Sept. 11--Will Fuller didn't ask, but the Notre Dame junior shall receive.
He shall receive the football, as he did seven times for 142 yards and two touchdowns during the season opener against Texas. He shall receive the increasing recognition that comes with that, as he did when he was named to preseason watch lists for the Biletnikoff and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards.
One thing Fuller hasn't fully adapted to receiving? Attention.
"I'm getting a lot better with it," Fuller said. "In high school I could hardly talk in front of the camera. I'm just embracing it all."
Now every catch is a potential Kodak moment, his 66-yard touchdown Saturday notwithstanding.
Fuller said the play wasn't even supposed to go to him, that a miscommunication in Texas' secondary led to the play during the Irish's 38-3 victory.
"I'm just happy Malik (Zaire) looked my way and threw it," Fuller said. "I'm just a humble guy. I wasn't always good, so I stay level-headed until I get where I want to go."
For now, the road leads to Charlottesville, Va., where the ninth-ranked Irish will face Virginia on Saturday.
Fuller came out of nowhere last year and began running routes to somewhere after cradling 76 passes, good for 1,094 yards and 15 scores -- tied for first in school history -- and being named the team's offensive MVP. He has caught at least one touchdown pass in 12 of 16 career starts.
The guy who acts like the guest of honor at a surprise party every time the subject turns to him shouldn't be surprised.
Fuller is front and center, legs and arms a blur, on the cover of the team's media guide. Closing in on his right is captain Sheldon Day. Captain Nick Martin is to his left.
On a national level, the slowly increasing attention doesn't much capture Fuller's attention, which quickly turned to "we" in lieu of "me."
"It's motivation, but I try to stay away from those things," he said. "I try to do what's best for the team, whatever it is."
Close pal and fellow receiver Torii Hunter Jr. said Fuller is good for a joke or two -- "I don't have any material I can share with you guys," Fuller cracked -- and said he "loves to talk" but is "kind of soft-spoken."
His play, though, has been anything but quiet.
Last season, coach Brian Kelly wasn't ready to anoint No. 7 a No. 1 receiver. His ascent began after DaVaris Daniels was suspended as part of the school's investigation into academic fraud.
"It happened real fast. It was a quick turnaround for me," Fuller said.
Less than a year later, Kelly, who isn't high on Heisman talk, mentioned Fuller as a candidate before the season.
Fuller is a deep threat but was quick to point out that, even though he caught all seven balls on which he was targeted Saturday, twice he was pre-empted on screens by Texas' defense, causing the Irish to counter.
Notre Dame receivers coach Mike Denbrock said Fuller is a fine route runner, adept at recognizing coverages and techniques. He just has to keep it all simple in order to succeed.
"He really has a good pair of hands, and he has to use them," Denbrock said. "He gets himself in trouble when he tries to basket-catch a football instead of being aggressive to it. He's got to get that out of his game. ... It's making every play that he's capable of making and showing that type of consistency that's going to lead to greatness."
The 6-foot, 184-pounder lacks the size NFL teams prefer, but he continues to blossom in other ways.
"Will has grown into himself," fellow receiver Corey Robinson said. "Everyone looks up to him. It's cool to see him take that lead and continue to perform. He's an incredible athlete. He's an incredible guy. Hopefully he does it again this year."
The Irish plan to keep asking. So far, they have received.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
