Last season, senior Quincy Adeboyejo finished with the third-most receiving yards on the team with 604. Now, with Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core preparing for the NFL Draft, Adeboyejo will return as the most experienced receiver on the roster. Adeboyejo said he wants to use the experience to fill a leadership role for the Rebels.
(Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
Quincy Adeboyejo runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Texas A&M last season.
“Leaders aren’t picked, it just kind of happens,” Adeboyejo said. “I’ve been trying to step up and get guys going when we’re down, just try to be a leader out there.”
Receivers coach Ronnie Heard was also looking for Adeboyejo to step up and be a leader.
“I lean on him a lot to help those young guys out,” Heard said. “He’s accepting the role. It’s not an easy role to accept. That puts a lot of pressure that you always have to do the right thing. He’s doing a great job. I expect a lot out of him. He’s played a whole bunch of football since he’s been here. I hope he continues it.”
(Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
Quincy Adeboyejo celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown last season.
As Adeboyejo prepares to take on a bigger role on the field, he’s tried to work on improving his physicality and his blocking.
“I’ve been playing not only inside, but also trying to get some work on the outside,” Adeboyejo said. “That calls for you to be more physical, blocking on screens and stuff. That’s one thing I’ve been trying to work on – being more physical.”
Heard said he saw noticeable improvement in Adeboyejo’s blocking, despite weighing less than some of the other receivers.
(Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
Damarkus Lodge warms up before a game.
“We don’t ask our guys to block a whole bunch, but when they do, it’s always a crucial block, especially for the bubble screens,” Heard said. “For him that’s a little different, because he’s not as heavy as those guys. He has to really be technique-sound. He’s really worked on it, because when he first came in blocking was not his deal. It wasn’t. He just wanted to catch balls. He’s taken on the role of trying to do it, and he’s doing a heck of a job right now.”
The departure of Treadwell and Core also brings an opportunity for several younger receivers to enter the mix. Sophomore Damarkus Lodge and redshirt freshman Van Jefferson are poised to earn a bigger part in the rotation. Heard said he was impressed with both players so far this spring.
“His biggest thing was just getting comfortable with the offense,” Heard said of Jefferson. “He is a guy that wants to do it right. He’s been around the game so much, and he knows what it’s supposed to look like. When he first got here, it wasn’t exactly what he wanted, and he was getting frustrated. He knows what’s going on now. Now he’s not thinking, he’s just playing. He’s playing with a bunch of confidence right now, and I’m really excited about where he is.”
Heard said Lodge was responding great in practice.
“He’s still young because he’ll go out and have a great day, then he’ll come down and have a not so good day,” Heard said. “For him, it’s just being consistent and accepting the role that he has the opportunity to play and play a whole bunch. He’s just got to keep working, and he’ll be fine.”
