The Arizona Wildcats need the Cam Denson who notched career highs in catches and yards against Washington State. They need him today, and they need him next year.
Denson will be a senior in 2017. Trey Griffey, Nate Phillips and receiver-turned-tailback Samajie Grant will be gone. Someone will have to step into that void.
The hope is that Denson, the supremely talented junior from Tucson, can parlay a strong finish in 2016 into something greater in ’17. That finish got off to a good beginning in Pullman, where Denson made his first start at receiver and caught a team-high four passes for 77 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown.
“Cam is a guy that we should count on,” receivers coach Tony Dews said. “I’ve expressed that to him, as well as the rest of the coaches. He’s a guy we should be able to count on and depend on to help us win.”
Denson is still striving to reach that level. He’s still learning what’s required of him at wide receiver after spending his first two seasons at cornerback. Even in the midst of his career game, Denson missed some assignments, UA coach Rich Rodriguez said.
Denson got the start because Cedric Peterson, the first choice to replace Grant, suffered a season-ending foot injury — and because Denson showed the coaches he deserved it in practice.
“His work ethic has continued to improve,” Dews said. “He’s working hard at it. I won’t say he never understood what we wanted, but I think he understands what’s expected and what the standard of play is that’s been set as far as the program goes. I think he’s taken that to heart.
“We’ve had some injuries and things like that, so he’s looking at, well, here may be an opportunity to showcase myself and do what I’m capable of doing and get the coaches’ attention. I think he’s trying do that. Therefore, he’s having a little bit of success.”
