The Miami football team preparing for North Carolina State star wide receiver Kevin Concepcion is similar to defending Malik Washington of Virginia. Concepcion is tied for fourth in the ACC with 42 receptions and seventh with 493 receiving yards. Washington leads the ACC with 68 receptions and 935 yards receiving.
Concepcion and Washington dominate the targets for their teams. Washington had 12 receptions for 152 yards on 15 targets in the 29-26 overtime loss to the Miami football team on Saturday. Malachi Fields had seven receptions for 67 yards on seven targets. No other Virginia WR had more than four targets.
Concepcion was the 247 Sports True Freshman of the Week for his performance versus Clemson last week. Concepcion had five receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns and two carries for five yards as North Carolina State beat Clemson 24-17. On the season, Concepcion has 42 receptions for 493 yards and six TDs.
Keyon Lesane is second on North Carolina State with 17 receptions for 132 yards and no TDs. Terrell Simmons is second on the Wolfpack with 180 yards on 10 receptions. Miami has to defend Concepcion far better than they did with Washington last week. Washington routinely got open in the slot.
Concepcion is also a slot receiver. The biggest difference between Concepcion and Washington is explosive plays. Concepcion is 13th in the ACC with six receptions of 20 or more yards. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo and Washington are tied for first in the ACC with 13 receptions of 20 or more yards.
Virginia is eighth in the ACC with 25 pass plays of 20 or more yards. North Carolina State is last in the ACC with only 17 completions of 20 or more yards. Miami is seventh in the ACC allowing 25 pass plays of 20 yards or more this season. The Miami defense has to continue that trend and limit the Wolfpack’s explosive plays.