"From Track to Football: Week 2"

Week two of the college football season has come and gone and there were some outstanding performances by track athletes on the football field. Let's take a look at just a few of these performances and how they impacted their teams.

KOLBY LISTENBEE - Sr - TCU
*Track & Field - 100 & 200 meters
*Football - Wide Receiver

Kolby Listenbee is TCUs go to receiver this year. Last season, he racked up 41 catches for 753 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him a spot on the honorable mention All Big-12 team. TCUs game last week against Stephen F. Austin was probably one of the most lopsided games that I can personally recall. Any offense that can put up 70 points has some serious talent, no matter what defense they are playing. During that 70-7 route, it was Listenbee that stole the show.

Listenbee had 6 receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown. What makes him such powerful outside threat for TCU? His track background. While competing for TCU on the track, Listenbee recorded times of 10.04 in the 100 meters and 20.6 in the 200 meters. That makes him not just one of the fastest dual sport athletes in college sports, but one of the fastest athletes in college sports PERIOD!

TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is being projected as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate this year. Kolby Listenbee will be the man that takes Boykin there. NFL scouts are now starting to pay serious attention to him as game changing receiver. Next week, TCU will take on SMU and Listenbee is expected to have another big game for the Horned Frogs.

ADOREE' JACKSON - So - USC
*Track & Field - 100 & 200 meters, Long Jump
*Football - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back

Due to the fact that he is still recovering from an abdominal strain, Adoree' Jackson only had 6 offensive plays in USCs game against Idaho last week, but he made those plays count. Jackson had 4 catches for 62 yards, including a quick shovel pass that he was able to manipulate into a 31 yard gain. It was obvious from watching that when Jackson was on the field, he was the best athlete out there. It's only a matter of time before Jackson breaks an ESPN Top-10 worthy punt return on some unfortunate team this year (hopefully not the Utes).



CHARLES NELSON - So - Oregon
*Track & Field - 100 meters, long jump
*Football - Wide Receiver

It seems like Oregon, more than any other university, really understands how valuable track athletes can be to a football team. Charles Nelson is the second track athlete to make a big impact for the Ducks on the football field this year. Last week's game against Michigan State went down to the wire, but unfortunately the Ducks came up just short, losing 31-28 to the Spartans. Nelson, however, made his presence known on the field and solidified himself as a valuable contributor for the Ducks, and primary target for quarterback Vernon Adams.

Nelson finished the game with 7 receptions for 79 yards as well as one rushing attempt for 4 yards. Nelson's accomplishments on the track can't be overlooked either. He ran the third leg of Oregon's school record setting 4x100 meter relay team as well as qualified for the NCAA Championships in the long jump. Look for Nelson to make an explosive impact for Oregon next week against Georgia State.

There is one common thread that you will notice as we continue to keep tabs on these athletes. Their respective universities have learned that the track team is a valuable, and often untapped, source for explosive play makers. Like I said above, Oregon has been a trail blazer in that area and numerous other schools across the country, both inside and outside of the PAC-12, are following their example. We can only hope that Utah follows that lead an reinstates their men's track team sooner rather than later.

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About Unknown

"I'm a graduate of the University of Utah and self proclaimed 'biggest track fan in the state of Utah.' Since Utah is an Olympic proud state, it seems odd that Utah doesn't fully support the marquee sport of the Olympics. Let's do something about it!"