This is the third in a series of articles previewing the 2015 football season at Missouri S&T.  The daily stories will feature one position, or a set of positions, each weekday through August 6.  The stories will be available at 11 a.m., each day, with the exception of July 31 when it will be available following the release of the GLVC pre-season poll.

Today's story features the Miner wide receivers and tight ends.

ROLLA, Mo. -- Missouri S&T's receiving corps will have a new look to it for the 2015 season, as the graduation of the team's top three receivers will elevate several players into bigger roles for the coming year.

Melvin Stovall (Los Angeles, Calif./Lancaster), Leon Moody (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit HS) and Nick Taylor (Wichita, Kan./Southeast HS) combined to catch 125 balls for 1,618 yards -- accounting for 71 percent of the team's receptions and 73 percent of the yardage in 2014 – leaving S&T with a relatively inexperienced group heading into the new season.

The top returning receiver is returner Spencer Elrod (Lancaster, Calif./Eastside), who averaged nearly 20 yards on his 18 receptions last season and a player Fenwick feels is suited to take over as a big play receiver in the Miner offense.

"Spencer has worked really hard to prepare for the upcoming year.  He's in great shape and I think he's quicker and stronger than he was a year ago," Fenwick said.  "He's a guy who can score from anywhere on the field and does a great job of getting open and making the big play.  We have to find a way to get him the ball as much as possible."

Ben Matthews (Platte City, Mo./Platte County), who has seen playing time at receiver over the last two seasons, and Jaren Underwood (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) are the only other receivers on the S&T roster with game experience heading into the coming year.  However, a pair of redshirt freshmen and some newcomers to the squad figure to work their way into the rotation.

Among the returning squadmembers, Braxton Graham (Seneca, Mo./Seneca) moved from running back to wide receiver in the spring and is expected to see time as the slot receiver, while another redshirt freshman, Michael Hutchcraft (Sullivan, Ind./Sullivan), is a big target who could also land a role along with returner Kelechi Madubuko (Fort Richardson, Alaska/Eagle River).

"Coming out of high school, Braxton scored 50 touchdowns in his senior year as a running back and we put him in the slot," Fenwick said.  "He's a player who is unbelievably elusive player on the field who can also score from anywhere.  Watching him during the spring, he just kept getting better and better as he learned the system and I'm excited to about the possibilities with him."

Jacque Harris (Jacksonville, Fla./Stanton), a transfer from Merced College in California, is a player Fenwick feels can also make an immediate impact after recording 24 catches for 403 yards at the junior college level as a freshman.

"Jacque is a player who can stretch a defense," Fenwick said.  "When we watched video on him during recruiting, we saw that he runs very good routes and does so very much under control, but is also fast enough to get behind the defense.  I'm excited to see what he can do as he comes along through the system."

The incoming freshman class includes Ray Mullen (Palm Springs, Calif./Palm Springs), who caught 90 passes for a state championship team in Palm Springs, Calif., last fall; Devin McCord (Frisco, Texas/Centennial), who finished his prep career in Texas as his school's all-time leader in several receiving and yardage categories; and Nick Eads (Union, Mo./Union), who was one of the top pass catchers in the state of Missouri a year ago with over 1,200 yards in receptions at Union High School.

At tight end, the Miners were hurt by injuries a year ago, but does return two veterans in Dustin Schindler (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) and Cody Burgess (Cuba, Mo./Cuba HS).  Schindler made 11 catches at a rate of 11 yards per catch last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the next-to-last game of the year.

"Dustin really came along last year and when Jake Giljum (St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg) went down, we didn't feel as if we dropped off at all," Fenwick said.  "I think he's playing with a lot of confidence right now and his blocking has improved quite a bit.  Cody has really made a lot of improvement as well with his footwork and blocking ability.  He had an injury two years ago and it's taken about a year to physically and mentally get back to 100 percent."

Evan Merz (O'Fallon, Mo./St. Dominic), a converted quarterback, will also compete for time at tight end as will freshman Tyler Westerfield (St. Charles, Mo./Orchard Farm ).

2015 MISSOURI S&T FOOTBALL PREVIEW SERIES
July 27 – Quarterbacks
July 28 – Running Backs
July 29 – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
July 30 – Offensive Line
July 31 – GLVC Media Day/Pre-Season Poll
August 3 – Defensive Line
August 4 – Linebackers
August 5 – Defensive Backs
August 6 – Special Teams