He?s listed at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds. And Eric Yancey uses that to his advantage.
On Sept. 23, Towson University?s diminutive senior wide receiver read the defense, slid behind the safety and found an open space in the end zone. Sophomore quarterback Sean Schaefer found him with the game-winning touchdown pass to topple Hofstra, 33-30.
“They called the play that we normally run, but [receivers coach Guilian Gary] kind of gave me the freedom on my route to find a hole and get open there,” Yancey said.
The 11-yard pass play came with just 24 seconds remaining.
“He just moseyed on into the end zone and found a seam there,” Gary recalled.
Yancey has earned those freedoms, in part, because of his experience and, more so, because of his performance in the absence of senior receiver Andrae Brown, the team?s leading receiver from 2005 who is expected to return Saturday against Maine.
A product of Montgomery County powerhouse Seneca Valley High (state-record 12 state titles), Yancey has hauled in a team-best 23 passes for 266 yards and leads the team with four touchdown receptions. He?s also the team?s punt returner, averaging 11.8 yards per return, and on top of everything else, he is key to the Tigers? downfield running game.
“The funny thing is, when you look at his stature and size, you?re saying, ?Come on now,? ” Gary said. “But he?s the best blocker that I have at receiver. He?s a pest to the big guys. He?s like a gnat that you keep swatting at.”
Yancey?s speed wouldn?t be classified as elite, but he?s quick and has great hands.
“The ability to make you miss, the burst ? he has all those things,” said Towson head coach Gordy Combs. “I still think he?s going to take one to the house on the punt returns.”
It?s all a product of hard work. Yancey has seen his receptions increase every season since his debut in 2003. And with just 12 more catches, he will set a career high.
“He?s guy that came in that wasn?t on scholarship, and he has earned a scholarship in the last two years,” Combs said.
THE YANCEY FILE
» Age: 22
» Major: Sports management
» Did you know? Yancey enters Saturday?s game with 1,254 career receiving yards on 94 catches ? The game-winner against Hofstra was his 10th career touchdown reception.
