Head coach Mike MacIntyre of the Colorado Buffaloes leads his team against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Folsom Field on Sept. 20, 2014, in Boulder. The Buffs defeated the Warriors 21-12. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
Could there be any doubt that Colorado junior receiver Nelson Spruce is on the minds of California coaches in advance of Saturday’s 2 p.m. meeting (Pac-12 Network) in Berkeley?
Spruce tops the Pac-12 in receptions per game with 9.2 (37 catches in four games) and in receiving yards per game (129.5).
He comes off a career best effort against Hawaii, setting a school record with 13 catches. That included a 71-yard touchdown.
California ranks last among Pac-12 teams in pass defense, yielding 316.7 yards per game through the air.
“The thing I like about him,” California head coach Sonny Dykes said, “is he really competes hard for the football.”
Spruce also established a CU record with a touchdown reception in his sixth straight game.
CU coach Mike MacIntyre said he tried to tell people during the Pac-12 media days in July that Spruce ranks among the league’s top recievers “but nobody would listen.”
