Charlotte football’s ‘Big 3’ receivers key in 49ers bid for another bowl appearance
There’s a new big three in South Florida this weekend, looking to do something that hasn’t been done in not one, not two, but three years straight.
Although maybe not as electric as LeBron’s highlight-reel dunk on Jason Terry, Dwyane Wade’s vicious coast-to-coast slam on Anderson Varejao, or Chris Bosh’s rebound and kick-out to the corner in Game 6 of the 2014 NBA Finals, the talent in the Charlotte 49ers’ receiving room is among the best in college football.
Grant DuBose, Victor Tucker and Elijah Spencer have coined — or repurposed — the nickname as they prepare to open a season with lofty expectations.
Charlotte, losers of three consecutive to Florida Atlantic, will look to break the streak Saturday in Boca Raton. The 49ers’ best chance is on the backs of their electric offensive attack, featuring two Biletnikoff candidates — DuBose (2022) and Tucker (2020) — as well as the 2021 Conference USA Freshman of the Year — Spencer.
With all three wideouts back for another season together, receivers coach Perry Parks understands the talent at his disposal and isn’t taking it for granted.
“Every day I walk through those doors I bring that chip on my shoulder mentality that I’m not supposed to be here,” Parks said. “Grant DuBose, a guy like that, people told him he’s not supposed to be here. Elijah Spencer and Victor Tucker, all the Power Five schools passed over them. The mentality I bring to work every day is the mentality in the (receiver) room. I love that those guys take that wholeheartedly.”
The Niners hang their hat on celebrating success, and training camp has been a repetitive party in the end zone for the 49ers’ big three.
“The other day at practice we were saying we were the big three,” BuBose said. “I’m going to have to go with LeBron, just because I’m a bigger frame. D-Wade is Tucker because he’s the vet, and Bosh I’ll have to go with Spencer. All of them are great. It feels good to be back here this year, getting another year with these guys. I feel like our chemistry is even better, it’s nothing but laughs and jokes, but we’re holding ourselves accountable to achieve what we want to achieve this year.”
DIVISION II TO THE NFL?
DuBose, a Division II transfer who became a Phil Steele preseason First-Team C-USA selection, made an immediate name for himself in 2021 and now has a chance to climb the NFL Draft boards with a promising junior season. DuBose added 10 pounds to his frame during the off-season, checking in at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds at the beginning of training camp.
While known for his trash talking — even to his own teammates during the 49ers’ spring game — DuBose has backed it up since stepping on campus in June of 2021. Many Charlotte fans are familiar with DuBose’s story coming from working at Wal-Mart to leading the 49ers past Duke just one year ago, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Montgomery, Alabama native.
It took just three routes for the Division II transfer to earn a scholarship at Charlotte.
“I ran three routes. A hitch, a dig, and a go,” DuBose said of his summer 2021 tryout. “I dove for the go-ball that coach Carney threw — it was a good ball. After the go route, they said ‘let’s pack it up, you’ve got the offer.’ I remember that day like it was yesterday.”
892 yards and 6 touchdowns later, DuBose led the team in catches, yards and touchdowns. He averaged 19 yards per catch in the fourth quarter last season, showing up in the biggest moments and posing a threat from any point on the field.
DuBose’s raw athleticism blew the staff away upon his arrival, but the work to take the next step in his game impressed Parks the most.
“He’s truly becoming a student of the game,” Parks added. “It’s been really cool to see him maturing as a player and a leader on this team. Perfecting his craft as an overall receiver, not just a deep threat, but a better blocker and student.”
TOUGH TO GUARD
In the slot is the savvy veteran Tucker, who’s the nation’s active leading receiver and a technical mastermind. After battling two concussions late last season, Tucker’s back to 100% health and is ready for one final run.
“I wanted to leave the mark of creating a winning culture. Showing guys what winning habits look like,” Tucker said about coming back for a fifth season. “When I first came here, I was always looking for that one person, that older guy that I could just follow, and he’d show me the ropes. Honestly, I never felt like I had that. So, I just wanted to show the younger guys how it looks to perform at a high level and bring that every day.”
Tucker’s decision to return relied heavily on quarterback Chris Reynolds’, as the two have combined for 163 receptions and 2,346 yards in their time at Charlotte.
Added Reynolds: “It’s just another day at the office for me and Vic. We’re focused on finishing what we started.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Tucker saw 71% of his snaps in the slot, more than doubling any of his previous seasons. He reeled in 51 catches for 639 yards and two scores a season ago, totaling 13 100-yard receiving performances in his career.
Tucker’s main focus is playing on Sundays, and he spent his offseason working on his speed and acceleration, fittingly matching Wade’s “Flash” moniker. The Miami Gardens native started his career in the slot before transitioning to the X receiver, where he enjoyed consistent one-on-one matchups in three-by-one formations. His best season of 909 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019 came when he was at the strength of the formation and saw plenty of presnap motions that created matchup problems.
He wants to get back to that this season. He wants the ball, especially in crunch time, like when he accounted for 101 of his 133 yards against Duke in the final eight minutes of play. At the end of the day, all three guys are competitors, but there’s a real focus on pushing each other to that next gear.
“More than anything we just enjoy competing with each other,” Tucker said. “Whether it’s me getting a pancake block this play and then going to Grant telling him he has to get one before practice is over. If I make somebody miss, I’m going to Spencer and telling him to make someone miss. Those are the things we’re doing to keep each other going.”
UP NEXT
Following an impressive true freshman campaign featuring his best performances on Charlotte’s biggest stages, Spencer is looking to take his game to new heights in 2022.
“My offseason work is going to be put on display majorly,” said Spencer. “I don’t set statistical goals because I don’t want to get lost in the numbers, but my main goal is to grade out every snap that I play with a check. I need every rep to be perfect. I’m a perfectionist.”
Spencer became the first 49er to win one of Conference USA’s top individual awards, reeling in 28 catches for 381 yards and six touchdowns, being charged with just one drop on the year. He worked his way into the rotation early in 2021, catching his first touchdown against Georgia State in Week 3 and starting a trend of three consecutive games with a score.
The 6-foot-1 wideout’s best game came against Rice with the 49ers’ bowl hopes on the line. Tucker had exited with an injury early in the contest, leaving Spencer as a go-to target. He delivered in the form of game-tying and game-winning touchdowns on consecutive plays, forcing and effectively ending overtime to keep Charlotte’s season alive.
Spencer is focused on starring in his role and being ready when his name is called — for now.
“I’ll be Bosh for right now,” Spencer said. “Sneaky good, you feel me. Dependable. But I’ll be there when you need me.”
With so many options on the perimeter, Reynolds knows this is the most talented offense that Charlotte has seen.
“It’s like a quarterback’s dream when you’ve got studs all over the place. Having the opportunity to build on what we started last year. The thing about those three is that they’re all pros. Everybody feeds off them. They get our practice started and they always finish it. That receiver room, I could go on for days. It’s special.”
With game day quickly approaching, Parks knows that opponents will have to pick their poison.
“It’s a joy being able to coach those guys,” Parks said. “They all push each other and make each other better. Defenses are going to have to pick and choose.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2022 at 12:00 PM.