Coming into this weekend, Cam Phillips was tied for 23rd on the receiving yards list for FBS (according to ESPN), with 13 receptions for 228 yards.
With his 14 reception, 189 yard day, his 417 total yards could have him leading the nation.
ESPN's numbers were not updated to include today's games when I wrote this, but I glanced at the top 30 receivers and it looked like one or two others will be above 400yds, but won't reach Cam's 417
Scratch that.
CBS Sports is confirming, CAM PHILLIPS IS LEADING THE NATION IN RECEIVING YARDS.
In related news, the ACC team scoring looks like this:
Duke 135
Wake Forest 131
Virginia Tech 122
UNC 118
Clemson 117
In non-ACC news, ex-Hokie QB Andrew Ford has thrown for over 1200 yards in UMass' four losses.
Carry on.
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Comments
#HeisCam
And Cam is tied for 2nd nationally in TD receptions with 5. #1 has 6.
Wow if only Jackson and Phillips had stayed in past middle of the third they both could be leading the nation in a lot of categories.
Eh, I'm sure a lot of teams could say the same. It's kind of like Fantasy Football, putting up big numbers is sometimes as much about situation at it is talent.
Yeah but why risk the injuries in a meaningless game?
O I love when the guys in the game can't be identified without looking at the Hokie Sports roster.
Remember when VT never had a 1,000 yard receiver?
Cam has 417 yards in 3 games. I have a feeling our offensive record book is going to see annual rewrites for a while until we settle into the new norm.
You mean last year or 2015 before Ford did it? I know 2016 was rough, but I remember it.
This makes me so happy
Remember this offseason when some people thought Cam wouldn't perform being the unquestioned top receiver?
And I thought they were all nuts. From ND last year on I thought Cam was the best receiver on the team.
Same, from that point forward he was just out shining everybody.
I think the going logic was it was because defenses were too busy covering Hodges and Ford.
Factor myself among those that believed that Cam was thriving on being covered by a defense's third best option. I highly doubt we'll continue to see these kinds of numbers, especially if nobody else steps up to become a consistent threat, as Cam WILL start to draw double-teams against some of the better defenses we'll face, and it'll be interesting to see how he matches up against some of the best DBs the ACC has to offer, but I am much more optimistic about his contributions at this point.
I'm really liking what I'm seeing out of Savoy. If they start doubling Cam to take him away, you'll see guys like Savoy, Carroll, and DeChristopher thrive underneath. And that's ignoring the receiving threats we are now proving to have in the backfield with McMillion and McClease.
I'm still holding out hope Clark can become a consistent deep threat too. He had the one deep catch this week. Forcing defenses to commit safety help to downfield receivers every play would just be huge.
Edit: to add on to this, I think he caught that pass pretty early in the game and I remember hoping it would be his breaking out party. I don't remember seeing him targeted again though. Did anyone else pay more attention than I did? Was he on the field and just not performing, or just wasn't getting looks?
DeCristopher???? Did he get extra eligibility and slim down to play WR?
guys I have some news for you
He is exceeding my expectations by a lot, although I think part of it is the fact that we don't have anyone reliable after him. Setting the record more most receptions in a game is a double edged sword.
If they're going to let Cam sit under their coverage for 1st down after 1st down I don't really care what the other receivers do.
I know that's not the norm but in this case I see no negatives.
Certainly. They had no answer for him. But we have seen for 3 games now our lack of depth at WR. I don't expect Cam to be able to do that against Clemson.
I don't either but more as a product of Jackson rushing throws due to Clemsons pressure. Cam has a little bit of that Chad Johnson "throw it to me, I'm always open" regardless of who is covering him.
To add to this, in my somewhat basic understanding of Clemson's defense, their strength is their defensive line. I think a receiver like Cam can get open, but the difference maker is going to be how the line holds up.
Agred, Clemson Dline will be the best unit we face all season. I think JJ will be on his back a few times and at the very least we won't have much of a run game to alleviate pressure from the pass game. This will be the game for the Oline to prove they can hang with an elite group.
I do think we are gonna appreciate JJ's desire to throw the ball away when under pressure. Rushing throws and subsequently throwing picks is how a blowout happens on the 30th.
Better than Alabama and Oklahoma?
Definitely better than OU, on par with Bama.
Said it before, will say it again. I think Ford-Phillips will go down as the new Sammy Watkins-Nuke Hopkins. All the focus was on Ford as the number #1 receiver (rightfully so, he was one), but when it is all said and done, Phillips will go on to outshine him on the next level and surpass Ford as a pro, even after being #2 most of his college career. He plays with such fire. Really like what he is doing so far. Keep it up, Cam.
note: I'm hoping Ford can get healthy and stay on the field in the NFL, I think he has the talent, just needs the chance.
Totally expected the body of this post to be:
HaHa. It dawned on me that he was probably up near the top and ESPN hadn't updated their numbers so I was doing it in my head. Right before I was about to post I checked CBS and their numbers were updated showing Cam at number one; showed the work.
Makes you wonder if cam is happy Ford is gone.
I have an optimistic feeling we'll be saying this next year about Savoy/Grimsley regarding Cam
I'm Farley certain a bunch of receivers will be happy with their stats next year.
Damon skippy they will.
Savoy seems like the #2 right now, but we really don't have a 3rd. I thought for sure CJ Carroll would step up, and he's made some clutch catches, but number 3 seems more of a rotation right now
Honestly, on SOME level I think it's by design that we have a WR by committee approach. Fuente has been pretty open from when he came in last year that he likes having an 8+ receiver rotation. But generally yeah, I think you got the pecking order just about right.
Clark is getting ready to bust out
I'm not sure this doesn't have some basis in having an inexperienced QB too. It's not like Carroll has looked bad. I wonder if we had a more experienced QB if that would make the coaching staff more comfortable making a less experienced WR his primary read?
Just as long as we all remember the lesson learned from Kevin Jones's injury: Don't play your starters longer than you have to for the sake of a stat line/record.