Coming of Age
April 11, 2005 01:59 PM | General
April 13, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University coaching staff is hoping the light will soon come on for wide receiver Rayshawn Bolden.
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| West Virginia coaches are hoping junior RayShawn Bolden can become a more consistent performer in 2005.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
The 6-foot-5-inch, 220-pound junior is an intriguing prospect with the size to be a formidable target down field. But Bolden’s play throughout his career has been inconsistent -- some days good and other days not so good. West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is still looking for signs to show him that Bolden has turned the corner and can become a dependable wide receiver for the Mountaineers this fall.
“We’ve seen it over the past year where we’ve said, ‘This guy could be a big-time guy,’” Rodriguez said earlier this spring. “I’ve seen more of those teases this spring than anytime I’ve had in the past.”
Bolden came to West Virginia a very raw prospect from a small school (John F. Kennedy) in Cheektowaga, N.Y., not too far from Buffalo.
“He played at a small school and was well coached but he had to make an adjustment to the speed of the game and get stronger and work on some mechanics,” said Rodriguez. “He’s still working on some of his mechanics but he’s gotten stronger and he’s gotten a lot more confident. That is the biggest thing Ray has lacked is confidence and when you come from a small school that’s usually to be expected.”
Bolden agrees with his coach: “Coming out of high school you really don’t know what to expect,” he said. “Even being a regular student you don’t know what to expect. When I got here it was overwhelming as far as school and the whole football thing. It seemed like everything was moving 100 miles per hour and it was hard to pick up everything.”
Bolden says he isn’t the type of player who can simply observe and pick things up. He has to be out there doing it every day to get it down pat.
“You can sit there and tell me this is what you’ve got to do and it’s like school almost,” Bolden said. “I actually have to be doing it to understand it and see what’s going on. I’m not a visual type of guy. It’s repetition for me.”
Now a junior, Bolden realizes the clock is ticking on his football career.
“I’m just trying to make the best of this opportunity and try and help this team as much as possible,” he said.
Bolden also understands that he may have missed some opportunities to play more in the past.
“I could have done some things different earlier in my career, maybe worked out a little harder or paid attention to the coaches a little more,” he admitted. “Not to say that I wasn’t but as far as myself actually paying attention to the guys ahead and paying attention to detail: their route running and what they’re doing on these routes and these plays, I’m just trying to make the best of it now.”
Bolden did make a 49-yard catch late in last year’s Gator Bowl against Florida State and has seen action in other games. Because of inexperience and a lack of depth, he has an opportunity to earn a starting spot this fall.
“I figure I’ve been here three years now and I’ve waited my turn and I’m just trying to make the best of this opportunity I have right now and help the team as much as possible and be a team player,” Bolden said.
To do that, he’s got to pay more attention to detail, run crisper routes and stay on his blocks longer. He says these are things he can improve both on the field and in the film room.
“I would say if you’re studying some film you can pick up on a defense but when you see it out there in practice and according to the route we’re running you can judge where the hole is going to be and what you have to do to get open,” he said. “Both can help.”
Bolden is also hoping to help West Virginia’s group of young quarterbacks Dwayne Thompson and Pat White. He says the wide receivers and quarterbacks are still trying to develop the cohesiveness needed for a successful passing game.
“We’ve been clicking pretty well,” he said. “I don’t have any doubt in my mind that it’s going to get even better. I’m not even worried about that.”
Rich Rodriguez isn’t quite as confident. But if Bolden and the rest of the receiver corps can come through, Rodriguez will certainly sleep a lot easier this fall -- that’s for sure.
