I really think KF plays favorites. I was curious what Hillyer's numbers were for the season, and he had 10 catches. 10!!! And he was out there for a majority of the snaps all year. I actually feel bad for him because he was almost NEVER targeted. So the joke about Iowa WR running wind sprints....that's what he did.
For someone like Smith to only catch 41 passes this year, it's baffling. KMM caught about the number I would expect for a slot guy....but for our big play ability guys, Smith, Hillyer, Powell....a combined 69 passes caught for them.
Hillyer is part of the problem. He's a junior, tries hard, blocks hard, but he is not a good WR. He was never targeted because he was never open. He is simply to slow and nonexplosive to create separation. He also had some terrible drops during the year.
If Willes is allowed back on the team, the coaches have to let him beat out Hillyer. Smith, Willes, and Vandeburg is a good 3-man WR corps. Smith, Vandeburg and Hillyer is not.