Richmond returns all of our top receivers in 2024, led by preseason 1st teamer Nick DeGennaro. After injuries limited the depth of this group in 2023, I’m expecting the full talent of the WR to shine in 2024.

Player Profiles

Nick DeGennaro – Nick DeGennaro – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Ja’Vion Griffin – Ja’Vion Griffin – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Landon Ellis – Landon Ellis – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Jerry Garcia Jr. – Jerry Garcia Jr. – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Quanye Veney – Quanye Veney – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Trey Mancuso – Trey Mancuso – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Cassius Harris – Cassius Harris – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Nick Hanley – Nick Hanley – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Isaiah Dawson – Isaiah Dawson – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Andreas Hill – Andreas Hill – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

Cole Schilling – Cole Schilling – Football – University of Richmond Athletics (richmondspiders.com)

2023 Injuries

Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 didn’t look nearly the same for the receivers last year. DeGennaro and Jasiah Williams were the clear top-2 receivers, with Ja’Vion Griffin poised to assume a starting spot alongside them. Unfortunately, Williams went down in the spring, Griffin missed most of October, and Isaiah Wilson (ETSU transfer) was only available for seven games. Landon Ellis stepping up as a true freshman was encouraging, but I’m hoping the top guys get to play in 12+ games this season.

Jerry Garcia Jr.

At first it was cool, a fun talking point amongst the fans in the stands. A freshman with a “celebrity name” coming in and immediately making a splash made Garcia Jr. an early fan favorite. Due to injuries he slid to running back his first season, averaging over 6 yards/carry and notching his first collegiate TD. Then in 2022 he averaged nearly 17 yards/catch, caught a TD, and ran for another. His 45-yard reception at Delaware helped UR clinch our first playoff berth since 2016, but his early impact was still mostly known from being involved in reverses and other gadget plays.

Then 2023 rolled around, and #4 showed us none of what he did before was a joke. The Spiders were in a really difficult spot with Jasiah Williams out, yet Garcia Jr. took control of the slot position and continued his great play. 43 receptions, nearly 15 yards/catch, and 5 TDs cemented his role in this receiving corps. PFF had Garcia Jr. with only one drop in 2023, proving he can be reliable option for this offense moving forward. He’ll be involved in a number of ways for Coach October’s offense in 2024 and entering his 4th season in a Spider uniform I’m expecting #4 to continue impacting this Spiders’ offense in a big way.

Nick DeGennaro

Sometimes the paragraphs write themselves, and this is one of them. Preseason 1st team All-CAA, 1st team All-American, Walter Payton watchlist – you know the headlines. Very few transfers make the impact #11 has in his first two seasons, and there’s no doubt he’s ready for his encore. A 2nd team All-CAA selection in 2023, DeGennaro hauled in 11 TDs, including eight in a five-game stretch. I previously mentioned he’s one more great season away from statistically being a top 10 or even top 5 WR in UR history, despite only three seasons, which prompted a couple requests to “explain myself.”

Fine 🙂

We all know the three big stats for wide receivers. Through two seasons, DeGennaro has 122 receptions, 1,426 yards, and 12 TDs. To move into the UR career top 10 for all of those, he’d need the following season:

• 26 receptions, 679 yards, 2 TDs

Yawn. Here’s what he needs to get top-5 in each:

• 76 receptions, 1,224 yards, 5 TDs

That would be an exceptional season, but it’s not unrealistic. The point stands – he’ll have only played three seasons in a Spider uniform and he’s genuinely got a shot to be a top 5 receiver all time. That doesn’t come around very often. I can’t yet tell you who’s throwing him the ball in 2024, but I like Richmond’s chances if #11 is involved.

The only question for Nick in 2024 is how the Spiders will use him. In 2023, he lined up “wide” (as the widest receiver on his side of the field) 93.1% of the time, per PFF. That was 7th most out of all FCS receivers (with enough targets to qualify). Now that Coach October has another year of calling plays under his belt, we may see DeGennaro move around a little more. With Griffin and Ellis as established options out wide, as well as new depth at tight end, the Spiders will be able to vary their looks much more often this season.

#11 will demand the focus of all opposing secondaries, so consistently moving him around will only make this offense harder to prepare for. That additional pre-snap strain on defenses will either get DeGennaro in favorable 1-on-1 matchups or allow a different Spider to exploit the defense. In Coach October’s first full season as solo OC, I’m expecting plenty more wrinkles to showcase DeGennaro’s talents.

What I’m watching for

In Fall Camp

It’s obvious I’m high on Garcia Jr., and we know what we’ve got in DeGennaro. Quanye Veney also did well in the slot for a R-Fr. last year, so this camp my focus will be on Ja’Vion Griffin and Landon Ellis. Being out the month of October hampered Griffin’s impact on this offense, limiting him to only 16 receptions. He’s a more than capable downfield threat, averaging >17 yards/reception, we just need to see him put a full season together. Ellis played in all 13 games last year, grabbing 20 passes, which was great to see from a true freshman. However, neither guy saw more than 4 targets in a game but once the entire year, so while we’ve seen a small sample of what they can do it will be interesting to see what they do with a full plate. I’m really liking what I’m seeing early in camp, as both look determined to raise the bar another level in 2024. Establishing another threat on the outside, opposite DeGennaro, is the next level for this UR passing attack.

This Season

Can we avoid droughts for DeGennaro? I by no means want this to be a one WR attack, but us basically forgetting about #11 for most of November was difficult to stomach.

I’m sure Nick preferred the 10 targets each game in the middle part of the year, but I think we’d be ok with him anywhere in the 8-10 range. What can’t be argued is less than 4 targets/game, and despite our November success that isn’t something we should replicate again in 2024. What’s interesting about his drop in targets is how it follows the ebbs and flows of the UR QB situation throughout the season. For those who thought the Coleman-DeGennaro connection was on another level in 2023, here’s some data to support your claim:

Same data, just with the QBs added on the far right. The “UR quarterback” column isn’t perfect here because of guys jumping in and out, however the primary QB during those stretches has a direct correlation to DeGennaro’s targets. There was a clear spike when Coleman took over in early October, and also a clear decline once Wickersham returned for the November finish. Was it play-calling? How defenses schemed around #11? DeGennaro just not being open as often? That I can’t tell you.

What I do know is Richmond’s success remained high in both October and November, so while there’s no direct correlation between higher targets and winning %, in the long run getting DeGennaro the ball consistently will only take this offense to good places.

Next Post

2024 Position Group Preview | Defensive line – Friday, August 9th