Proven? I give you that, we know what they can and can't do. Your words were "very talented" which I do not think they qualify for.
We don't know what they can and can't do. Last year Tre was the primary receiver on probably 60% or more of the pass play calls. How many times did we hear Whipple and Mickey say, "get the ball to Tre?"
Last year, NU completed 205 passes. Of that amount, Tre caught 71 or 34% of all passes caught. He likely was targeted and the pass was incomplete, the QB sacked, or the ball was dropped another 30 times or more. That would be over 100 times Tre was the primary receiver.
Tre caught more passes than the next 3 receivers combined. Washington 31, Vokolek 21, and Alante 16 for a total of 67 receptions between the 2nd, 3rd,and 4th receivers. Last year Washington averaged more per catch than Tre, 15.19 to 14.69. Vokolek averaged 12.00 and Alante 11.94.
Palmer is gone, Vokolek is gone, Oliver Martin is gone. They will no longer be targets. Unless one of the freshmen becomes a "go-to" guy, Washington and Alante stand to catch more balls in 2022. Because they are likely to become primary targets doesn't guarantee they will become a difference maker like Palmer, but it doesn't preclude either one of becoming a very talented receiver, production-wise.
Rhule's teams have historically thrown the ball more in year one, less in year 2, and even less in year 3. The pass percentages drop each succeeding year. I.E. 53%, 49%, and 47% are the actual percentages, year by year. Presumably by year 3, Rhule's offensive line has progressed to the point of being a better rushing team than the first year Rhule took over.
How many times did NU try to go deep last year other than Tre? I don't know, but percentage-wise, not much. If CT is able to return, and unless Rhule's offense is a lot different, I see no reason why CT and Washington will not be a really good combination because they were very good as a combination when they both played at Texas.
With a new staff, play caller, and system we really don't know who will step to the forefront as receivers, but, barring injuries, it's likely to be Washington and then Alante.
