Kevin Gemmell: This is something that wasn’t talked about much this year. But I remember watching it.
It was a simple slant that went for 11 yards and a first down. On the receiving end was Colorado wide receiver
Nelson Spruce, who established a Pac-12 record for career receptions on Halloween. Unfortunately the Buffs, as they tend to do, couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead and lost to UCLA 35-31.
But when we think about some of the special wide receivers who have come through this conference, including a pair of Biletnikoff winners in the past four years, Spruce’s career production deserves more than just a once-over. He leaves Colorado with 294 career catches, 23 touchdowns and 11.4 yards per catch. That’s averaging a first down every time he touched the ball over a four-year career.
Colorado doesn’t get much love in this league. And so long as they continue to struggle for wins, that’s how it’s going to be. But when the Buffs have a player do something extraordinary, it’s worth the reminder.
