New Western Illinois wide receiver Christian Anaya was honored as the top prep receiver in Arizona as a high school senior. He transferred to WIU this off-season from Montana State. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
MACOMB – When Joe Davis was hired as the head coach at Western Illinois in December, he and his staff quickly began reshaping the roster.
For one position in particular – wide receiver – those additions lasted into the summer.
“That was probably the biggest position of need coming out of spring football,” Davis said Saturday after WIU’s Purple and White scrimmage. “We were really thin. Are we where we need to be? I don’t know. But we’re better.”
The Western wide receiver room has seen a massive shift this off-season.
Only 3% of WIU’s receiving yards return from a season ago, which opens up a world of possibilities for the 14 new players at the position. The only two returnees – sophomore Toriano Tate and senior Wyatt Rudsell – did not catch a pass last season.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said sophomore Elijah Aragon, one of three summer additions to the roster. “Everybody puts in a tremendous amount of work, and everybody competes every day.”
Aragon had 62 catches and nine touchdowns last fall at California’s Ventura College.
Another post-spring addition, Montana State transfer Christian Anaya, was honored as the top prep receiver in Arizona as a high school senior.
Though he played sparingly in the Big Sky Conference, the sophomore expects the wide receivers as a whole to contribute quickly.
“We have grown a lot,” Anaya said. “I’m excited to show them what I know from these past two years (at Montana State). I’m going to pass down my knowledge and also learn from them.”
The newcomers also are getting lessons from Western wide receivers coach Vincent Jefferies Jr., a former player at the University of Illinois who served as an Illini graduate assistant coach the past two years.
“Coming from the Power 5 (FBS) level, Coach Jefferies has given us all the techniques and everything we need to learn to be successful here,” Anaya said. “I’m really excited about the wide receiver room we have.”
Junior Matthew Henry, a transfer from NCAA Division II Livingstone College who was hampered during spring practices with a hamstring injury, made a leaping catch in the corner of the end zone Saturday for a touchdown.
Davis said he’s also pleased with the addition of Saddleback College transfer Tristan Duncan, who played prep football in Effingham.
“We immediately got faster,” Davis said, noting Aragon ran under 11 seconds in the 100-yard dash in high school while Anaya was “a 48-, 49-second 400-meter guy.”
“Those two players have increased our speed, and the bonus is they have some toughness and savvy that we really needed.”
Aragon’s speed – he caught a 95-yard TD last season – provides plenty of confidence.
“I’m a playmaker,” he said. “Any down, any situation the team needs me, I’m going to be counted on and be trusted to make a big play.”
Anaya, meanwhile, said his best trait is his hands.
“I always catch everything,” he said with a smile. “I’m just a good all-around receiver.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and spent 19 years at three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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