Which programs have the best wide receivers for 2018?
Phil Steele
ESPN INSIDER

Editor's note: This article was adapted from Phil Steele's college football preview magazine, which is available here.

Which college football programs have the top wide receivers for 2018? This season the best group will come out of the SEC, where A.J. Brown will lead Ole Miss.

Here are the best of the bunch.

1. Ole Miss Rebels
In A.J. Brown (1,252 receiving yards, averaging 16.7 yards per reception), the Rebels boast one of the nation's premier pass-catchers and a candidate to be the first receiver taken in next year's NFL draft. The second team All-American will open the field up for DaMarkus Lodge (698, 17.0) and D.K. Metcalf (646, 16.6), who also are big targets as wideouts. The staff is bullish on tight end Dawson Knox (321, 13.4).

2. West Virginia Mountaineers
Not only did quarterback Will Grier put off the NFL in 2018, but so did his best offensive weapons -- Gary Jennings (1,096 yards, 11.3 average) and David Sills (980, 16.3). Sills, a former quarterback, tied for the FBS lead with 18 touchdown catches. The unit is boosted by Alabama transfer T.J. Simmons and Miami transfer TE Jovani Haskins.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes
Young and green last fall, the Buckeye receivers are set to become the passing game catalysts in 2018. All seven wideouts who caught at least 17 passes in 2017 return, with each offering different skills. While K.J. Hill led with 56 catches, Parris Campbell (584 yards, 14.6 average) is the most dynamic all-around playmaker. There's an opening at tight end, and sophomore Luke Farrell could be the guy to fill that role.

4. Oklahoma Sooners
Baker Mayfield helped turn receivers Marquise Brown (1,095 yards, 19.2 average) and CeeDee Lamb (807, 17.5) into budding stars. Now, it's up to Brown and Lamb to help along Mayfield's quarterback successor, Kyler Murray. Both are game-breakers with All-American upside. Mark Andrews left a gaping void at tight end that sure-handed Grant Calcaterra (162, 16.2) is prepared to fill.

5. Toledo Rockets
Throwing the ball is a concern for coach Jason Candle. Catching the ball will not be. The Rockets are the first team in NCAA history to return three players who have caught at least 10 touchdown passes in a season at some point in their careers. Polished Diontae Johnson (1,278 yards, 17.3 average), Jon'Vea Johnson (689, 16.4) and Cody Thompson (1,269, 19.8 in 2016) will torch MAC secondaries all season long.

6. USC Trojans
Sam Darnold's heir at quarterback can take comfort in the receiving corps. Leading receiver Deontay Burnett is gone, but Tyler Vaughns (809 yards, 14.2 average) finished his debut on a tear. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Michael Pittman Jr. (404, 17.6) creates mismatches. And true freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown will contribute right away. TE Tyler Petite (307, 13.3) can play his way into the 2019 draft.

7. Baylor Bears
Coach Matt Rhule rarely produces prolific receivers, but that's changing in Waco. The Bears' intriguing personnel mix includes a 1,000-yard receiver, emerging star Denzel Mims; a 1,000-yard rusher, former Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd; and last year's top four receivers. Chris Platt is a burner who caught five touchdown passes in just four games before tearing an ACL.

8. Georgia Bulldogs
The slack left by top receiver Javon Wims will be picked up by a Dawg committee. Terry Godwin (639 yards, 16.8 average) is slated to be the new No. 1 wideout, although Riley Ridley wants to build off a career-best effort (six catches for 82 yards) in the national title game. Mecole Hardman (418, 16.7) will work from the slot, while tight end Isaac Nauta needs to be used more in the pass game.

9. Auburn Tigers
The receivers will be fine, as long as they can stay healthy. Depth took hits when Will Hastings (525 yards, 20.2 average) and Eli Stove (265, 9.1) suffered ACL injuries in March. Still, the unit is littered with very highly touted prospects, including Nate Craig-Myers (285, 17.8), who can step up. Last season's top receivers are back in Ryan Davis, who caught 84 passes, and Darius Slayton (643, 22.2), who has big-play capability.

10. Louisville Cardinals
New starting QB Jawon Pass will enjoy a tall receiving unit that brings back last year's top three playmakers. First team All-ACC senior Jaylen Smith (980 yards, 16.3 average) is the kind of big, physical target who makes life easier for a young passer. Dez Fitzpatrick led the Cardinals with nine touchdowns catches as a redshirt freshman. And Seth Dawkins broke out for 642 yards (15.3) a season ago.

11. Texas Longhorns
The receivers remain raw, but the potential is immense. The group has size from 6-foot-6 Collin Johnson (765 yards, 14.2 average) and 6-4 Lil'Jordan Humphrey (431, 11.6) that's attracting the attention of pro personnel to go with speed from blazers including Devin Duvernay (124, 13.8) and John Burt (177, 16.1). Now the receivers must reach their ceilings this season.



12. Missouri Tigers
Potent QB Drew Lock gets plenty of help from his wide receivers.

Although top receiver J'Mon Moore is gone, Lock will have plenty of options. Johnathon Johnson ranked second with 41 catches for 724 yards and six touchdowns, and Emanuel Hall is a field-stretcher (817, 24.8). With a team-high 11 touchdowns, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is a lethal option in the red zone.

13. Stanford Cardinal
In JJ Arcega-Whiteside, the Cardinal have their best outside playmaker in a quite some time. He broke out for 781 yards and nine scores in 2017, setting the stage for what could be an early entry to next year's draft. As usual, Stanford will utilize its blue-chip tight ends, Colby Parkinson and Kaden Smith, who combined for nine touchdown catches last season.

14. Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State is so confident about this unit that it moved last season's third-leading receiver, Jalen Harvey, to defense. It all begins with next-level N'Keal Harry, an All-American candidate who caught 82 passes for 1,142 yards and eight scores in 2017. Supporting Harvey is reliable veteran wideout Kyle Williams (763, 11.6).