Bahamas Bowl 2019: 3 takeaways from Buffalo’s blowout of Charlotte

1. Antonio Nunn made noise and showed off his receiving skills

While Buffalo does not pass the ball frequently, there was one player in particular who showed off when they did. Stepping out of Anthony Johnson’s shadow, Antonio Nunn has emerged as the go-to guy for the Bulls when they do take to the air. Nunn made noise again in Nassau as he finished the day with five receptions for 53 yards and a score.

The biggest came on Buffalo’s opening drive of the game. The Bulls chugged right downfield, setting up in the red zone when Kyle Vantrease took the snap on 2nd-and-8 from the Charlotte 12. Looking right, Vantrease launched a high ball toward Nunn. The receiver left no question about who was going to come down with the catch.

That impressive overhead snag gave Buffalo a 7-0 lead in a game where they never once trailed the 49ers. It was the sort of catch that lands a player on the SportsCenter Top 10 and will put Nunn into the mix of receivers to watch in 2020 as he enters his senior year.

A receiver like Nunn could also give Leipold and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki the confidence to air out the ball a little more next season. Any quarterback is bound to get a confidence boost working with a player who has such sure hands when he is targeted and lays out for every ball that comes his way.

That drive was a huge reason why Buffalo walked away victorious from a bowl game for the first time in school history. With players like Patterson and Nunn back in the fold next year, the Bulls could be even more dangerous.