The Decline of Ross Apo

When Jake Heaps announced his commitment to Brigham Young University, fans of BYU were salivating over the thought of watching Jake Heaps throw the deep ball to Ross Apo as he leaps in the air to haul in a touchdown. The 6'3", 207 pound receiver was not something Cougar Nation was used to. BYU is used to white at wide receiver. He was black. BYU is used to short at receiver. He was tall. BYU was used to slow at receiver. He was fast. Not to mention he'd be teaming up with Cody Hoffman, the Cougars could have one of the best wide receiving tandems in the West.

That dream died a year ago, and my how things have changed.

The impossible dream has been replaced with a kickoff return man at quarterback throwing wide receiver screen passes to Apo. He's netting 7.4 yards per catch, down from 13.3 last year. He's found the end zone once this year. He scored nine last year. I swear, if I see Riley Nelson throws one more screen pass to Apo, I'm going to call Bronco Mendenhall and tell him to take over the offense to. How are the offensive coaches not throwing the ball up to Apo and Hoffman? It makes no sense. Apo is having to catch the ball by his toes. Let the man use his length. I understand Riley doesn't have the best arm, but that's exactly why you throw it up and let them grab it.

This is the saddest part of it all. BYU will never, and I say never, have two wide receivers who are so physically gifted - and black - at the same time. This tandem only has a handful of games left together and then we'll all be left with the "what might have been". Can you imagine how good we could be if we had Heaps with ten more games under his belt throwing to Apo and Hoffman? Man, things could have been good.