BYU over the next 3 years.....

[jay santos]

Maybe as a unit BYU is better (it's certainly more experienced), but anyone who would take Hoffman ahead of Devonte Christopher just isn't paying attention or chooses to be ignorant. It's a claim so ludicrous, it's not even worth dissecting.

Hoffman's an interesting guy. BYU fans think he's a Randy Moss athletic freak kind of guy because he's so tall and he looks (skin = black) like he should be fast and athletic. But he's a little on the slow side for a receiver and not that athletic when it comes to running routes. He's a solid possession receiver but nothing flashy.

[oxcoug]

Hoffman's an interesting guy. BYU fans think he's a Randy Moss athletic freak kind of guy because he's so tall and he looks (skin = black) like he should be fast and athletic. But he's a little on the slow side for a receiver and not that athletic when it comes to running routes. He's a solid possession receiver but nothing flashy.

I used to assume the role of telling people this in part because during his first 18 months in the program all you ever heard was "he looks the part!"

But I've had to revise my view a bit. I agree, he's not a burner, but he's fast enough to be dangerous with his size. And as far as his athleticism is concerned, I've been pleasantly surprised - much shiftier hips than I expected given his build and it showed in several settings last year, notably on kickoffs. If you watch the UTEP highlights there's lots of evidence of Hoff's ability to move well laterally.

That said - like many who have come before him, Hoffman has been inflated in the minds of some Y fans just because he's tall and black.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Hoffman's an interesting guy. BYU fans think he's a Randy Moss athletic freak kind of guy because he's so tall and he looks (skin = black) like he should be fast and athletic. But he's a little on the slow side for a receiver and not that athletic when it comes to running routes. He's a solid possession receiver but nothing flashy.

If BYU fans think Hoffman is a Randy Moss, what do Ute fans think about Devonte Christopher?

I can't think of a single BYU fan I've talked to that believes that about Hoffman. However, I do fully expect him to have an NFL career like Art Monk. No doubt about that.

[Top Ute]

If BYU fans think Hoffman is a Randy Moss, what do Ute fans think about Devonte Christopher?

I can't think of a single BYU fan I've talked to that believes that about Hoffman. However, I do fully expect him to have an NFL career like Art Monk. No doubt about that.

Hyperbole, anyone? You just projected a kid with all of one 100-yard receiving game in his career to have the same career path as an NFL Hall of Famer.

Christopher? He uses his body well, has good hands and can outrun a majority of FBS defensive backs. He'll likely never be like Juron Criner (his HS teammate), but he should be a 50-60 grab player for the next two seasons and challenge for all-Pac 12 honors.

[Goatnapper'96]

I used to assume the role of telling people this in part because during his first 18 months in the program all you ever heard was "he looks the part!"

But I've had to revise my view a bit. I agree, he's not a burner, but he's fast enough to be dangerous with his size. And as far as his athleticism is concerned, I've been pleasantly surprised - much shiftier hips than I expected given his build and it showed in several settings last year, notably on kickoffs. If you watch the UTEP highlights there's lots of evidence of Hoff's ability to move well laterally.

That said - like many who have come before him, Hoffman has been inflated in the minds of some Y fans just because he's tall and black.

I agree with you. Hoffman is clearly no Randy Moss but he is deceptively athletic and shifty despite his lack of explosive straight ahead speed. I think he is a perfect fit for BYU's offense and if Apo can step into the role this year of being the burner/home run threat then Hoffman is going to really have a lot of room to tear up opposing defenses.

Also, Hoffman is going to be playing with one of the top QBs in the NCAA for at least the next two years. That will help. A. Lot.

I don't estimate Hoffman to have a long NFL career, but I think he will be good enough to get a shot and he might just make some practice squads and hang around as a 4th receiver for a year or two. I put him at the same level as most of BYU's good receivers the past 30 or so years.

[smokymountainrain]

Hyperbole, anyone? You just projected a kid with all of one 100-yard receiving game in his career to have the same career path as an NFL Hall of Famer.

[Hot Lunch]

Hyperbole, anyone? You just projected a kid with all of one 100-yard receiving game in his career to have the same career path as an NFL Hall of Famer.

Christopher? He uses his body well, has good hands and can outrun a majority of FBS defensive backs. He'll likely never be like Juron Criner (his HS teammate), but he should be a 50-60 grab player for the next two seasons and challenge for all-Pac 12 honors.

Christopher could be great if he lost the attitude. That is the only thing holding him back. He is gifted physically and could be great if he could just lose the chip on his shoulder or whatever it is that is causing the bad attitude.

[Hot Lunch]

I agree with you. Hoffman is clearly no Randy Moss but he is deceptively athletic and shifty despite his lack of explosive straight ahead speed. I think he is a perfect fit for BYU's offense and if Apo can step into the role this year of being the burner/home run threat then Hoffman is going to really have a lot of room to tear up opposing defenses.

Also, Hoffman is going to be playing with one of the top QBs in the NCAA for at least the next two years. That will help. A. Lot.

I don't estimate Hoffman to have a long NFL career, but I think he will be good enough to get a shot and he might just make some practice squads and hang around as a 4th receiver for a year or two. I put him at the same level as most of BYU's good receivers the past 30 or so years.

This. This right here. Hoffman will look better than he actually is because Jake is that good. Jake will make a few below average receivers look good because of how good he is.

I am not big on Hoffman. He looks the part. He is tall, well built and has decent hands but I think he lacks the speed to be a big time wide out. He didn't do anything last year against good competition. The 2 or 3 good games he had were against some of the worst defenses in college football.

[KillerDog]

I like Hoffman well enough but I also think he is more Oneil Chambers than Randy Moss. Apo is another who is getting jocked pretty hard. I think he is smooth more than he is fast. He's fast enough that, combined with his smoothness and size, he should develop into a nice receiver but I don't think either of them is as gifted in the speed department as Todd Watkins or in the route running department as Austin Collie.

[Goatnapper'96]

This. This right here. Hoffman will look better than he actually is because Jake is that good. Jake will make a few below average receivers look good because of how good he is.

I am not big on Hoffman. He looks the part. He is tall, well built and has decent hands but I think he lacks the speed to be a big time wide out. He didn't do anything last year against good competition. The 2 or 3 good games he had were against some of the worst defenses in college football.

The first step is to make bad defenses look bad. He was a RS freshman playing with a true freshman qb. I think he will start having real effective games against better teams this year. I don't think he will be good enough to get drafted but I bet he gets some serious free agent looks.

I also agree with you on Heaps. He may have a Sir Mix A lot pooper, but he is gonna be one hell of a good qb for at least the next two years, and perhaps 3 should things work to my favor.

[oxcoug]

This. This right here. Hoffman will look better than he actually is because Jake is that good. Jake will make a few below average receivers look good because of how good he is.

I am not big on Hoffman. He looks the part. He is tall, well built and has decent hands but I think he lacks the speed to be a big time wide out. He didn't do anything last year against good competition. The 2 or 3 good games he had were against some of the worst defenses in college football.

There's another factor in this - BYU's WRs and TEs were so pathetic last year that Hoff was actually frequently drawing (a) best defenders on opposing Ds and (b) safeties were shading to help on him. With Apo attracting some attention, the TEs stepping up and Heaps stretching the field I think Hoffman is going to have a lot of open space to work.

As one piece in the set of BYU pass catchers I expect Hoff to have a very good three years here. But I think by mid-year it will be clear that Apo is the real marquee attraction.

[Hot Lunch]

The first step is to make bad defenses look bad. He was a RS freshman playing with a true freshman qb. I think he will start having real effective games against better teams this year. I don't think he will be good enough to get drafted but I bet he gets some serious free agent looks.

I also agree with you on Heaps. He may have a Sir Mix A lot pooper, but he is gonna be one hell of a good qb for at least the next two years, and perhaps 3 should things work to my favor.

Sounds like the dude has back now a days. I think Jake might end up being a four year kid. The main reason is because of his size. The kid has a great arm and has shown he has a really good football mind. I don't think he has the ideal size that the NFL wants. This isn't saying he won't make it in the pros or be a good pro, it is only saying he doesn't have the 6'4/6'5 225 pound body that the guys that are leaving early to be 1st rounders have.

[Hot Lunch]

There's another factor in this - BYU's WRs and TEs were so pathetic last year that Hoff was actually frequently drawing (a) best defenders on opposing Ds and (b) safeties were shading to help on him. With Apo attracting some attention, the TEs stepping up and Heaps stretching the field I think Hoffman is going to have a lot of open space to work.

As one piece in the set of BYU pass catchers I expect Hoff to have a very good three years here. But I think by mid-year it will be clear that Apo is the real marquee attraction.

To quote my good friend Napper, if I were a BYU fan Apo "would make my nipples hard". I know he hasn't proved anything on the field at the college level yet but that kids combo of size and speed is pretty exciting.

[FN Phat]

To quote my good friend Napper, if I were as a BYU fan Apo "would make my nipples hard". I know he hasn't proved anything on the field at the college level yet but that kids combo of size and speed is pretty exciting.

That's better.

[MarkGrace]

Sounds like the dude has back now a days. I think Jake might end up being a four year kid. The main reason is because of his size. The kid has a great arm and has shown he has a really good football mind. I don't think he has the ideal size that the NFL wants. This isn't saying he won't make it in the pros or be a good pro, it is only saying he doesn't have the 6'4/6'5 225 pound body that the guys that are leaving early to be 1st rounders have.

Didn't Matt Stafford leave early? I see no reason why Heaps can't be in his general size range as a JR.