Football Position Preview: Wide Receiver

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell has options at wide receiver, and head coach Joe Susan believes the fierce competition for playing time will make it one of his team's most dynamic positions.

"The competition at receiver is going to be some of the best we've ever had here," Susan said. "All eight of our receivers will get repetitions during camp, and all eight have a chance to contribute. We'll also cross train these guys in a lot of positions, which will make us better as a team."

Leading the way is Alan Butler, a senior who ranks second in his class with 20 career starts. Butler, who surpassed 200 receiving yards each of the past three seasons, enters 2018 with 669 yards and two touchdowns on 60 career receptions.

"Alan has played a lot of football and made a lot of big plays for us," Susan said. "He's a big receiver compared to other Patriot League receivers. He's not a blazer, but his strength helps him beat the defenders who are trying to cover him. He uses his body well to create space for himself. Beyond that, he has excellent hands, great route definition and significant rapport with our quarterbacks. But his experience is the biggest thing that will help us."

"Alan is a guy that does everything right."

Check out our latest #BandOfBison Spotlight, featuring WR Alan Butler. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/KkqMWlqSKm
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) August 15, 2018

Justin Bethea is another receiver who can make big plays. Though he struggled with injuries as a sophomore in 2017, he still finished with a career-high 138 receiving yards, 61 of which came on three catches during the season finale at Fordham.

"When Justin is healthy, he's shown he has big-play talent," Susan said. "He's a long and tall receiver, which gives him an advantage against the secondaries we typically face in the Patriot League. He also has excellent leaping ability and very good speed."

Mike Balzofiore, a junior who can burn opposing defenses with his straight-line speed, and John McGuire, a hard-working sophomore who impressed Susan during the spring, enter camp as Butler and Bethea's backups. In 2017, Balzofiore totaled 41 of his 47 receiving yards at Colgate while McGuire was named Bucknell's Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year.

"Mike, when healthy, can be an effective receiver, particularly in the slot," Susan said. "John made every repetition he had during the spring worthwhile, and he evolved into an effective receiver by putting in that work."

Waiting in the wings are junior Steven Walier and sophomore Blais Herman, who each stands over 6-foot tall and could be seen in a variety of different packages. Freshmen Dominic Lyles and Brandon Sanders, who Susan called "two of the better receivers we've recruited," will challenge the returnees ahead of them on the depth chart.

"Dominic and Brandon are going to be special players on our team and in the Patriot League," Susan said. "It's going to be exciting to watch them develop, and I could see them both making an immediate impact."

NOTES: The Bison have eight wide receivers on their roster: one senior, three juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen ... Butler leads all returning offensive players in career starts; overall, he stands behind only cornerback Bryan Marine ... Butler is one of nine three-year letterwinners on the 2018 roster ... During Bucknell's scrimmage, Butler was Logan Bitikofer and John Chiarolanzio's favorite target; one of his more impressive catches came in traffic up the middle of the field ... Bethea has impressed with his ability to outleap his coverage for long balls ... Balzofiore (#14 from #84) and McGuire (#19 from #15) changed numbers ahead of the 2018 campaign ... Balzofiore has proven to be an effective slot receiver thus far ... McGuire took on additional responsibility as Bucknell's long snapper ... Walier is also a member of Bucknell's track & field program, competing in sprints and the triple jump ... Lyles and Sanders have proven quick studies of Bucknell's offense; both have flashed speed and athleticism that could help the Bison as early as 2018 ... Herman, who lost his freshman season to injury, is healthy and has made the most of his repetitions to date ... As a unit, the wide receivers take pride in their blocking, and Susan praised assistant coach Steven King for his work in this facet of the game.