Five Players to Watch: 2022 Wide Receivers

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Week one of the 2020 Fall season gave us an opportunity to see many players put their offseason training to good use. Familiar names were making big plays as expected, while new names popped up on the radar after a spectacular season opener.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">This article will be highlighting five wide receivers from the class of 2022 who used their season openers to prove that they deserve to have their names added to a recruiting board.  </span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="62053" first="Grant" last="Simmons"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- 5’11, 170lbs - Valor Christian</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Simmons had a very productive performance in the Eagle’s season opener against Doherty. Simmons proved to be a valuable part of the Eagle’s passing game that led them to a 51-0 win over the Spartans. He finished as the team’s leading receiver, recording five catches for 48 yards and three touchdowns. Simmons has stepped into the spotlight as a receiver to watch during tomorrow’s home opener against Rock Canyon.</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="43837" first="Ky" last="Oday"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- 5’10, 170lbs - Cherry Creek</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The defending 5A state champs opened their season against the Smoky Hill Buffaloes, which ended with a 35-14 victory for the Bruins. Oday finished that game with three receptions for 61 yards (second on the team) and one touchdown. Expect for him to be targeted in the passing game heavily against a very tough Cherokee Trail team who will, without a doubt, be looking for ways to stop the Bruins’ leading receiver, [player_tooltip player_id="22528" first="Chase" last="Penry"].</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="62055" first="Josh" last="Dunn"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - 6’3, 180lbs - Broomfield</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Dunn is a physical outside receiver with a large frame who possesses the ability to really stretch the field. In a very close game against Monarch, Dunn led his team with four receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. His amazing performance helped to lead the Eagles to a 27-20 win over the Coyotes. Keep an eye on Dunn as he and the Eagles will look to improve to 2-0 against a talented Brighton team.</span> <b>Ean Lee </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- Arvada West</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Arvada West opened their season with a hard-fought 30-23 win over the ThunderRidge Grizzlies. Lee was the leading receiver for the Wildcats, finishing with seven receptions for 158 yards and one touchdown. Not only did Lee lead his team in receptions and yards, he is also the current third-leading receiver in the state for receiving yardage. His speed and shifty route-running skills will be put to the test when he and the Wildcats face off against the Columbine Rebels tomorrow evening.</span> <b>[player_tooltip player_id="43835" first="Jack" last="Pierce"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">- 5’8, 160lbs - Cherokee Trail</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Pierce and the Cougars opened their season against a very resilient Eaglecrest team. In Cherokee Trail’s 50-62 defeat to the Raptors, Pierce tallied three touchdowns for the Cougars. His impeccable route-running skills and 4.46 40-yard-dash speed were put to great use during that game. Expect for Pierce to be a key component for Cherokee Trail’s offense as they take on Cherry Creek, the reigning state champs, tomorrow night.</span>