Monmouth football: As top-ranked offense soars, a game-breaking receiver comes of age

WEST LONG BRANCH – Looking for a word that summarizes Monmouth football’s offense over the past six seasons?

Explosive does the trick. Or dynamic. Take your pick. Entertaining certainly works, too.

From Pete “The Jet” Guerriero and speedster Jaden Shirden in the backfield, to Dymere Miller, Lonnie Moore and Terrance Greene downfield, there was potential for a touchdown every time they got their hands on the ball.

Which brings us to receiver T.J. Speight, another in a growing fraternity of Hawks who have a nose for the end zone, even when it’s a long way off. There was his 89-yard TD off a jet sweep against Lafayette, while going for 87 yards against Delaware, when he caught six passes for 133 yards. As well as a 79-yard kickoff return for a score against Fordham.

The latest evidence of the senior’s emergence came Saturday, scoring on a 64-yard run, part of a career-best three touchdown performance as the Hawks overpowered Bryant, 55-17.

More: Monmouth football routs Bryant, 55-17, as Hawks win for fourth time in five games

“I feel like every time I step on the field I feel like I have to try to make explosive plays. That’s what we do,” Speight said.

Monmouth receiver T.J. Speight finds some running room against Bryant at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, N.J. on Oct. 19, 2024.

Now Speight and the No. 1 FCS offense in the country brace for the first of five-straight regular-season ending games against teams that have been part of the Top-25 conversation this season when Towson (3-4, 1-2 CAA) comes to Kessler Stadium Saturday, as Monmouth (4-3, 2-1 CAA) seeks to make a run that ends in the FCS Playoffs.

“Our standard is very high”

Speight, who hails from Fort Meade, Maryland, but was unrecruited by Towson, is a converted high school running back, who worked his way up through the ranks, from a redshirt…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/monmouth-football-top-ranked-offense-101113124.html

Author : App.com | Asbury Park Press

Publish date : 2024-10-23 10:11:13

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