:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18328701/20120901_jla_ai8_342.0.jpg)
Name: Jeremiah Kobena
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Junior
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180
Hometown: New York, NY
High School: Cardinal Hayes
2012 Stats: He started the season off nicely. Against Northwestern, he had four catches for 79 yards, scored two touchdowns, and had five kickoff returns. He followed that up with one reception for 22 yards and four kickoff returns against USC, but was hurt during the game. Kobena missed the next five games to have surgery and recover from, what else, an upper body injury. By the end of the season, he had six receptions for 146 yards and 22 kickoff returns for 436 yards.
2013 Projections: He handled over half of the kick returns for Syracuse last year, averaging just under 20 yards, so he's going to be key in that role again. With the loss of Marcus Sales and Sir Alec Lemon, he'll probably be one of the main receiving options after Jarrod West. He's really fast, but needed to work on his downfield vision a bit. If he's improved, expect a great season from him.
How'd He Get Here?: By saying "thanks, but no thanks" to Rutgers and Pittsburgh.
What'd Scout/Rivals Say?: Two and three stars, respectively.
Money Quote: In response to his high school coach saying that he's witty and has a great personality:
I'm a character in the locker room. I'm pretty funny.
Links of Wonder: New York Post writer, Zach Braziller, happened to share a taxi with Kobena when he was a Syracuse-bound, high school stand-out, and didn't realize it until they were halfway through their trip. His reaction and Kobena's response were pretty cool.
What Does Shafer Think: Nothing in particular, it seems, but George McDonald had this to say:
We lost some really good receivers last year, but I think a lot of young talent, Jeremiah Kobena is a guy who has a lot of speed.
Interesting Nugget O'Interest: He was a little bit of a track star before coming to Syracuse. And by "a little bit of a star" I mean that he ran a 10.97 in the 100-meter, and was slightly disappointed.
Let Us Get a Good Look Atchya:
(Via EDJPROV)