University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Bussey Looking To Build On Breakout Season
8/13/2019 1:15:00 PM | Football
DENTON – There are a couple of elite groups in the Mean Green strength program, and senior wide receiver Rico Bussey, Jr., is a part of both of them.
He joined the first – the 308 club, which requires a player to power clean 308 pounds – as a sophomore, and the manner in which he did it set the tone for his athletic profile.
"It was one of those things where it was so easy for him," fellow senior wideout Michael Lawrence said. "He pulled it up, and we didn't know whether to celebrate and go crazy or what, because it was so easy for him. We're all standing around like, 'OK … Is this normal?'"
The other, the 1050 group, is for players whose bench press, squat and power clean all add up to at least 1,050 pounds. He's a part of that one, too, and as Lawrence would tell you, is a big reason why he is in both clubs, as well, just from wanting to match Bussey's numbers.
That elite strength is just one reason why Bussey exploded on to the scene a year ago, when he led UNT with 68 catches, 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns to put him in fifth place in program history in both receiving touchdowns (20) and 100-yard games (eight). Some others would be his, as his teammates describe it, "freakish" athletic ability and improved technique, as well as the fact he had an NFL-caliber receiver in Jalen Guyton on the opposite end to draw focus from him.
Now, the 6-2, 193-pound receiver with a 40-plus inch vertical leap and track speed will look to build on his breakout season from a year ago and once again lead the way for an experienced offense with a myriad of lofty expectations, even though opposing defenses will most likely have him listed as their top priority in coverage.
"I think the beautiful thing about our offense right now is we have playmakers all around," senior quarterback Mason Fine said. "If they do put more focus on Rico, he knows he's just taking strain off his teammates. They're going to have to focus on him. Rico's too big of a weapon and I'm going to throw it to him too many times where they can't just go one-on-one. I have great confidence in him – in his routes and his ability to create separation that I'm not afraid to throw him the ball 10 out of 10 times."
Even though new offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder wasn't with the program a year ago to enjoy Bussey's big season, he's seen enough in film study and in spring ball and fall camp to know what makes him a special receiver. He also knows what it's going to take for Bussey to build on what he did a year ago and get even better.
"He can really run. That's always going to be there," Reeder said. "Now it's just got to be, 'How many routes can he run? Can he run the curl? Can he run the go? Can he run the post? Yes. Now, get that out route down. Get that comeback down. Those stutter routes down.' Everything the speed gives him you have to have your counter to it. He just has to continue to refine his game."
And Bussey said he's done just that. Lawrence would vouch for him in a heartbeat.
Lawrence tells stories of Bussey text messages asking Lawrence to get to the facility to run routes with him so they could help each other improve. Despite his huge numbers a year ago that landed him on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best pass-catcher in college football, Bussey believes he's better now.
"I worked on a lot, and I feel like I'm probably about five times better than I was," Bussey said. "I've worked on my technique and my route running, and I've worked on how I run, which helps with my hamstrings and not pulling them and stuff. I'm stronger.
"I could always run all the routes," Bussey added. "But I've worked on the technique a lot and I look better now. I look efficient now and don't give stuff away. I've worked on stuff like that."
Bussey knows what lies ahead and the challenge that comes with being the unquestioned No. 1 receiver, and he doesn't shy from it. In fact, he has some pretty lofty individual goals for himself this year – the kind that will help his team goal of winning a conference championship and a bowl game come true.
"Be the best receiver in college football – that's my goal," Bussey said. "And win the championship obviously, but for us to do that, I have to be the best I can be, and for me to be the best I can be, I feel I have to be the best receiver in college football."
Can he do it? Lawrence warns anyone who might doubt it.
"He lives and breathes football, and not only does he want to get himself better, he wants to get the guys around him better, me included," Lawrence said. "Last year was a great season for him, but that was just the beginning for him. He has a long football career ahead of him, and I can't wait to watch it."
He joined the first – the 308 club, which requires a player to power clean 308 pounds – as a sophomore, and the manner in which he did it set the tone for his athletic profile.
"It was one of those things where it was so easy for him," fellow senior wideout Michael Lawrence said. "He pulled it up, and we didn't know whether to celebrate and go crazy or what, because it was so easy for him. We're all standing around like, 'OK … Is this normal?'"
The other, the 1050 group, is for players whose bench press, squat and power clean all add up to at least 1,050 pounds. He's a part of that one, too, and as Lawrence would tell you, is a big reason why he is in both clubs, as well, just from wanting to match Bussey's numbers.
That elite strength is just one reason why Bussey exploded on to the scene a year ago, when he led UNT with 68 catches, 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns to put him in fifth place in program history in both receiving touchdowns (20) and 100-yard games (eight). Some others would be his, as his teammates describe it, "freakish" athletic ability and improved technique, as well as the fact he had an NFL-caliber receiver in Jalen Guyton on the opposite end to draw focus from him.
Now, the 6-2, 193-pound receiver with a 40-plus inch vertical leap and track speed will look to build on his breakout season from a year ago and once again lead the way for an experienced offense with a myriad of lofty expectations, even though opposing defenses will most likely have him listed as their top priority in coverage.
"I think the beautiful thing about our offense right now is we have playmakers all around," senior quarterback Mason Fine said. "If they do put more focus on Rico, he knows he's just taking strain off his teammates. They're going to have to focus on him. Rico's too big of a weapon and I'm going to throw it to him too many times where they can't just go one-on-one. I have great confidence in him – in his routes and his ability to create separation that I'm not afraid to throw him the ball 10 out of 10 times."
Even though new offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder wasn't with the program a year ago to enjoy Bussey's big season, he's seen enough in film study and in spring ball and fall camp to know what makes him a special receiver. He also knows what it's going to take for Bussey to build on what he did a year ago and get even better.
"He can really run. That's always going to be there," Reeder said. "Now it's just got to be, 'How many routes can he run? Can he run the curl? Can he run the go? Can he run the post? Yes. Now, get that out route down. Get that comeback down. Those stutter routes down.' Everything the speed gives him you have to have your counter to it. He just has to continue to refine his game."
And Bussey said he's done just that. Lawrence would vouch for him in a heartbeat.
Lawrence tells stories of Bussey text messages asking Lawrence to get to the facility to run routes with him so they could help each other improve. Despite his huge numbers a year ago that landed him on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best pass-catcher in college football, Bussey believes he's better now.
"I worked on a lot, and I feel like I'm probably about five times better than I was," Bussey said. "I've worked on my technique and my route running, and I've worked on how I run, which helps with my hamstrings and not pulling them and stuff. I'm stronger.
"I could always run all the routes," Bussey added. "But I've worked on the technique a lot and I look better now. I look efficient now and don't give stuff away. I've worked on stuff like that."
Bussey knows what lies ahead and the challenge that comes with being the unquestioned No. 1 receiver, and he doesn't shy from it. In fact, he has some pretty lofty individual goals for himself this year – the kind that will help his team goal of winning a conference championship and a bowl game come true.
"Be the best receiver in college football – that's my goal," Bussey said. "And win the championship obviously, but for us to do that, I have to be the best I can be, and for me to be the best I can be, I feel I have to be the best receiver in college football."
Can he do it? Lawrence warns anyone who might doubt it.
"He lives and breathes football, and not only does he want to get himself better, he wants to get the guys around him better, me included," Lawrence said. "Last year was a great season for him, but that was just the beginning for him. He has a long football career ahead of him, and I can't wait to watch it."
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