[Hman]

Alabama's receiving corps is best in the nation

Phil Steele
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAl)


Which college football programs have the best wide receiver situation heading into 2019? The top unit returns a trio of stars, led by Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy. Here are the top 15.


1. Alabama Crimson Tide

While Alabama lost three starters a year ago, the unit still had 12 very highly touted players among the receiving group, with Jerry Jeudy leading the way with 1,315 yards and winning the Biletnikoff Award in the process. This season, the Tide has a trio of All-SEC wide receivers back in the fold with Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle (848 yards in 2018) and Henry Ruggs III (741 yards, 11 TDs in 2018), and Alabama is clearly the top receiving unit in the nation.



2. Clemson Tigers

Last season, the Tigers had to replace a pair of sixth-round NFL draft picks, but the cupboard was not bare, however, as the young group took off, led by Justyn Ross, who hit 1,000 yards on the nose. Tee Higgins was a close No. 2 with 936 receiving yards. This season, the top three return, with nine highly touted players part of the unit overall, while Ross and Higgins have all the makings of future first-round draft picks.



3. USC Trojans

Although USC lost its No. 1 and No. 3 receivers a year ago, the unit featured eight highly touted players, with Michael Pittman Jr.leading the way with 758 yards. True freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown fell just short of the top spot with 750 yards, while Tyler Vaughns was the No. 3 receiver with 674 yards. The top three return, and the group features nine top recruits. Expect much stronger receiving numbers in 2019.


4. Oklahoma Sooners

Last season, the Sooners had the first 1,000-yard receiving duo in school history. While top target Marquise Brown (1,318 yards, 10 TDs in 2018) was a first-round pick in April's NFL draft, CeeDee Lamb (1,158 yards, 11 TDs in 2018) returns and is joined in the group by eight highly rated players, including Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease Jr. and Trejan Bridges, all of whom I rate among the top 12 incoming freshman wide receivers. Tight end Austin Stogner, who also is a true freshman, will be in the mix, too. The future looks exceptionally bright for the Oklahoma receiving unit in 2019 and beyond.


5. Purdue Boilermakers

While Purdue had to replace its top two targets heading into last season, Rondale Moore burst onto the scene with a nation-leading 114 catches (1,258 yards) and was the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be named a consensus All-American. This season, the Boilermakers have three of their top five WRs back and also add David Bell, whom I rate as the 11th-best true freshman wide receiver in the country. With Moore leading the way again in 2019, this unit looks even stronger.


6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys have seen immense success out of the receivers group in recent seasons with four Biletnikoff winners dating back to Dez Bryant. Tylan Wallace appears to be the next Oklahoma State receiver in line for postseason honors after a 1,491-yard, 12 TD effort in 2018. In addition to Wallace, Dillon Stoner (603 yards in 2018) and Landon Wolf (362 yards in 2018) both return, and the Cowboys add redshirt freshman C.J. Moore, whom the coaches are very high on going into 2019.


7. Florida Gators

Last season, the Gators had three of their top four receivers back and added a pair of very highly touted transfers in Van Jefferson, who led the team with 503 yards receiving, and Trevon Grimes. This season, they return their top six targets, and overall there are 10 highly thought-of wide receivers in this unit, with Grimes (No. 3 in 2018 with 364 yards) expected to play a more significant role.


8. Washington State Cougars

The Cougars used a balanced passing attack in 2018, with six players (including two running backs) pulling in at least 40 receptions. The top four wide receivers in terms of yards return in 2019, including leading receiver Dezmon Patmon (816 yards in 2018), and Davontavean Martin (685 yards, eight TDs in 2018). This season's unit is the Cougars' most experienced in the past three years.


9. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns have loads of talent remaining in this group for 2019 despite the departure of leading target Lil'Jordan Humphrey, who had 86 receptions for 1,176 yards. Collin Johnson finished second with 985 yards in 2018 and returns along with Devin Duvernay (546 yards in 2018) and nine other heralded receivers. Overall, this is a young group with quite a bit of talent.


10. LSU Tigers

The Tigers lost their top two targets after 2017, but Justin Jeffersonemerged as the top guy for LSU, leading the way with 875 yards last season. LSU returns its top five targets and has 10 very promising receivers in this season's group, including true freshmen Devonta Lee and Trey Palmer. With continued stability at quarterback from Joe Burrow, improvement should be expected at both wide receiver and tight end in 2019.


11. SMU Mustangs

While SMU had to replace a third-team All-American and a two-time first-team American Athletic Conference wide receiver last season (players who combined for 2,321 yards), the group was superb with James Proche (1,199 yards) and Reggie Roberson Jr. (802 yards) leading the way. With just two backups departing ahead of this season, SMU has the best wide receiver unit in the AAC.


12. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State returned its top six targets in 2018 in what ended up being the coming-out party for quarterback Dwayne Haskins. This season, three of their top four have moved on, but talent remains, with K.J. Hill (885 yards in 2018) and Binjimen Victor (354 yards in 2018) leading the way. Overall, there are 11 very promising players in this unit, which will have my top-rated sophomore quarterback, Justin Fields, throwing its way this season.


13. Tennessee Volunteers

Last season, the Vols returned their top two receivers, with Marquez Callaway leading the team with 592 yards. Josh Palmer(484 yards) and Jauan Jennings(438 yards) were a close second and third, respectively. The unit returns nearly intact in 2019, giving Tennessee its most experienced wide receiver group in quite some time.


14. Houston Cougars

Following a pair of injury-plagued seasons in 2016 and '17, Marquez Stevenson stepped to the forefront and led the Cougars with 1,019 yards receiving last season. Keith Corbin (691 yards, 10 TDs in 2018) and Courtney Lark (539 yards in 2018) also return for Houston. Overall, the 2019 unit is vastly more experienced, as tight end Romello Brooker (409 yards last season) is the only one of the top six who doesn't return.


15. Colorado Buffaloes

Although Colorado lost its top three receivers heading into 2018, the coaching staff was extremely high on Laviska Shenault Jr., who lit the Pac-12 on fire early on and finished the season with 1,011 yards. This season, the top three return, with K.D. Nixon (636 yards in 2018) also on the verge of a breakout. With a senior quarterback under center and less talent at running back, there should be a further improvement from this group in 2019.

[thomorino]

It's all about the quarterback position, the top 25 teams all have good skill position talent

[BigdaddyQH]

Very good. How come every rag in the nation has the same basic B.S. posted?