Can the Miami wide receivers have a breakout season?
The returning wide receivers for the Miami football program need to become more consistent and explosive in 2020.
Senior Mike Harley and juniors Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins are the only receivers with significant experience. Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton with one reception is the only other Miami WR with a catch.
Harley led the returning Miami WRs with 38 receptions for 485 yards and was second to Wiggins with four TDs last season. Harley should improve those numbers drastically in the Lashlee offense.
Wiggins was explosive last season leading Miami averaging 16.8 yards per reception and finishing second with four TDs. Wiggins finished the 2019 season with 20 receptions for 335 yards.
Most of that production came in four games. If Wiggins is going to reach the potential he showed with three of his four TDs in back to back weeks against Florida State and Louisville, he needs to produce more consistently.
Pope made a big move as a sophomore with 18 receptions for 266 yards and two TDs last season. Lack of consistency also plagued Pope. Pope had six games last season with one reception for less than 10 yards. As a consensus four-star an near five-star signee in 2018, it is time for Pope to break through.
Payton is a player to watch. Playing primarily on the scout team in 2020, Payton reportedly dominated scrimmages in 2019.
That production Payton had during scrimmages needs to translate to games in 2020. Under Lashlee the Miami offense overall should increase. Both King and Lashlee like to throw deep and that should help Miami WRs.