A quick peek at the Texas A&M record books suggests that senior Jeff Fuller is the best wide receiver to don the maroon and white.
He owns the records for single-season yards, receptions and touchdown catches. He sits alone for career touchdown receptions. He's well on his way to owning the No. 1 spot in career catches and yards.
Yet he's still eager to improve, yearning to go down in Aggie lore as A&M's top receiver of all-time.
"The most impressive thing is the improvement he's made from his first year to right now," coach Mike Sherman said. "I think his willingness to continue to work on his craft and try to be best he can be is the single most impressive thing that I've noticed with him. He constantly tries to get better."
Following the Cotton Bowl loss to LSU, Fuller had a decision to make. One of Sherman's first recruits, he could finish off what he started and return as a senior. Or he could bypass his final season in Aggieland and elect to enter the NFL Draft. For days, he went back and forth. But ultimately, the draw of competing for a national championship brought him back.
"I feel good about my decision," he said. "I got a lot of work in. I get to finish something we have built together as a unit. I get to graduate as well. I can't ask for anything more."
In 2010, Fuller caught 72 balls for 1,066 yards and 12 touchdowns. He sought out one of the NFL's best players for guidance. In enlisting the help of Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Fuller learned a valuable lesson.
"I learned tons of things," he said. "He's extremely competitive, tries to beat me into the ground running and conditions wise. A great role model, great person. One of the things he said is 'there is no substitute for work,' which I think is incredibly true. The way he goes out and works every single day and makes the people around him better as well."
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill can attest that Fuller makes his job easier. Having a 6-foot-4 safety valve flanked out wide made the adjustment process for the second-year starter seamless.
"Jeff's an all-around guy," Tannehill said. "He can get open underneath, run a quick slant, or beat a guy deep. He has strong hands and can go up and get the ball. I think he's an all-around receiver who can really do anything you ask him to. I think his best asset is his hands. He can catch the ball away from his body in tough positions."
Fuller battled a tweaked hamstring during fall camp. However, prior to the injury, he was undoubtedly the best player on the field. Defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who studies the best playmakers in the Big 12 on film, said Fuller stands out above the rest -- and that helps his secondary.
"They know that if we can limit him," DeRuyter said. "It's not going to get any tougher from a matchup standpoint."
It was nearly all-for-not. Fuller toed the line that separates college from the big leagues. In the end, he chose to work. He chose to help complete this turnaround. He chose to be the best.
"I think he's as good as anyone," DeRuyter said.
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