in the receiver’s room and how they’re getting more out of them this offseason.

“I mean, it’s just some of the things from the season and getting into spring ball and sitting down with coaches, how do we get more guys involved with it,” said Galloway. “Antoine (Green) had 35 catches for 600 and some yards with like 45 targets. So just trying to figure out how to incorporate him more into it. The younger guys JJ (Jones), Kobe (Paysour), and Gavin (Blackwell), they had huge springs, and Justin Olson* is still here with us getting better. And now you throw the two young guys in with the Doc and Andre Green but just incorporating everybody to spread it around. I’ve been a part of (teams) where it’s been a 1,000-yard guy here, the next guy had 900 yards, and the next guy had 700 yards. So this is something that we’ve got to continue to do and get better at.”

Last season Downs was head and shoulders above all of the receivers for the Tar Heels. Downs had 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns. The next closest receiver was Antoine Green, who had 31 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns. If North Carolina is to have a more productive offense next year, they will definitely need some of their other pass catchers to step up in 2022. And Galloway has a room full of talent that can do it.

Downs identifies which NFL stars he watches most

No matter the level, it is essential to watch game film to better prepare yourself on the football field. And the North Carolina Tar Heels star receiver Josh Downs is fully aware of that. During a recent press conference, Downs revealed that he watches a ton of film on himself and identifies NFL receivers that he likes to watch.

“I mean, I definitely look at guys in NFL; Cooper Kupp, Tyreek Hill,” said Downs. “I look at Deebo Samuel sometimes. And just different cats in the league that I’ve been there done that and have been balling out. But also looking at my tape, what I can improve on. What I was doing good last year and what I can get better at. And then we’re throwing in wrinkles; different plays, different formations just to mix it up. Get different guys in and get the ball to different people.”

If Downs is looking to expand his game on the field, those three receivers are worth watching and learning from. Samuel finished last season with just shy of 1,800 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns — eight rushing and six receiving. Hill has been one of the most prolific home-run threats in the NFL, and he has done it by catching passes within the short, intermediate, and deep passing game. And Kupp completed the Triple Crown of receiving stats last year after making 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Plus, he capped off his year with a Super Bowl victory and Super Bowl MVP honors.

If Downs can take a little bit from each of these elite receiving threats at the next level and combine it with his talent, he will be nearly impossible to stop at the collegiate level and down the line in the NFL.