Washington State features two productive slot receivers Miami will have to contain
Miami’s defense will have their hands full with a couple of Washington State slot receivers during the Sun Bowl on January 31st in El Paso, Texas.
The Cougars feature a pair of veteran slot receivers from the state of Florida that the Hurricanes will need to key in on throughout the game.
Calvin Jackson Jr. is a sixth-year senior that went to Coral Springs Charter and signed with Toledo out of the 2016 class. He then played at Independence Community College before finding his way to Washington State.
Jackson leads Washington State with 946 receiving yards while averaging 15 yards per reception and seven touchdowns.
Redshirt senior Travell Harris (5-9, 185) hails from Tampa Jesuit High School and leads Washington State with 73 receptions for 798 receiving yards. He also leads WSU with nine receiving touchdowns.
Both Jackson and Harris were voted Second Team All-Pac-12 offense following the regular season.
Jackson and Harris excel at winning contested catch situations with Jackson leading the team with bringing in 8-of-15 contested catch situations. and Harris pulling down 5-of-9 contested catch targets.
Jackson is a yards after catch threat, totaling 387 yards after catch on the season.
The average depth of target for both Jackson and Harris is ten yards past the line of scrimmage. Jackson is a sneaky deep threat, catching 8-of-11 deep shot targets for 356 yards with three touchdowns. Harris haas caught 6-of-12 deep shot targets for 179 yards with three touchdowns.
Defending talented slot receivers has been an issue for Miami’s defense at times this season.
Against North Carolina, Josh Downs caught 11 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. NC State’s Thayer Thomas caught seven passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns out of the slot against Miami. Pittsburgh’s Jordan Addison caught eight passes for 145 yards against UM. FSU’s Ja’Khi Douglas caught four passes for 90 yards out of the slot against the Hurricanes.
Defending the slot receiver will be a big key to the game for the Hurricanes when they take on the Cougars.
