Dynamic Duo: Monmouth's Miller And Kearney Are Special

WEST LONG BRANCH - With the quarterback competition between Sacred Heart transfer Marquez McCray and sophomore Enzo Arjona still raging, one thing is certain, whoever is named Monmouth University’s starting quarterback will have two of the best wide receivers in the Coastal Athletic Association to throw to.

Senior Dymere Miller and fifth-year wideout Assanti Kearney came into their own last season and the expectations for each of them entering this season is through the roof, for good reason.

Miller was a second team All-CAA selection a year ago after catching 55 passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a slick route-runner that can also blow the top off of deep coverage with his quickness and sheer speed along with an uncanny ability to get separation.

Preseason accolades have poured in for the 6-foot-0, 180-pound wideout. He was named to the first team 2023 CAA Preseason All-Conference team, the Bluebloods Preseason CAA All-Conference first team, Phil Steele’s first team CAA Preseason All-Conference team and selected for the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list.

“Dymere’s got that extra gear, he’s got that speed, that ability to make the big play anywhere on the field, as he showed all of last year,” Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan said.

Kearney has been in the Monmouth University program since 2018 and has certainly paid his dues. His time finally came last season when he became a starter and made the most of it. He had 37 receptions for 638 yards and four touchdowns - second on the team - and like his compadre Miller, expectations of him are at an all-time high.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Kearney is a big, physical receiver that uses his body well in getting separation and coming down with 50/50 balls. He has deceptive speed and large, soft hands that were on display in last Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage when he made two spectacular one-handed grabs, including one for a 15-yard touchdown. Miller was named to the Phil Steele 2023 CAA Preseason All-Conference fourth team.

“Assanti has continued to improve, develop and get better since he’s been with us,” Callahan said. “This is the year, quite honestly, if he’s going to make his mark this is the year. He really got himself in tremendous shape this offseason. He’s big, he’s physical and strong. He’s improved his speed and has improved his ball skills; catching the ball extremely well and that’s all we can ask for. I’ve liked everything he’s done in camp so far.”

Callahan knows whoever he does name as starting quarterback will benefit greatly from having Miller and Kearney running routes for them.

“Anytime a quarterback has veteran receivers, guys who have been there before, guys who are mentioned as all-league candidates, it’s going to help,” Callahan said. “It’s going to make their job that much easier because you have the veteran presence on the outside, on the perimeter and guys that know how to run routes and who have done it in the CAA before. So, I think whoever the quarterback is, that’s going to be a huge benefit to them.”

From 2019 to 2021, Monmouth was blessed with two of the Big South’s top all-time wide receivers, Lonnie Moore IV and Terrance Greene Jr. Moore IV was a three-time first team All-Big South selection, finishing his career with 213 career receptions (second most in Monmouth history) for 2,756 receiving yards (third most in Monmouth history) and 19 touchdowns. Greene Jr. was a three-time All-Big South selection finishing with 146 career receptions for 2,087 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.

Callahan thinks Miller and Kearny have the potential to have the same impact as Moore IV and Greene this season and leave their own mark on the record books.

“I think they will,” Callahan said. “I think they’re a lot like those two (Moore IV & Greene Jr.), they complement each other very well. One’s more suited for the outside position and one’s more suited for the slot inside position. I think the combination of both of them is something that can really pose problems for other defenses and can really be explosive for us. For us it's a matter of keeping those two guys healthy, keeping them in the game and getting the ball to them in a many creative ways as we can.”

As Miller and Kearney waited their turn, Moore IV and Greene Jr. mentored them and showed them the ropes.

“I watched them make explosive plays and develop as I was developing,” Miller said. “They talked me through stuff I didn’t know and hanging out with them helped me a lot.”

“I saw the struggles they went through and what they went through to get to the point where they got,” Kearney said. “So, I learned to keep my head down and just keep on working no matter the circumstances.”

Kearney thinks he and Miller can be just as dynamic.

“We got a lot of firepower between the both of us and the room in general. But between us two, we’re tough to stop. We help each other get open in certain route concepts and we’re both phenomenal athletes. We both have speed and can take the ball out of the air, so we definitely have the capability to have an equivalent or better year than both of them.”

This will be year number two of Miller and Kearney as the go-to guys and Miller feels having Kearney as another option puts added pressure on defenses and can only help his game.

“It’s great working with Assante,” said Miller. “We got the outside presence and slot, and nobody can cover both of us one on one.”

Miller is not phased by all the preseason hype surrounding him and feels no pressure to live up to it and actually has loftier goals for the season. “No, there’s no pressure. Accolades are just them guessing what’s it going to be, I don’t even think about that. I’m chasing all-American and I’m going to get there; I don’t really care about that other stuff.”

Monmouth’s wide receiver group has some question marks after Miller and Kearney with the group behind them totaling just 14 career receptions, so the depth may be an issue. But Miller and Kearney have faith that this group will step up to the challenge.

Dre Tucker is a fifth-year player and will be the number three receiver. A year ago, Tucker had 12 receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. In Saturday’s scrimmage, Tucker had four receptions for 24 yards and was open for a touchdown on a down-field bomb that was slightly overthrown.

Jordan Grey is another fifth-year player and is looking for his first career reception. He’s showed well in camp and Saturday he caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from McCray and finished with 65-yards receiving. Junior T.J. Speight saw playing time in seven games last season recording two receptions for 21 yards.

“They definitely look good and they’re definitely developing and gaining,” Miller said. “We’re just hoping they can get the coaches trust and we can get that trust with them that we know they’re going to get out there make big plays.”

Kearney also feels Tucker and Grey are up to the task. “I’ve seen how hard those guys work so that’s a testament to them. They’ve been here throughout this entire prosses watching, seeing peoples success and they’ve kept their head down and grinded and now they’re finally getting a chance to showcase their talent, so I’m excited for them and wish them the best.”

Sophomore speedster Gavin Nelson just might be a sleeper. He was a track star at Franklin High School in Maryland where he holds many school records. His senior year, he had 44 receptions for 953 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 21.7 yards per catch.

Also, two freshman that have stood out in camp and could see the field, most notably Josh Derry who had 41 receptions for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago and was a gold medalist in the 400 meter dash and 4X400 meter relay. Then there’s freshman wideout Tra Neal, who could see action after a career at Fredrick High School in Maryland where he totaled 107 receptions for 1,859 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns. He also 598 yards and four touchdowns on 25 punt returns on his was to all-state honors.

“They’ve definitely been looking good,” Miller said of the two freshmen. “They’re making their role look stronger and they’re both versatile with good speed. So that’s what we need them to do is to come out here do what they do. It’s a good opportunity for both of them.”

Monmouth will hold its annual media on Friday the 18th, then on Saturday the Hawks will get back on the field for their second and final fall camp intrasquad scrimmage.