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A season ago, Kevin Smith and Jaydon Mickens combined for 26 catches for 258 yards, and just 1 touchdown. In 2013 they accumulated 115 catches, 1453 yards, and 9 touchdowns.
As a junior, Smith was coming off of a torn ACL and just could never get it going as a reliable target in the passing game. Mickens was a true freshman who struggled with drops and wasn't really being used in a way that maximized his talents. The turnaround in one offseason was stark, and the results were immediate. In the first game of 2013, Smith surpassed his 2012 yardage total, and Mickens had what was to that point easily the best game of his career with a 9 catch 109 yard performance.
The way in which the two had great seasons could not have been more different. Smith spent the season being the Huskies' most consistent and reliable deep threat, making tough catches down the field on a regular basis. Mickens was a terror catching passes behind the line of scrimmage and turning them upfield for chunks of yards at a time.
This duo finished the year #1 (Mickens) and #2 (Smith) in catches, #1 (Smith) and #2 (Mickens) in receiving yards, #2 (Mickens) and #3 (Smith) in TD receptions, and Smith led the team in yards per catch for players with more than 8 catches.
