Braden River wide receivers step into spotlight

He’s just a rising sophomore, but he has become an integral part of Braden River’s offense.

This spring, Daveon Wortham has morphed into a starting wide receiver for the Pirates despite being bothered by a knee problem. That’s because Braden River lost both starters off last fall’s state semifinal club. Travis Williams departed as a senior, while junior Juwaan Jenkins, who played a vital role in the Pirates’ region championship victory, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during the team’s 7-on-7 football activities earlier this year.

“He came on so strong for us toward the end of the year, the last half of the year,” Braden River offensive coordinator Eric Sanders said. “... So it sucks for him going into his senior year. He’s going to back, though. We just don’t know when.”

The loss of Williams, Jenkins and tight end Ryan Neuzil, who is heading to Appalachian State with quarterback Jacob Huesman this summer, changes the passing game’s complexion entering Thursday’s spring game at St. Petersburg Lakewood. Changing it even further is the fact Wortham is unlikely to play after undergoing an MRI this week.

Louis Colosimo stepped into the signal-calling duties after transferring from IMG Academy, and Wortham joined rising junior Craivon Koonce in starting receiver roles.

“It gave me the mindset of I have to stand up and be a team leader,” Wortham said.

Both Wortham and Koonce have varsity experience, although Wortham only blocked during his inclusion into varsity games last fall as Braden River went 13-0 before falling in the Class 7A state semifinals to powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

For Wortham, he said he wants to bulk up to 195 pounds by the end of his junior season. As of now, he’s a 6-foot, 180-pound receiver.

“You have to come ready, you can’t lay down and these boys are ready to play,” Wortham said. “And they have a good hat on their head to come and hit you. But I know that me getting bigger can actually prepare me for a hit, and actually deliver a hit.”

While those two are key additions to the passing game, Braden River head coach Curt Bradley said earlier this spring that Sanders’ playbook isn’t dependent on one player to thrive. It’s spread around to different players to generate success. And one of Bradley’s defensive backs, rising junior Tyrone Collins, is getting some looks at receiver, too.

Collins has garnered college interest already, getting offers from Boston College, Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic, Iowa State and Western Kentucky after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him grab seven interceptions.

“He’s a dynamic athlete,” Bradley said. “He’s extremely fast and catches well and played some receiver his freshman year on the JV level so we know he can catch. He just kind of adds that dimension that if teams try to play man coverage ... we have the opportunity of somebody to kind of get over the top as our younger receivers are still developing.”

Both Bradley and Sanders said those receivers, Wortham and Koonce, are improving in each practice.

On Thursday in St. Pete, the pair will get their chance to shine.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Braden River wide receivers step into spotlight."