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If one thing characterizes Buffalo under Jeff Quinn it's been Instability at quarterback. UB has had no fewer than six starting quarterbacks in Quinn three years. 2013 will mark the fourth straight year that Buffalo begins the year with a new starter. Imagine how difficult it must be for a receiver to make a name form himself facing that challenge.
Through allthe turmoil Alex Neutz of Buffalo has been rising as one of the conferences most serious receiving threats. The Senior enters this season with 19 touchdowns and over 2000 yards during his career.
In 2010 and was named the teams Offensive MVP after leading Buffalo with 15.9 yards per. His 26 catches for 414 yards was the best effort by a freshman since Naaman Roosevelt. After the 2010 season Phil Steele named Neutz to the Postseason All-Freshman Fifth Team.
Neutz was well on his way to a breakout season in 2011 before a broken hand against Miami stopped him in his tracks. The Grand Island Native was approaching 650 yards early in the Bulls eighth game of the season. His absence in the last three games of the season cost him a shot at a thousand yards and may ave cost the Bulls at least one win.
When a wide receiver known for his hands suffers the type of injury Neutz incurred there is concern for his recovery. Those concerns were emphatically put to rest in game one of 2012.
Neutz caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown asn the scrappy Bulls gave Georgia more than they expected in week one. He followed up the next week with 154 yards receiving and four touchdowns against Morgan State. Neutz would two more times surpass 100 yards in a game and top 60 yards in all but one other game.
His totals for last year were 65 receptions for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns. Neutz's 2013 season put him in the UB record books for yards (fourth), receptions (sixth), and touchdowns (second). The season secured Neutz a spot All-MAC Second Team last season and pushed him onto the Biletnikoff watch list this season.
Neutz at #14 feels right. For the first time in career he will have a pocket passer running his offense and should benefit from some improvement buffalo has seen at wide out. There is the potential for Neutz to stake a claim to some of UB's single season and all time records and to enhance his name in the mind of NFL scouts.