BYU broad receiver Chase Roberts runs after a catch towards Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
American Fork’s Devin Downing scores a landing throughout a sport towards Herriman at Herriman Excessive on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
American Fork’s Chase Roberts makes a 69-yard landing throughout sport towards Herriman on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Collectively once more.
Chase Roberts and Devin Downing, arguably the most effective highschool receiver tandem in Utah County historical past, are again on the identical workforce and in the identical offense for the primary time since 2018.
“I haven’t recruited many gamers who've had these sorts of junior and senior years in highschool,” mentioned BYU receivers coach Fesi Sitake. “They performed at such a dominating degree.”
Roberts is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound sophomore who caught 22 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns throughout his Cougars debut final fall. Downing is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound freshman who placed on pads throughout spring follow for the primary time in 31⁄2 years.
They've a methods to go earlier than reuniting on the sector, but when they do, historical past has proven that the duo can placed on fairly a present.
The glory years
American Fork’s Devin Downing scores a landing throughout a sport towards Herriman at Herriman Excessive on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
“They had been distinctive. They got here to work each single day,” mentioned American Fork coach Aaron Behm. “No entitlements. No damaging attitudes. They simply wished to do what’s greatest for the workforce.”
Roberts and Downing mixed for 396 receptions for six,762 yards and 78 touchdowns throughout their Cavemen careers. Each averaged an an identical 17.1 yards per catch.
Separated by a yr in age, they shared only one season collectively in 2018.
“It was superior,” mentioned Behm. “I used to be simply exhibiting certainly one of our coaches some movie yesterday of these two guys on the sector.”
If Roberts wasn’t catching a bomb from quarterback Boone Abbott, Downing was.
“It was an actual dream,” Downing mentioned. “It was nearly like we had been taking turns. He’d get the ball after which I’d get the ball. It was the most effective occasions of my life.”
Roberts caught 97 passes for 1,771 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior yr, whereas Downing, as a junior, added 79 receptions for 1,298 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“It was such a blast. We had been exhausting to cease as a result of we had been each huge and quick receivers on the skin,” Roberts mentioned. “With the ability to throw the ball up both method was so enjoyable and so thrilling. It was enjoyable to be taught from one another and see our completely different strengths.”
For the workers, calling performs was a pleasure.
“With Chase taking part in like he was, it benefited Devin and as Devin got here on, Chase benefited as a result of they couldn’t bracket him as a lot,” Behm mentioned. “(Calling performs) is a lot simpler when you might have guys who can go up and get the ball. Guys who can take a 5-yard hitch and go 70 yards for a landing. They had been so athletic after they caught the ball.”
Roberts and Downing saved the most effective for final, even in a 34-29 loss to Lone Peak within the 2018 state championship sport. The tandem mixed for twenty-four receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns. Roberts’ efficiency of 15 catches for 258 yards stays a Utah state championship sport file.
The 2 haven’t performed in a soccer sport collectively since and if they're to reunite as a tag workforce within the Huge 12, Downing has some catching as much as do.
American Fork’s Chase Roberts makes a 69-yard landing throughout sport towards Herriman on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Taking part in catch-up
It has been simply wanting a yr since Downing accomplished his church mission. He redshirted final season and simply accomplished his first BYU spring camp.
“It’s taken a while to get again into it. There are some actual excessive expectations from the coaches with going into the Huge 12,” Downing mentioned. “There's a quick leash. They're anticipating me to amp it up. I’m gonna work exhausting this summer time and be prepared for the autumn.”
Downing adopted up American Fork’s 2018 season with Roberts by flying solo his senior yr in 2019. He earned 247Sports’ No. 1 rating as the most effective receiver in Utah after 100 receptions for 1,755 yards and 23 touchdowns.
“Very similar to Chase, Devin could be very bold. He has an awesome reference level of what success appears like, particularly from highschool,” Sitake mentioned. “Not solely is he making an attempt to get his ft again beneath him and get in his optimum form bodily, however he’s making an attempt to choose up the nuances of the playbook.”
Happily for Downing, he has a mentor.
“I really like Devin and his persona and the way in which he performs,” Roberts mentioned. “I’ve been making an attempt to inform him it takes time. Coming off the mission is difficult. Your physique doesn’t really feel like you might be totally there.”
Roberts accomplished his mission in time for the 2021 season however redshirted after having surgical procedure. With accidents to Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua to start out 2022, he was placed on the sector and responded with eight receptions for 122 yards and a landing towards No. 9 Baylor. Roberts additionally threw a landing move to Jaren Corridor within the Cougars’ double-overtime upset of the Bears.
“That first yr was a constructing yr for me. That’s what I instructed him. ‘Your time will come,’” Roberts mentioned. “He’s getting alternatives and he’s making performs. I simply inform him to maintain going.”
Huge 12-ready
Roberts, Keanu Hill and Kody Epps will lead the receivers room into the Huge 12 this fall. As well as, the Cougars hope so as to add a pair extra skilled targets from the switch portal.
With switch quarterback Kedon Slovis having a full spring follow beneath his belt, Roberts believes the passing assault will stand and ship.
“I don’t suppose there may be any drop-off at receiver (in comparison with final yr),” Roberts mentioned. “We’ll be huge and quick and with Kody, how elusive he's and the way properly he is aware of defenses, we're going to put some factors on the board for certain. It is going to be enjoyable.”
Downing will likely be watching Roberts each step of the way in which.
“That’s what I’m hoping, to work as much as the place he's. He has two years beneath his belt and has been in a position to get within the system,” mentioned Downing, who married Alyssa Lee final Saturday. “I’m hoping I can use this season to develop and earn my method up there and play with him once more.”
Soccer affords no ensures, however historical past has proven that when Roberts and Downing are on the sector collectively, they will placed on fairly a present.