Nick Mayers Leads in Receiving Yards
Written By: Sarah Roby
Staff Writer
Nick Mayers, a redshirt junior, is leading Old Dominion’s football team in receiving yards this season with 658 yards. Mayers, No. 7, standing at a mere 5-foot-7-inches, weighing only 170 pounds, is a wide receiver that plays a big part in ODU football. Mayers is second on the team with seven touchdowns this season.
“It feels real good. The first year I led in receiving touchdowns, but the second year was awful. To be able to come back and help the team win, it’s a blessing really,” Mayers said.
ODU football is a fairly new program, but has progressed tremendously in their first three years. “A lot of maturing has been going on. It has benefited us being around each other that long. We are coming together and peaking right at the perfect time,” Mayers said. Mayers likes that the coaching staff is always trying to find new ways to use ODU’s speed, as well as the other wide receivers.
“We call each other CBS. That stands for ‘Can’t Be Stopped’,” Mayers said about the wide receivers. The wide receivers spend a lot of time together whether it’s on the field, dinner cooked by the wide receiver coach on Thursday nights, or playing intramural basketball.. “None of us are selfish guys, we all want everybody to do well,” Mayers said.
The wide receivers encountered a major change this season when the dynamic of the offense was flipped due to a new quarterback. When Thomas DeMarco was injured and freshman Taylor Heinicke had to take over, it may have been for the best.
“Taylor has better pocket presence,” Mayers said, “Taylor throws the ball softer than DeMarco, which makes it easier to catch.”
Mayers noticed a change in the team when Heinicke took over. “It sends a message to everybody on the team that nobody’s spot is safe. You [have] got to prepare and work hard like today is your last day,” Mayers said.
Despite the major changes, the offense this season has worked very hard and has done well. “To be able to control the play clock and making drives and being able to score points is always beneficial,” Mayers said.
When Mayers thinks about his goals for the rest of the season he wants, “just to keep winning. The more we win, the more we will be recognized around the country and we’ll be able to come back here and play another game in front of our home fans,” Mayers said.
ODU football has done what they needed to do in order to get this far, but they are not done. As coach Wilder has been preaching all season, the Monarchs are not done fighting until they get that National Championship, despite their youth.
Mayers has had a great season so far with receiving yards and touchdowns, and plans to finish out strong.
Photo By Elaina Ellis
