Wide-outs Boseman, Green form one-two punch

Ever since they were little kids, Najee Green and Andrew Boseman have been competing with one another. From rec league basketball to Pop Warner football to school to video games to girls, the two Gwynn Park juniors have been going at it for the majority of their lives.

"We're competing all the time," Boseman said. "We love each other like brothers, but we're always competing."

"We can't stand to lose to each other," Green said. "We have to beat each other. But yeah, it's all fun. It's a good relationship."

The old saying that "opposites attract" doesn't apply in this case; Boseman and Green are practically the same person.

Both have the same humble, determined personalities. Both are highly intelligent in the classroom and on the football field. Physically, Green has two inches on Boseman (6-feet-3 to 6-feet-1), but they both weigh the same (180 pounds), run just as fast (4.5 40-yeard dash) and jump just as high (31 inches). Out on the field, they even look the same with their leather-soft hands and precise route running.

Those similar attributes considered, it's little wonder Boseman and Green are both potential Division I football players who are getting looked at by - inevitably -- the same colleges (namely Vanderbilt and Maryland).

"They're basically a carbon-copy of one anther," said Gwynn Park coach Danny Hayes.

But the parallels don't end there. They also happen to play the same position: wide receiver. That makes for an interesting battle, compounded by the fact that they both work out together. Needless to say, those workouts can get fairly intense.

But intensity only ratchets up the performance level. When two elite football players clash, their workouts tend to become legendary (i.e. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed).

"We're always out there working on our routes, critiquing each other and pushing each other," Green said. "The more we compete, the better we make each other."

But is one better than the other? Or is this battle of on-field brethren even?

Hayes hesitated, before offering this well-crafted answer:

"Najee is probably the little better prospect, but Andrew is right there," he said. "But both have something to bring to the table."

The comment wasn't meant as a slight. Quite the contrary. But don't think Boseman won't use it as motivation.

"I'm going to work my butt off to be better," Boseman said. "I'm motivated to prove myself, and I want to dominate next season."

That's something Hayes won't question. He knows a great receiver when he sees one. The longtime Gwynn Park coach has sent a prospect to the Division I level every year this decade. When he looks at Boseman, he not only sees a receiver with size, long arms, speed and good hands - he sees a well-rounded football player who squeezes the most out of his talent. That, Hayes asserts, is what separates Division I talent from the rest.

"He works so hard, pays close attention to detail and he listen very well," Hayes said. "He's always asking questions, he's extremely intelligent and he has a desire to succeed. He's a D-I player for sure."

But every Division I player has at least one supreme, unrivaled quality. What's Boseman's?

"Route running," Hayes said. "His route running is special."

Last year against Central, Boseman ran a post route. He noticed the cornerback was shading to his inside shoulder, forcing Boseman to the sideline. But Boseman alertly gave the cornerback a double move, took the inside position and created separation with a shoulder fake. When the pass came over the middle, Boseman made the catch.

"As receivers, we're taught to find the hole in the defense, take advantage of the coverage, make adjustments and disguise our routes so the corner can't read us," Boseman said. "Those are all learned qualities. After that, physical skills take over."

Boseman didn't become a great route runner on his own. All the credit goes to Green -- Robert Green. Indeed, Najee's father, the former coach at Dunbar (D.C.), has been dubbed a "special coach to have on board at Gwynn Park," according to Hayes. He's shaped the games of NFL players like Arrelious Benn, Vernon Davis, Josh Cribbs and Vontae Davis. Now, he's guiding Green and Boseman down the same path.

Thanks to Robert's tutelage, the two are far more refined than most high school receivers.

"I don't want a receiver who can just catch or just run," Robert said. "I want guys who excel at blocking, route running, understanding the various coverages and how they may change once the ball is snapped. I want guys who know what you do with the ball after the catch."

Boseman (and Green) can do all of that. And they appreciate every last tip.

"Everything he's taught me has helped," Boseman said. "Coach Green has made me into the receiver I am today."

Green and Boseman may be better than the average receiver, but they're not excellent yet. That's because they haven't proven anything in a game situation. With Khalek Shepherd (Virginia Tech) running the ball and Curtis Hardy snaring passes, neither Green nor Boseman saw the field much last year.

Boseman, for his part, only had one catch. He spent most of his time as a defensive pass rusher, racking up five sacks.

"Andrew is quick off the ball and might even be a better defensive prospect, but we'd like to see him catch a lot more balls next year," Hayes said. "Physically and mentally, he's set. Now he just has to establish himself as a No. 1."

A No. 1? Ahead of Green?

When asked to comment, the two dueling receivers initially reiterated the same boring, default answers.

"It doesn't matter who's No. 1. We both have great qualities," Boseman said. "I guess he gets the edge in catching and route running, But I have more speed and can be a little more physical. Either way, we're both good."

Green repeated those sentiments almost verbatim.

But these guys have been competing since elementary school; no way they're conceding to one another now. So after prodding each a little further, they revealed their true feelings.

"You know, I shouldn't do this but I have to," Green said, laughing. "I've got to say I've got him beat."

Boseman wasn't about to take that. He made sure he got in the final word:

"Thinking about it, he's probably going to say he's better, so I'm not going to give that to him," Boseman said. "I'm going to be better. Count on it."

Regardless of who's better, one thing is clear: The competition is real, and the main beneficiaries are the receivers themselves. Defenses? Well, they do have something to fear.