Where has Nelson Spruce gone?
Through the first six games of the year last season, you could have made the argument that Spruce was the most unstoppable receiver in the nation, and by nearly every measurement, he was.
With 62 receptions for 732 yards and 10 touchdowns, Spruce was amongst some of the most elite company of all time. It was the type of production Jim Irsay would have referred to as “Star Wars numbers,” and honestly, The Force may have been a reasonable explanation for how open Spruce continued to get.
But since that point, the greatest receiver in Buffs’ history has continued to fall back towards earth. After putting up four 100-yard games in his first six last season, Spruce has only managed one in the last 12. And when compared to last year, Spruce’s 37 receptions for 440 yards and one touchdown through six games in 2015 seem pedestrian at best.
Now, to be fair, it’s not as if Spruce is a non-factor; he’s still the Buffs’ most reliable wideout, and you can make the case that Sefo Liufau’s shoulder injury has stunted everybody’s production, but the fact of the matter is that if CU plans on turning around their season, they need more from Spruce.
The Buffs are on the verge of falling right back down to the depths of the Pac-12, and if Spruce really is a superstar, he needs to pick this team up and carry them on his back.
CU is in need of a hero, and Spruce may be the only one capable.