With spring practice underway at Colorado there will be a lot of focus on the wide receivers because of the returning depth and playmaking ability of Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. Wide receivers coach Jason Phillips, back for his second stint under Coach Prime after working together at Jackson State, talked to the media on Tuesday about the guys in his room and working with Deion Sanders again.
“Actually, it’s been a great experience. I’ve been with Coach Prime a long time. Obviously you guys know that he and I played together in Atlanta. We first met during the all-American tour, so I’ve been knowing him a long time. I know his expectations. And it’s just it’s a breath of fresh air for me to be here, as opposed to being on my couch like I was last season,” said Phillips.
He will have the opportunity to coach one of the most electric and definitely the most unique player in college football with Travis Hunter. But after one day of practice, he hasn’t had the opportunity to work with Hunter just yet. He was busy with the defense.
“Travis obviously is pulling double duty at this point, but I’m sure he’ll be a lot better than he was last season as far as understanding what’s required of him and what’s expected. But it’s a great opportunity for the other guys to get reps and to get opportunities to get reps and prove who they are and why they’re here,” Phillips said.
Phillips seems to have a full understanding that coaching a full time two way player like Hunter is just going to be an out of the box experience.
“Travis will be Travis. That’s the plan as I’m getting to understand the plan as we go along, because it’s obviously my first experience here. Having a player like that and then also being in a situation where he’s being utilized the way he is. So I was under the understanding or impression this was his first day with defense. I’ll get him on Wednesday. So I’ll have a better understanding of how we are going to do this.”
One player that Phillips will have every day is Omarion Miller, who showed tremendous flashes last season but still needs to work on being consistent. Miller had 11 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown last season, but the majority of that came against USC, a game where he had seven catches for 196 yards and his lone touchdown.
Phillips acknowledges that the work is being put in by Miller.
“I like Omarion Miller I’m starting to fall in love with Marian Miller, so we’re in the dating stages right now. So it’s a matter of him continuing to mature and be the player that we all expect him to be and obviously be the player that he expects to be, and he’s taking the right steps toward them.”
