The trio helped Carr account for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, which were good enough for Fresno State to be ranked the No. 1 passing team in the country.
This year’s receiving corps, headlined by the only returner of the trio, senior Josh Harper, will look to maintain success in the passing game despite the key personnel losses.
“I feel that we’re doing pretty good, but we still have some improvements to do,” Harper said. “We’re a week out and right now we’re still trying to fix some things so we can be ready by the time game day comes.”
The Stockton native, who racked up 79 catches for 1,011 yards and 13 scores last year, said he is ecstatic to lead the group in 2014.
“I’m excited,” he said. “You can’t ask for anything else. By playing the bigger schools, we get the chance to go in there and compete with them and show them that we have talent over here as well. We’re going to compete and battle until the end.
“As any other year, we want to win the Mountain West Championship, and I just want to build on what I did last year.”
Harper, who also earned a leadership role recently along with fellow senior teammate, safety Derron Smith, said being named captain by his peers is something he takes very seriously.
“It means a lot to me,” Harper said. “It means that the team looks at me as a leader. In order for me to take on that role, I have to lead by example.”
Among those lining up alongside Harper this season and filling voids left by Adams and Burse include junior Aaron Peck and sophomore Da’Mari Scott.
“They’re both good and they’ve both had a terrific camp,” Harper said. “I’m excited to see what they’re going to do when the season comes.”
Peck, a third-year wide out, is among those in the mix in the receiving corps hoping to make a difference this season. The Southern California native said he and his fellow receivers have been grinding, and he can’t wait to kick off the season this weekend against the Trojans.
“I feel today went pretty good,” Peck said after Saturday’s practice. “It’s good to come out and get some work in with the guys. We’re a week away from USC, we’re all pretty fired up and we’re just working and getting ready for the game.”
Peck is also content with the chemistry he and the quarterbacks have established during fall camp.
“I think the chemistry is developing really well,” Peck said.
“I think Brian [Burrell], Brandon [Connette] and I have good chemistry whether I’m playing inside or outside. No matter the route I run, I know the ball is going to be on me at a certain time, and I trust that they’ll get the ball there.”
Head coach Tim DeRuyter likes the way the group is competing but feels there is room for improvement due to the lack of experience.
“We’ve had guys at times flash,” DeRuyter said. “I think Scott has had a nice camp and Peck has flashed at times, but he has to be more consistent. We’ve had a lot of guys in that same ballpark where at times they’ll look really, really good but they’re not consistent enough so they just have to keep pushing.”
With less than a week until the season opener, the pass catchers embark on the new year looking to mimic the production of last year’s group.
“I think we’ve made extreme strides since Aug. 1 when we started camp,” Peck said. “From then until now has been a huge jump. I’m very impressed with our guys and I’m excited to see what we can do on Saturday.”