NO. 2: WR SHUN BROWN
Ht/Wt/Yr: 5-8, 175, junior
Comment: There’s a ton of uncertainty around the Arizona program, from the future of the head coach to the identity of the starting quarterback.
There’s no disputing who the Wildcats’ No. 1 wide receiver is.
Brown is by far Arizona’s most accomplished returning pass catcher. You could make the case he was the UA’s top target a year ago as a sophomore, even though he didn’t lead the team in receptions.
Brown finished second with 29, which is about three games’ worth for a Washington State wideout. But bear in mind that Arizona finished last in the Pac-12 with 157 completed passes. That number is likely to go up in 2017, and Brown should corral an even greater percentage.
The receiver room’s leaders from 2016 are gone: Nate Phillips (33 reeptions), Trey Griffey (23) and Samajie Grant (22). Brown topped them all in yardage (521) by a wide margin. He also tied for the team lead with three touchdown receptions. And now he won’t have nearly as much competition for catches.
That can be a positive and a negative. Brown is bound to get more balls thrown his way. He’s also bound to get more defensive attention, especially after averaging a team-best 18.0 yards per catch and registering 12 plays of 20-plus yards, including four pass plays of 50-plus.
If other threats don’t emerge, Brown could be smothered by double teams. More likely, Rich Rodriguez and his staff will find ways to feature Brown and take advantage of his big-play ability.
Brown possesses speed, quickness, toughness and smarts. He doesn’t have size, but that hasn’t stopped previous pint-sized wideouts from putting up big numbers in Rodriguez’s system. In 2013, Phillips (5-7, 186) caught 51 passes for 696 yards and seven touchdowns. In ’14, Grant (5-9, 180) put up a 45-718-6 line.
Brown did most of his work out of the slot last season, but he’s capable of playing all the receiver positions. He’s also an adept runner, gaining 62 yards on two rushes in 2016. Brown even averaged 29.0 yards on two kickoff returns; every other Wildcat was under 20 yards.
It’s not inconceivable that Brown will double his 2016 receiving numbers this season – at least the catches and touchdowns. (Odds are, Brown’s average per catch will fall with defenses devoting more resources to stopping him. There were times last year – such as the first play of the Utah game – when he was left all but uncovered.)
We’re assuming some degree of advancement from Arizona’s passing game, regardless of who the quarterback ends up being. The fact that we don’t know who the starter is yet helped Brown inch past incumbent Brandon Dawkins in the MVP rankings.
Whether it’s Dawkins, Khalil Tate or Donavan Tate behind center, the Wildcats’ passing efficiency must improve for the team to enjoy any semblance of success. If it does, Brown will play a huge part in it.
