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Missouri State

Holliman

Football

Bears Preseason Preview: Wide Receivers

Bears Preseason Preview: Wide Receivers

Letterwinners returning/lost: 5/2
Starters returning/lost: 2/1
  • MSU's returning corps of receivers includes two regular starters (Malik Earl and Zac Hoover), as well as three more veterans (Willis Chambers, Deion Holliman and LeMarcus Stewart) who earned starting assignments last fall.
  • The Bears, under the direction of receivers coach Jason Ray, will bring back 81 percent of their receiving production (91 catches) at the position and (including tight ends and running backs) 77 percent of their 2015 overall team total (119 of 155).
  • Earl represents the Bears' top returning receiving after recording a team-high 31 receptions for 352 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his 10 starts last year; the two-year letterwinner posted career bests of five catches at North Dakota State and 106 total receiving yards at Southern Illinois last season, and also averaged 14.5 yards per carry in two rush attempts.
  • Stewart, a fourth-year veteran, hauled in 17 receptions overall in 2015, including a career-high four catches at Memphis.
  • Hoover earned seven starts as a junior last year, averaging 10.4 yards per catch and totaling 15 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns overall.
  • Chambers made a total of three starts as a sophomore last season, tying Hoover for fourth on the squad with 15 receptions for 120 yards.
  • A dual threat in both the return game as well as the H-receiver spot, Holliman ranked sixth in the MVFC and 33rd nationally in all-purpose yardage (1,328), including 92 receiving yards on 13 catches.
  • Additionally, junior transfer Jalen Esters brings big-play potential to the MSU receiving corps after bringing in 79 receiptions for 1,245 yards and 20 touchdowns last season at Rochester (Minn.) Community Tech.
  • Freshmen Aaron Denson and Rickey Nichols also bring lofty expectations into their first collegiate campaign; Denson was a Texas all-state selection for Richland High School in Fort Worth, where he recorded a big senior year that included 64 receptions for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Nichols tallied over 1,400 all-purpose yards last fall for Blue Springs South High School in the Kansas City area.
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Players Mentioned

LeMarcus Stewart

#1 LeMarcus Stewart

WR
6' 1"
Senior
Deion Holliman

#5 Deion Holliman

WR
5' 9"
Junior
Willis Chambers

#6 Willis Chambers

WR
6' 4"
Junior
Malik Earl

#17 Malik Earl

WR
6' 3"
Junior
Zac Hoover

#15 Zac Hoover

WR
6' 0"
Senior
Aaron Denson

#80 Aaron Denson

WR
6' 0"
Freshman
Jalen Esters

#81 Jalen Esters

WR
6' 1"
Junior
Rickey Nichols

#8 Rickey Nichols

WR
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

LeMarcus Stewart

#1 LeMarcus Stewart

6' 1"
Senior
WR
Deion Holliman

#5 Deion Holliman

5' 9"
Junior
WR
Willis Chambers

#6 Willis Chambers

6' 4"
Junior
WR
Malik Earl

#17 Malik Earl

6' 3"
Junior
WR
Zac Hoover

#15 Zac Hoover

6' 0"
Senior
WR
Aaron Denson

#80 Aaron Denson

6' 0"
Freshman
WR
Jalen Esters

#81 Jalen Esters

6' 1"
Junior
WR
Rickey Nichols

#8 Rickey Nichols

6' 2"
Freshman
WR

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