Jeremy Kerley wove around and slipped at least five would-be Colorado State tacklers last season. Then the TCU receiver/return specialist really had a chance to enjoy his 69-yard punt return: It was ESPN’s play of the day.
“I remember it real well,” Kerley said of the return that broke open TCU’s 44-6 romp in Week 7. “That was probably my ultimate career highlight, just because of the fact it was on ESPN. I got to watch it every time I tuned in to ESPN.”
Beyond the Saturday college sports cycle, his day made the top 10 of the month of October.
“It was pretty cool for me and my teammates. My guys threw some great blocks,” Kerley said. “Being that it was on ESPN, hopefully a lot of people got to see how our guys blocked and tried to get it in every time we step on the field.”
They will try again today when unbeaten and fifth-ranked TCU (4-0) heads to Fort Collins to face the struggling Rams (1-3) to open Mountain West play.
Kerley went on to lead the MWC in punt and kickoff returns last season, finishing seventh nationally in punt returns at 14.4 yards with two TDs.
He’s second in the MWC in kickoffs at 27 yards a return (28th nationally).
His return last year was naturally a career low for then-freshman CSU punter Pete Kontodiakos. Instead of the usual national anonymity on The Mtn., the return was replayed hourly in all its glory.
“All my buddies from home (Florida) called me,” Kontodiakos said. “They let me have it.”
Kerley doesn’t take anyone by surprise any more. The Horned Frogs usually line up another kick returner, Greg McCoy, for what CSU special- teams coach Larry Lewis calls “pick your poison.”
“As a rule, if you give Jeremy a chance to make the play, he’ll make it,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “If you give him a little bit of a chance, he has a chance to go a long way.”
If MWC foes had been just a little more fortunate, Kerley would have been playing baseball at some Big 12 school. His fastball was clocked at 94 mph. But he also was a four-star quarterback.
“I was really focused on football at the time,” he said. “This is where it took me.”
Patterson is known for converting two-star running backs into defensive ends who become first-round NFL draft picks such as Jerry Hughes. Kerley just made a different switch to wide receiver.
More than likely, he will be busy preparing for the NFL draft next spring. Just in case he’s looking for something else to do, TCU has a pretty good baseball program.
“Baseball is my first love,” he said. “Hopefully after the season, if I’m not too worn down, I’d like to throw that baseball. It’s always something that I thought I could go back to eventually.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
