Will a Wide Receiver Break 1000 Yards this Season?

The Bulls have had a lot of athletic, fast, and quick wide receivers throughout their history, but despite all the names that have taken the field and suited up in the green and gold, not one receiver has ever surpassed 1000 yards in a single season.  But in 2012, is this the year history is made?

The single season record belongs to Carlton Mitchell.  Back in 2007, the big vertical threat, while dealing with some injuries, set the record with 706 yards in the season.  The next highest was was Dontavia Bogan in 2010, he recorded 685 yards.  The next highest takes us back through the history books a bit back to 2002 with Hugh Smith who recorded 661 yards that season. 

Now a key to getting to 1000 yards relies on the number of receptions that a receiver gets during the course of the season and a few Bulls have been busy targets for the USF quarterbacks.  Hugh Smith in 2002 caught 62 passes and Jessie Hester Jr. caught 54 in 2008, but neither could break 1000 yards in that season.  So what does it take to get to that mark?  Well, it takes a stud receiver, a player that can go get the ball, have great hands, run routes, take a hit, and become a favorite target for the quarterback.  In 2012, with so many targets, is there a receiver among the group that is capable of doing this?

It starts with looking at the top returning receiver from last season, Sterling Griffin who led the team with 530 yards despite missing several games with injury.  If he is able to stay healthy, he could be a huge candidate to break the 1000 mark, but two years straight, injuries, he has to stay on the field to get the numbers.  The next name that everyone continues to talk about is Andre Davis who totaled 272 yards last season.  Davis continued to progress last year, getting better each game and with a huge spring and fall, the feeling is that he is ready to break out this season.  While the speculation is great, there is still question if he can live up to the hype and make it happen. 

The biggest issue (personally) that could stop the Bulls from getting their first 1000 yard receiver is just the pure number of receivers and tight ends on the depth chart.  The Bulls have so many weapons and spreading the ball out to everyone to keep everyone happy and utilize their skills will be hard to do and get the large numbers of yards needed in each game for the Bulls.  Can it be done?  Of course, Davis or someone could emerge as the go-to receiver for the Bulls and each week put up big numbers, but it could be another season without breaking that historic mark (as long as we win, that record can elude us)