It's great to have a true No. 1 option at the wide receiver position, but in today's college football with offenses scoring more than ever, it's especially important to have not just depth, but strong depth behind that No. 1 receiver. The 2024 Spring Games are officially wrapping up this weekend, so I wanted to jump into the positional groups in college football, these aren't going to be based on expected draft capital or draft grades, but rather college output and expected college output.
Here are the top-8 wide receiving corps in college football heading into the 2024 season.
Honorable Mentions: Tulane, Arizona, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Miami (FL), USC, Clemson
#8) Louisville - 10-4 record in 2023
- Ja'Corey Brooks: (54.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after three seasons, finishing with 896 yards, 866 of which came during his first two seasons at Alabama. Brooks was sidelined with a nagging shoulder injury in 2023.
- Chris Bell: (63.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished second on the Cardinals with 29 receptions, 407 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023.
- Caullin Lacy: (83.4 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after three seasons, finishing with 65 receptions, 816 yards, and 6 touchdowns for South Alabama in 2023.
- Antonio Meeks: Transferred after two seasons, finishing with 74 receptions, 1,427 yards, and 11 touchdowns in two seasons at Tuskegee.
- Kris Hughes - The Walk-On
Explanation: Louisville cracks the top-8 due to sheer expectation and team growth. Over the last two seasons, the Cardinals have won 18 games - the most in a two-year time frame since the 2012/13 team that won 23 games with Teddy Bridgewater and Coach Charlie Strong. During Coach Jeff Brohms first full off-season, he acquired one of the best transfer receivers in Caullin Lacy from South Alabama, former Alabama 4-star Ja'Corey Brooks, and Division II sleeper Antonio Meeks.
#7) LSU - 10-3 record in 2023
- Kyren Lacy: (64.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 3rd on the Tigers in receiving with 30 receptions, 558 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2023.
- C.J. Daniels: (87.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after four seasons, finishing with 55 receptions, 1,067 yards, and 10 touchdowns at Liberty, in 2023.
- Zavion Thomas: (74.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after two seasons, finishing with 40 receptions, 503 yards, and 1 touchdown at Mississippi State, in 2023.
- Chris Hilton Jr.: (60.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 5th on the Tigers in receiving as a junior with 13 receptions, 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023.
- Aaron Anderson: (56.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 8th on the Tigers in receiving as a sophomore with 12 receptions, 59 yards, and 0 touchdowns in 2023.
Explanation: Always in the WRU conversation, LSU doesn't pose a threat to the Top 3 this season after a monstrous run of 7 receivers drafted over the last 4 classes, two in the top-10. C.J. Daniels is expected to take over the outside role that Brian Thomas left behind, while Kyren Lacy tries to fill in the shoes left by Malik Nabers. Do not sleep on Zavion Thomas in 2024, this has breakout written all over it... my comp for Zavion Thomas is Brandin Cooks.
#6) Missouri - 11-2 record in 2023
- Luther Burden: (91.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - The Top WR Recruit in the Class of 2022, and 2023 Biletnikoff Award runner-up finished with 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns as a Sophomore.
- Theo Wease: (74.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - Spent four seasons at Oklahoma, before Transferring in 2023 to Missouri, where he finished 2nd on the Tigers with 682 receiving yards.
- Mookie Cooper: (60.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 3rd on the Tigers with 36 receptions and 447 receiving yards.
- Marquis Johnson: (90.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - averaged 29.5 yards per reception for the Tigers, finishing with just 13 receptions in 2023
- Courtney Crutchfield - The 4-star freshman
Explanation: Arguably the best receiver in the country heading into 2024, Luther Burden wishes that Ryan Wingo joined him at Missouri, but will have the deal with Marquise Johnson again who averaged almost 30 yards per reception while taking the top off of the defense in 2023. Freshman Courtney Crutchfield should fight for starter reps before the season is finished.
#5) Ole Miss - 11-2 record in 2023
- Tre' Harris: (88.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Louisiana Tech, Harris eclipsed 900 receiving yards for Ole Miss in 2023, as their leading receiver.
- Antwane Wells: (58.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred. After cresting 900 receiving yards in 2022, Wells was injured in the season opener against Georgia in 2023, causing him to miss most of the season for South Carolina.
- Jordan Watkins: (74.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished third on the Rebels with 53 receptions and 741 yards in 2023.
- Ayden Williams - The 4-star sophomore - 2023 Freshman of the Year Award Watch List
Explanation: The Rebels are returning two of their top-3 receivers from 2023 and acquired the 4th-ranked receiver in the transfer portal Antwane "Juice" Wells from South Carolina. On paper, Ole Miss is expected to compete for an SEC and National Championship with Jaxson Dart's third season at the helm.
#4) Oregon - 12-2 record in 2023
- Tez Johnson: (89.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Troy, Johnson Transferred to Oregon in 2023, leading the Ducks in receptions (86) and finishing second in yards behind Troy Franklin with 1,182.
- Evan Stewart: (73.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after two seasons at Texas A&M, finishing with 91 receptions and 1,163 receiving yards in 18 career games. Stewart played with 5 quarterbacks during that time.
- Traeshon Holden: (69.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Alabama, Holden transferred to Oregon where he immediately vaulted to the No. 3 receiving option, finishing with 37 receptions and 6 touchdowns.
- Gary Bryant Jr.: (62.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at USC, Bryant transferred to Oregon where he was vaulted to the No. 4 receiving option, finishing with 442 yards on 30 receptions.
- Gatlin Bair - The 5-star freshman - Ran a 10.15 100m during his junior season, the second fastest in the country in 2023.
Explanation: The Ducks lost Troy Franklin and Bo Nix to the NFL Draft but gained Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma in the transfer portal as well as Evan Stewart from Texas A&M. If all things go right in 2024, Oregon could be looking down on all of the top 3 teams if Tez Johnson doubles down on his 2023 season.
#3) Oklahoma - 10-3 record in 2023
- Deion Burks: (64.4 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Purdue after three seasons. Burks finished with 47 receptions, 629 yards, and 7 touchdowns in 2023. Good for 25% of the team's receiving yards.
- Nic Anderson: (71.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - Anderson had a breakout season in 2023 as a sophomore, finishing second on the team in receiving yards with 798 and tied for most touchdowns with 10.
- Andrel Anthony: (77.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Dealt with a season-ending knee injury against Texas in 2023. However, in his first season as a Sooner, Anthony racked up 4 games with over 60 receiving yards.
- Jalil Farooq: (62.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - In his third season as a Sooner, Farooq finished second on the team in receiving yards. Improving his career total to 1,229 yards and 86 receptions.
- Jayden Gibson: (77.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - Gibson averaged 26.8 yards per reception on 14 receptions in 2023, racking up 375 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Explanation: Drake Stoops departs Norman, leaving 84 vacated receptions up for grabs. After Stoops, all of the top pass-catching options will return in 2024, as Jackson Arnold takes over the helm from Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon. Deion Burks is the leader in the clubhouse to become the biggest slam dunk transfer portal addition at the wide receiver position, after posting a maniacal 5 receptions, 174 yards, and 2 touchdown spring game performance.
#2) Texas - 12-2 record in 2023
- Isaiah Bond: (75.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring after a 48 receptions, 668-yard season with the Crimson Tide.
- Johntay Cook: (69.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - Highly regarded recruit, who finished with just 8 receptions in this freshman season while sharing the field with Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington.
- DeAndre Moore: (51.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Top 20 recruit at the Wide Receiver position in 2023 out of St. John Bosco in California.
- Silas Bolden: (76.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Oregon State after leading the team with 54 receptions and 746 yards. Bolden was also the starting Kick Returner, finishing with 23.1 yards per return in 2023.
- Matthew Golden: (68.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Houston, where he played two seasons and finished third in receiving yards each year. Golden amassed 437 kick return yards as a Cougar on 14 returns.
- Ryan Wingo - The 5-star freshman
Explanation: Texas lost all three starters to the NFL, with Adonai Mitchell going Round 2, Xavier Worthy in Round 1, and Jordan Whittington in the 6th Round, but that doesn't stop them from staying in the Top 5 at the position. Johntay Cook is a 5-star sophomore who saw limited reps in 2023 and is expected to vault into an every-down role, while Coach Sarkisian and the staff hit the transfer portal hard, early. Signing Oregon State's leading receiver Silas Bolden, Alabama's best receiver Isaiah Bond, and Houston's most talented receiver Matthew Golden. I forgot to mention that True freshman Ryan Wingo had 4 receptions 81 yards and 2 touchdowns at the 2024 spring game.
#1) Ohio State - 11-2 record in 2023
- Emeka Egbuka: (75.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - After a breakout sophomore season in 2022, Egbuka dealt with an injury that caused his 2024 NFL Draft prospects to fade away. Egbuka has 1,666 receiving yards over the last two seasons.
- Carnell Tate: (65.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - Tate finished with 18 receptions and 264 yards during his freshman season.
- Brandon Inniss: (75.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - Top Wide Receiver Recruit in the Class of 2023.
- Jayden Ballard: (51.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - In three seasons at Ohio State, Ballard has 9 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Jeremiah Smith - The 5-star freshman - Top Wide Receiver Recruit in the Class of 2024.
Explanation: To BE the man, you must BEAT the man, and in college football, Brian Hartline and the Ohio State receiving room is... The MAN. With a top-5 draft pick in 2023, and signing the top wide receiver recruit in each of the past two classes, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, Hartline is showing no signs of slowing down. Projected 2024 NFL Draft first-round pick Emeka Egbuka is returning for a final season after dealing with injuries and regression in 2023. The Ohio State receiver room on paper and on the field will be tough for anyone to match or beat, but this list is stacked with respectable opponents who want a piece of that WRU title.
Here are the top-8 wide receiving corps in college football heading into the 2024 season.
Honorable Mentions: Tulane, Arizona, Tennessee, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Miami (FL), USC, Clemson
#8) Louisville - 10-4 record in 2023
- Ja'Corey Brooks: (54.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after three seasons, finishing with 896 yards, 866 of which came during his first two seasons at Alabama. Brooks was sidelined with a nagging shoulder injury in 2023.
- Chris Bell: (63.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished second on the Cardinals with 29 receptions, 407 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023.
- Caullin Lacy: (83.4 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after three seasons, finishing with 65 receptions, 816 yards, and 6 touchdowns for South Alabama in 2023.
- Antonio Meeks: Transferred after two seasons, finishing with 74 receptions, 1,427 yards, and 11 touchdowns in two seasons at Tuskegee.
- Kris Hughes - The Walk-On
Explanation: Louisville cracks the top-8 due to sheer expectation and team growth. Over the last two seasons, the Cardinals have won 18 games - the most in a two-year time frame since the 2012/13 team that won 23 games with Teddy Bridgewater and Coach Charlie Strong. During Coach Jeff Brohms first full off-season, he acquired one of the best transfer receivers in Caullin Lacy from South Alabama, former Alabama 4-star Ja'Corey Brooks, and Division II sleeper Antonio Meeks.
#7) LSU - 10-3 record in 2023
- Kyren Lacy: (64.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 3rd on the Tigers in receiving with 30 receptions, 558 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2023.
- C.J. Daniels: (87.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after four seasons, finishing with 55 receptions, 1,067 yards, and 10 touchdowns at Liberty, in 2023.
- Zavion Thomas: (74.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after two seasons, finishing with 40 receptions, 503 yards, and 1 touchdown at Mississippi State, in 2023.
- Chris Hilton Jr.: (60.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 5th on the Tigers in receiving as a junior with 13 receptions, 225 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2023.
- Aaron Anderson: (56.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 8th on the Tigers in receiving as a sophomore with 12 receptions, 59 yards, and 0 touchdowns in 2023.
Explanation: Always in the WRU conversation, LSU doesn't pose a threat to the Top 3 this season after a monstrous run of 7 receivers drafted over the last 4 classes, two in the top-10. C.J. Daniels is expected to take over the outside role that Brian Thomas left behind, while Kyren Lacy tries to fill in the shoes left by Malik Nabers. Do not sleep on Zavion Thomas in 2024, this has breakout written all over it... my comp for Zavion Thomas is Brandin Cooks.
#6) Missouri - 11-2 record in 2023
- Luther Burden: (91.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - The Top WR Recruit in the Class of 2022, and 2023 Biletnikoff Award runner-up finished with 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns as a Sophomore.
- Theo Wease: (74.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - Spent four seasons at Oklahoma, before Transferring in 2023 to Missouri, where he finished 2nd on the Tigers with 682 receiving yards.
- Mookie Cooper: (60.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished 3rd on the Tigers with 36 receptions and 447 receiving yards.
- Marquis Johnson: (90.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - averaged 29.5 yards per reception for the Tigers, finishing with just 13 receptions in 2023
- Courtney Crutchfield - The 4-star freshman
Explanation: Arguably the best receiver in the country heading into 2024, Luther Burden wishes that Ryan Wingo joined him at Missouri, but will have the deal with Marquise Johnson again who averaged almost 30 yards per reception while taking the top off of the defense in 2023. Freshman Courtney Crutchfield should fight for starter reps before the season is finished.
#5) Ole Miss - 11-2 record in 2023
- Tre' Harris: (88.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Louisiana Tech, Harris eclipsed 900 receiving yards for Ole Miss in 2023, as their leading receiver.
- Antwane Wells: (58.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred. After cresting 900 receiving yards in 2022, Wells was injured in the season opener against Georgia in 2023, causing him to miss most of the season for South Carolina.
- Jordan Watkins: (74.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - finished third on the Rebels with 53 receptions and 741 yards in 2023.
- Ayden Williams - The 4-star sophomore - 2023 Freshman of the Year Award Watch List
Explanation: The Rebels are returning two of their top-3 receivers from 2023 and acquired the 4th-ranked receiver in the transfer portal Antwane "Juice" Wells from South Carolina. On paper, Ole Miss is expected to compete for an SEC and National Championship with Jaxson Dart's third season at the helm.
#4) Oregon - 12-2 record in 2023
- Tez Johnson: (89.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Troy, Johnson Transferred to Oregon in 2023, leading the Ducks in receptions (86) and finishing second in yards behind Troy Franklin with 1,182.
- Evan Stewart: (73.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred after two seasons at Texas A&M, finishing with 91 receptions and 1,163 receiving yards in 18 career games. Stewart played with 5 quarterbacks during that time.
- Traeshon Holden: (69.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at Alabama, Holden transferred to Oregon where he immediately vaulted to the No. 3 receiving option, finishing with 37 receptions and 6 touchdowns.
- Gary Bryant Jr.: (62.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - After three seasons at USC, Bryant transferred to Oregon where he was vaulted to the No. 4 receiving option, finishing with 442 yards on 30 receptions.
- Gatlin Bair - The 5-star freshman - Ran a 10.15 100m during his junior season, the second fastest in the country in 2023.
Explanation: The Ducks lost Troy Franklin and Bo Nix to the NFL Draft but gained Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma in the transfer portal as well as Evan Stewart from Texas A&M. If all things go right in 2024, Oregon could be looking down on all of the top 3 teams if Tez Johnson doubles down on his 2023 season.
#3) Oklahoma - 10-3 record in 2023
- Deion Burks: (64.4 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Purdue after three seasons. Burks finished with 47 receptions, 629 yards, and 7 touchdowns in 2023. Good for 25% of the team's receiving yards.
- Nic Anderson: (71.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - Anderson had a breakout season in 2023 as a sophomore, finishing second on the team in receiving yards with 798 and tied for most touchdowns with 10.
- Andrel Anthony: (77.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Dealt with a season-ending knee injury against Texas in 2023. However, in his first season as a Sooner, Anthony racked up 4 games with over 60 receiving yards.
- Jalil Farooq: (62.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - In his third season as a Sooner, Farooq finished second on the team in receiving yards. Improving his career total to 1,229 yards and 86 receptions.
- Jayden Gibson: (77.9 PFF Rec. Grade) - Gibson averaged 26.8 yards per reception on 14 receptions in 2023, racking up 375 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Explanation: Drake Stoops departs Norman, leaving 84 vacated receptions up for grabs. After Stoops, all of the top pass-catching options will return in 2024, as Jackson Arnold takes over the helm from Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon. Deion Burks is the leader in the clubhouse to become the biggest slam dunk transfer portal addition at the wide receiver position, after posting a maniacal 5 receptions, 174 yards, and 2 touchdown spring game performance.
#2) Texas - 12-2 record in 2023
- Isaiah Bond: (75.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring after a 48 receptions, 668-yard season with the Crimson Tide.
- Johntay Cook: (69.6 PFF Rec. Grade) - Highly regarded recruit, who finished with just 8 receptions in this freshman season while sharing the field with Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington.
- DeAndre Moore: (51.7 PFF Rec. Grade) - Top 20 recruit at the Wide Receiver position in 2023 out of St. John Bosco in California.
- Silas Bolden: (76.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Oregon State after leading the team with 54 receptions and 746 yards. Bolden was also the starting Kick Returner, finishing with 23.1 yards per return in 2023.
- Matthew Golden: (68.5 PFF Rec. Grade) - Transferred this spring from Houston, where he played two seasons and finished third in receiving yards each year. Golden amassed 437 kick return yards as a Cougar on 14 returns.
- Ryan Wingo - The 5-star freshman
Explanation: Texas lost all three starters to the NFL, with Adonai Mitchell going Round 2, Xavier Worthy in Round 1, and Jordan Whittington in the 6th Round, but that doesn't stop them from staying in the Top 5 at the position. Johntay Cook is a 5-star sophomore who saw limited reps in 2023 and is expected to vault into an every-down role, while Coach Sarkisian and the staff hit the transfer portal hard, early. Signing Oregon State's leading receiver Silas Bolden, Alabama's best receiver Isaiah Bond, and Houston's most talented receiver Matthew Golden. I forgot to mention that True freshman Ryan Wingo had 4 receptions 81 yards and 2 touchdowns at the 2024 spring game.
#1) Ohio State - 11-2 record in 2023
- Emeka Egbuka: (75.2 PFF Rec. Grade) - After a breakout sophomore season in 2022, Egbuka dealt with an injury that caused his 2024 NFL Draft prospects to fade away. Egbuka has 1,666 receiving yards over the last two seasons.
- Carnell Tate: (65.0 PFF Rec. Grade) - Tate finished with 18 receptions and 264 yards during his freshman season.
- Brandon Inniss: (75.1 PFF Rec. Grade) - Top Wide Receiver Recruit in the Class of 2023.
- Jayden Ballard: (51.8 PFF Rec. Grade) - In three seasons at Ohio State, Ballard has 9 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Jeremiah Smith - The 5-star freshman - Top Wide Receiver Recruit in the Class of 2024.
Explanation: To BE the man, you must BEAT the man, and in college football, Brian Hartline and the Ohio State receiving room is... The MAN. With a top-5 draft pick in 2023, and signing the top wide receiver recruit in each of the past two classes, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, Hartline is showing no signs of slowing down. Projected 2024 NFL Draft first-round pick Emeka Egbuka is returning for a final season after dealing with injuries and regression in 2023. The Ohio State receiver room on paper and on the field will be tough for anyone to match or beat, but this list is stacked with respectable opponents who want a piece of that WRU title.
Last edited:
