VIDEO: Coaches in Cars Getting Coffee – Justin Zimmerman and the Receivers
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second part in an eight-part series chronicling Carson-Newman football's positions for the 2023 season. This feature breaks down the Eagle pass catchers with the assistance of receivers coach Justin Zimmerman.
Carson-Newman will have to figure out how to deal with the loss of one of its all-time great receivers. Before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason, the All-American reset C-N's single-season record for catches per game. He finished his Carson-Newman career with 1,752 yards – the seventh-most in school history and the third-most in the option era. The senior led the league in receptions per game, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns – a sure fire sign that the underworld has cooled given an Eagle hasn't led the league in any of those categories in the last 12 years.
The Eagles also lose the steady hands of Luke Simpson and Korey Waters at the position.
"We will need to take one or two guys and put them in situations if they can be that guy," Zimmerman said. "We haven't had anybody step out to be that impact guy Braxton was. Now, they all have the ability, and we'll find out this camp if anyone develops that consistency that Braxton had. But that is a tall ask."
However, Carson-Newman does return experience in Cade Meeks. Carson-Newman's second-leading receiver in 2022, Meeks snagged 13 passes for 209 yards and two scores. He tallied 16.1 yards per catch and 19.0 yards per game with a long reception of 42 yards. He saved his best performance for the last game of the season when he caught two passes for 65 yards and a touchdown at Catawba (Nov. 12). His long catch of the year came at Tusculum (Oct. 8). His first career touchdown catch was at Emory & Henry (Oct. 29). Meeks caught multiple passes in four games. He also returned three kicks for 66 yards on the year.
"Cade did really good things in the games he started last year," Zimmerman said. "He had a nice offseason and good summer. One of the best things about Cade is he is a competitor who loves football. He just wants to play. He's done well in the weight room. When you add those things together, you've got a pretty good football player. Chalmers and Washington were here as well and I'm eager to see how that development translates to the field."
The Eagles also return Zack Chalmers and Galen Washington, who both appeared in all 11 games last year for C-N and caught four passes between the two of them.
To supplement the room, the Eagles have gone with transfers. Former Robert Morris wide receivers Bryce Bevins, Wake Forest's Isaiah Isaac and Jacksonville State's Kade Parker, a Jeff Country product, could all vie for playing time.
"Bryce has played a bunch of football," Zimmerman said. "He's big, strong and a good route runner. When you replace a guy who goes to play at the next level, it's hard to replace them with just one. We need to add these guys to the guys we already have."
Bevins appeared in eight career games for Robert Morris. He accounted for 11 catches and 115 yards. The bulk of those numbers came in 2022 when he tallied 10 catches for 103 yards.
Isaac appeared in three games for the Demon Deacons over two seasons. In his pre career, he played his senior year at Buford High after transferring from Redlands, Calif. He scored 35 career touchdowns in 33 high school games with career totals of 2,200 receiving yards and 600 rushing yards.
"He's played a lot of football," Zimmerman said. "We're young, so we needed guys who have snaps under their belts. He has some wiggle to him. Isaiah is shiftier than a Cade Meeks."
Parker redshirted at Jacksonville State during the Gamecocks run to an ASUN title. He prepped for Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, Tenn. and was named to the 2021 TSSAA Class 6A All-State Team after hauling in 59 catches for 764 yards and 12 touchdowns. Parker is the JCHS career leader in receptions with 132, while ranking second in receiving yards with 1,627 and receiving touchdowns with 17.
Carson-Newman's position previews continue Sunday with a glimpse of the defensive line with help from Johnson Jamison.
