GREENVILLE, S.C. – When the reality of the situation finally hit him, Bryce Nunnelly broke down in a wave of emotion.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore’s eighth and final catch in the Mocs’ 16-10 loss at Furman on Saturday gave him 52 receiving yards for the day and 1,005 for the season, making him only the fourth receiver in the program’s 108-year history to top 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Joel Bradford with a school-record 1,284 in 2010.
Nunnelly is 31 yards from passing Richmond Flowers’ total for the 2000 season and 56 from Alonzo Nix’s 2003 tally.
Not bad for a player who never was the featured receiver in high school.
“There could not be a better guy,” UTC quarterback Nick Tiano said. “Bryce is one of the best people I know. He works his tail off every single day. You never see him take a day off. He never takes a play off, a rep off – in the weightroom, on the field, anything. It couldn’t happen to a better guy or more talented guy. I am so proud of him and lucky to be a part of it and throw the ball to him.”