MHS grad holds all three major receiving records at ASU

Published 5:02 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Nick Andrews holds records at Alabama State University in all three major receiving categories, but he hasn’t been able to relish in that fact this week.

He will undoubtedly have that opportunity soon, though.

Andrews, a senior from Maplesville, set the ASU record for career receiving touchdowns in a win over Alcorn State on Oct. 1, and he set the record for career receptions in a win over Prairie View A&M on Oct. 15.

Andrews completed the trifecta by setting the mark for career receiving yards in last week’s Magic City Classic against rival Alabama A&M, but the accomplishment came in a heartbreaking 20-19 loss.

It was State’s second loss of the season and first in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

“It was a hard loss we took,” Andrews said. “That record and all those things don’t really matter at this point.”

The loss was despite Andrews’ best efforts. He caught nine passes (one shy of his single-game high) for 134 yards (his third-best total this season).

“It’s one of the biggest games we have,” he said of the annual clash played at Birmingham’s Legion Field. “The atmosphere is a whole lot different. It’s like a championship feel.”

Andrews’ most recent record-breaking performance came at the expense of his coach, Reggie Barlow, who previously held the career receiving yards mark. Player and coach talked about the record before Andrews broke it.

“He said that if he was to lose the record, he was glad it was to me because I was a good hard worker and a good player,” Andrews said. “He was happy for me.”

Andrews has 187 receptions for 2,563 yards and 26 touchdowns with at least three games remaining, starting with Saturday’s visit to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Andrews said he’s glad to put talk of the records behind him and focus on playing well in his remaining games at ASU.

“Now that it’s over with, I can just breathe a little easier,” he said.