(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – In 2016, wide receiver Cam Stewart saw the most minutes of his college career. The junior from Snellville, Georgia, played in 10 games, recording 172 yards on 18 receptions but did not score. Now, Stewart is primed for a breakout season in which he’s ready to prove to second-year head coach Scott Frost and his staff that he can be the No. 1 option.
“This past summer, I’ve just been trying to, like, work on my technique. Working on details, knowing more in-depth in the playbook,” Stewart said after practice on Aug. 29. “Just getting better with the quarterbacks on certain routes and stuff, and I just been working on, like, trying to be more physical and trying to stay consistent.”
Stewart’s confidence in a standout season derives from his tutelage under decorated Knights receiver Tre’Quan Smith. That relationship began when Stewart arrived on campus in 2015 when Smith was already a redshirt freshman. Smith has so far had the more successful career, as he’s reeled in 1,577 yards and nine touchdowns on 109 receptions in two seasons.
“Tre’Quan is a hell of a receiver… Like, ever since my freshman year, he’s just been teaching me, like, little details on how he gets open and how he catches the ball sometimes when he knows he’s gonna get hit,” Stewart said. “And he just teach me on how to play kinda quicker and just, you know, how to execute.
For Stewart, he acknowledges Smith’s prowess as the current go-to option. He’s trying to follow in Smith’s footsteps, as he figures his teammate will soon be in the National Football League.
“Yeah, so I know Tre’Quan’s gonna do tremendous. He’s probably gonna go to the league, and I just wanna replace his—like, take his footsteps pretty much and be that guy here,” Stewart said. “So I just wanna show the coaches that I can do it this year, and so it’ll roll over to next year. And then I can try to be that No. 1 dude.”
Stewart will be joined by Smith and sophomore Dredrick Snelson, as the three veteran receivers look to lead four true freshmen on the flanks. A receiving corps that ranked 89th in yards per game (209.7 yards per game) last season will see its first action in the team’s home- and season-opener on Thursday at 6 p.m. against the FIU Panthers.
For more on the Knights, as they look to show off second-year head coach Scott Frost’s improved offense, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
