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Football 2022: Veteran Dixon Leads Talented But Largely Unproven Wide Receiver Corps
8/16/2022 8:51:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – it's not about living up to what came before but being the best version of you.
That's the mantra for the Central Michigan wide receivers as they face the 2022 season without departed standouts Kalil Pimpleton and JaCorey Sullivan.
"We don't need anyone to go out there and be that guy, as in (Pimpleton), but I just need you to be the best version of you that you can give this football team," said wide receivers coach Alvin Slaughter, who has a bevy of talented albeit largely inexperienced pass catchers vying for playing time ahead of the Chippewas' Sept. 1 opener at Oklahoma State.
Certainly, the departure of the Pimpleton-Sullivan dynamic duo leaves a void – the two combined for 111 catches for 1,647 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago – but that's the nature of college sports. Parts annually need to be replaced.
Those voids, the saying goes, create opportunities.
"There are some guys that are making some plays," Slaughter said. "Some of them … a little light bulb will go off and you'll look and say, 'Wow, OK, I like what I just saw.'
"Last year was last year. … No one wants to hear about what you did last year because it's a whole new season. Those guys are like, 'I know we lost some guys, but I'm going to be the next guy and I'm going to make some plays. I'm excited for my opportunity to show what I can do.'"
Dallas Dixon is the top returnee among the receiving corps. He ranked third on the team with 45 catches and was second with 701 yards and eight touchdown receptions a year ago.
Dixon is the clearcut leader in the position group and it's a role he has embraced.
"Doing what I'm supposed to be doing," Dixon said of his approach to the leadership role. "Leading by example, being in my playbook, having extra meetings and extra talks with the guys when I'm supposed to, making sure they're in their playbook, making sure everybody's understanding the offense."
There are a number of new faces at the position, led by senior Carlos Carriere, a transfer from Maryland and the older brother of freshman Matteo Carriere.
Carlos Carriere is listed at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds and has helped provide not only size and a Big Ten pedigree, but a veteran presence to help Dixon – the two are the lone senior receivers on the roster – shoulder the leadership load.
"It's a competition with him also," Dixon said. "'You make a play, I'm going to make a play too.' We hold each other to that type of standard."
Slaughter said he is expecting several other less-experienced players to step up. Among them are redshirt freshman Chris Parker; sophomore Jalen McGaughy, a transfer from Ball State; and redshirt freshmen Tyson Davis and Finn Hogan, both of whom have shown great promise and are coming off of injuries that cost them most or all of the 2021 season.
"It's good to see these new guys that are on the team kind of adapt and adjust to what it's like to work every day," Slaughter said. "As a coach (replacing stars is) always going to be challenging, but I feel like that these guys are really stepping their game up.
"This is a new season and a new team, and this team has got the dedication and they've got some pride."
That's the mantra for the Central Michigan wide receivers as they face the 2022 season without departed standouts Kalil Pimpleton and JaCorey Sullivan.
"We don't need anyone to go out there and be that guy, as in (Pimpleton), but I just need you to be the best version of you that you can give this football team," said wide receivers coach Alvin Slaughter, who has a bevy of talented albeit largely inexperienced pass catchers vying for playing time ahead of the Chippewas' Sept. 1 opener at Oklahoma State.
Certainly, the departure of the Pimpleton-Sullivan dynamic duo leaves a void – the two combined for 111 catches for 1,647 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago – but that's the nature of college sports. Parts annually need to be replaced.
Those voids, the saying goes, create opportunities.
"There are some guys that are making some plays," Slaughter said. "Some of them … a little light bulb will go off and you'll look and say, 'Wow, OK, I like what I just saw.'
"Last year was last year. … No one wants to hear about what you did last year because it's a whole new season. Those guys are like, 'I know we lost some guys, but I'm going to be the next guy and I'm going to make some plays. I'm excited for my opportunity to show what I can do.'"
Dallas Dixon is the top returnee among the receiving corps. He ranked third on the team with 45 catches and was second with 701 yards and eight touchdown receptions a year ago.
Dixon is the clearcut leader in the position group and it's a role he has embraced.
"Doing what I'm supposed to be doing," Dixon said of his approach to the leadership role. "Leading by example, being in my playbook, having extra meetings and extra talks with the guys when I'm supposed to, making sure they're in their playbook, making sure everybody's understanding the offense."
There are a number of new faces at the position, led by senior Carlos Carriere, a transfer from Maryland and the older brother of freshman Matteo Carriere.
Carlos Carriere is listed at 6-foot-5, 203 pounds and has helped provide not only size and a Big Ten pedigree, but a veteran presence to help Dixon – the two are the lone senior receivers on the roster – shoulder the leadership load.
"It's a competition with him also," Dixon said. "'You make a play, I'm going to make a play too.' We hold each other to that type of standard."
Slaughter said he is expecting several other less-experienced players to step up. Among them are redshirt freshman Chris Parker; sophomore Jalen McGaughy, a transfer from Ball State; and redshirt freshmen Tyson Davis and Finn Hogan, both of whom have shown great promise and are coming off of injuries that cost them most or all of the 2021 season.
"It's good to see these new guys that are on the team kind of adapt and adjust to what it's like to work every day," Slaughter said. "As a coach (replacing stars is) always going to be challenging, but I feel like that these guys are really stepping their game up.
"This is a new season and a new team, and this team has got the dedication and they've got some pride."
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