CFB Future 100: Top 19 Wide Receivers in Class of 2016
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Wide Receivers.
Other Positions
Premier pass-catchers are valued more than ever in today's era of high-flying collegiate offensive attacks. The ability to stretch defenses downfield and create space ultimately falls upon the effectiveness of a team's wide receiver corps.
The 2016 recruiting class is packed with playmakers at the position, currently comprising one-fifth of the top 100 prospects in 247Sports' composite rankings. We continue our evaluation of America's rising high school senior talent by turning attention to receivers, grading each recruit based on speed, agility, release, route-running, blocking and—of course—hands.
*All prospects scouted by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.
19. 4-Star Charlie Woerner
1 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'5", 220 lbs
High School: Rabun County (Tiger, Georgia)
247Sports Ranking: No. 19 wide receiver; No. 97 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and Oregon.
Charlie Woerner warranted an offer from the Bulldogs before the end of his sophomore season. His uncle, Scott Woerner, was an All-American defensive back on the 1980 Georgia team that claimed a national championship. His latest offer—a January scholarship extension from Oregon—provides evidence of how vast this recruitment has become since then.
Bleacher Report Analysis
His role for Rabun County expanded in 2014, per MaxPreps, as Woerner registered 201 offensive touches. He steamrolled opponents en route to 1,187 rushing yards (six games with at least 100 yards on the ground) and 690 receiving yards on 45 receptions, scoring 17 touchdowns.
Woerner brings a welcomed element of toughness to the position, which comes as no surprise considering he racked up 122 tackles as an oversized defensive back, and his ultimate "high ceiling" landing spot may be as a hybrid tight end. He's more shifty than fast but brings a dynamic combination of both elements (27/30) to the field and consistently high-points the football (25/25 for hands).
18. 4-Star Justin Layne
2 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'3"/180 lbs
High School: Benedictine (Cleveland, Ohio)
247Sports Ranking: No. 18 wide receiver; No. 95 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 84/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Penn State.
Justin Layne could eventually rejoin former high school teammate Jerome Baker—a 2015 Ohio State signee—in Columbus. The Buckeyes offered in October and later hosted him on campus for a Junior Day. Big Ten rivals Michigan State and Penn State appear to be Urban Meyer's primary competition at this point.
Bleacher Report Analysis
He translates to a possession receiver at the collegiate level, where his large frame and wide catch radius will provide a security blanket for the quarterback. Layne lacks top-end speed (12/15) but does display above-average agility (13/15) for an athlete his size.
His willingness to attack defenders and maintain blocks is a big plus in my book, and I know coaches love to see a young player wholeheartedly take on that task. Layne, who averaged 23 yards per catch and caught eight scores last regular season per Ryan Lewis of Cleveland.com, has the reliable hands (23/25) and blocking ability to become a mainstay in red-zone situations.
17. 4-Star Darnell Salomon
3 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'2"/175 lbs
High School: Miami Central (Miami, Florida)
247Sports Ranking: No. 17 wide receiver; No. 94 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Miami, Alabama, LSU, Clemson and Florida.
Darnell Salomon attracted attention early, earning scholarships from UCF, Miami and Georgia Tech during his sophomore season. He entered the 2014 campaign carrying more than a dozen offers, featuring Alabama, Georgia, West Virginia and Arkansas.
The Hurricanes have an edge in proximity, but we've seen top local talent plucked away from the Hurricanes with more frequency during this decade.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Salomon is set to spend his senior season at South Florida powerhouse Miami Central after transferring from Champagnat Catholic, per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports. It sets the stage for him to take the place of Da'Vante Phillips, a 2015 receiver recruit who enrolled at Florida State.
Salomon brings a dynamic blend of speed and agility (29/30) that makes him extremely dangerous regardless of where he ends up with the ball. His route-running requires further polish, but he already shows the ability to make acrobatic midair adjustments and caught 19 touchdowns during the past two seasons.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
16. 4-Star Dee Anderson
4 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'4"/177 lbs
High School: West Mesquite (Mesquite, Texas)
247Sports Ranking: No. 16 wide receiver; No. 92 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 85/100
Committed to LSU on Aug. 7, 2014
Bleacher Report Analysis
15. 4-Star Javon McKinley
5 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'2"/185 lbs
High School: Centennial (Corona, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 17 wide receiver; No. 89 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Uncommitted: Offers include USC, Tennessee, Arizona State, Notre Dame and Washington.
The recruitment process rapidly picked up for Javon McKinley during the past year. He entered his junior campaign with Arizona State and Washington already on his list, but added offers from Cal, Washington State and USC before Christmas. Notre Dame, Northwestern and Tennessee are among teams who offer opportunities beyond his home region.
Bleacher Report Analysis
McKinley caught a career-high 91 passes for 1,906 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, per MaxPreps. He earned those gaudy statistics, attacking opponents with aggressive route-running technique (20/20) and breakaway speed (14/15).
His physical frame is already formidable, and he uses it to grapple for positioning in traffic. McKinley is a major threat to take it the distance on any play, also contributing as a kick returner, and racks up yards after receptions by bursting through initial tackle attempts.
14. 4-Star WR Jack Jones
6 of 19
Height/Weight: 5'9"/144 lbs
High School: Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 15 wide receiver; No. 88 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Texas Tech, USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon State.
Jack Jones hails from the same high school that produced recent key USC signees JuJu Smith and Iman Marshall, so the Trojans should certainly be considered a top contender. He recently attended a USC Junior Day, but a new offer from Oregon State adds to his expanding pile of Pac-12 options.
Bleacher Report Analysis
His lack of ideal size certainly stands out, but there's a lot to like about the way Jones plays receiver. He's a pest who keeps defensive backs guessing with tremendous footwork, surely in some part a byproduct of working alongside and across from Marshall (top-rated 2015 cornerback) each day in practice.
There's desirable precision to his route-running (18/20), and elite speed (15/15) allows him to surge forward for large chunks of yards after the reception if he's hit in stride. Jones, who tallied a team-best 64 receptions last season per MaxPreps, feasts on quick-hit timing routes out of the slot, slicing up defenses via short slants and comeback routes.
13. 4-Star Steffon McKnight
7 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'1"/160 lbs
High School: Mira Mesa (San Diego, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 13 wide receiver; No. 82 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Arizona State, Cal, Michigan, Oregon State and Washington
Bleacher Report Analysis
12. 4-Star WR Courtney Lark
8 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'2"/175 lbs
High School: Bellaire (Bellaire, Texas)
247Sports Ranking: No. 12; No. 80 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to TCU on Jan. 31, 2015
Bleacher Report Analysis
11. Trevon Sidney
9 of 19
Height/Weight: 5'11", 160 lbs
High School: Bishop Amat (La Puente, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 11 wide receiver; No. 73 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Uncommitted: Offers include USC, UCLA, Washington, Arizona and Miami.
Trevon Sidney is still waiting for an Oregon offer, which could ultimately be a game-changer. He's at the center of another USC-UCLA tussle, while Washington and Arizona aim to pry him away to other Pac-12 cities.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Sidney lines up alongside Tyler Vaughns (No. 3 on this list) at Bishop Amat, forming one of the county's most dangerous receiving duos. He caught 38 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns in 2014, per MaxPreps, adding four interceptions at defensive back and averaging 31 yards per kick return.
He exhibits elite hands (25/25) on both sides of the ball, plucking passes from all angles. His potential will depend on the development of physical attributes, as Sidney doesn't yet possess an elite quality in terms of power or speed, but there is tremendous raw athleticism in place that could lead him to stardom at receiver or defensive back.
10. 4-Star Eli Stove
10 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'1"/178 lbs
High School: Niceville (Niceville, Florida)
247Sports Ranking: No. 10 wide receiver; No. 72 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Auburn, Florida State, Mississippi State, Florida and Clemson.
Florida State had an early upper hand among in-state options, but expect the new Gators regime to make Eli Stove a key priority throughout his recruitment process. Other SEC programs—highlighted by Auburn—are also already on the prowl.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Elite speed (15/15) is the starting point when assessing Stove, who secured several huge gains as a junior on plays that required him to receive the ball behind the line of scrimmage. He must be accounted for in the screen game because, when accompanied by a pack of blockers, he can turn that short completion into a momentum-shifting score.
I'd like to see Stove secure the ball at a higher point more routinely, rather than allowing it to approach his chest plate. Despite some unpolished tendencies as a pass-catcher, he still secured 54 catches for 719 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014.
9. 4-Star Collin Johnson
11 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'5"/200 lbs
High School: Valley Christian (San Jose, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 9 wide receiver; No. 70 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to Texas on April 17, 2014
Collin Johnson is set to follow his older brother, 2015 Longhorns signee Kirk Johnson, to Austin. He spurned offers USC, Cal, Arizona State and Michigan with an early commitment.
Bleacher Report Analysis
8. 4-Star Stephen Sullivan
12 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'6"/222 lbs
High School: Donaldsonville (Donaldsonville, Louisiana)
247Sports Ranking: No. 8 wide receiver; No. 66 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 85/100
Committed to LSU on Feb. 15, 2014
Bleacher Report Analysis
7. 4-Star Mykel Jones
13 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'0"/180 lbs
High School: Patterson (Patterson, Louisiana)
247Sports Ranking: No. 7 wide receiver; No. 62 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Uncommitted: Offers include LSU, Alabama, USC, Florida State and Texas.
Mykel Jones is another candidate to land at LSU, though Alabama will attempt to bring him across state borders as it did with 2015 wide receiver signee Daylon Charlot. Jones also carries West Coast interest from USC and UCLA.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Jones flashed plenty of versatility during his past two seasons, racking up 108 receptions for 1,764 yards and 20 touchdowns and 557 rushing yards. He isn't extremely explosive off the snap, but his agility (15/15) allows him to deceive defenders and gain consistent release (19/20).
His physical measurements don't pop, but there's a high level of athleticism and strength in that frame. Jones managed to make some awfully acrobatic receptions seem effortless during his junior season and can fight through contact.
6. 4-Star Dylan Crawford
14 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'1"/175 lbs
High School: Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 wide receiver; No. 48 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Arizona State, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame and UCLA.
Dylan Crawford secured scholarships from several programs based on sophomore film, adding Oklahoma, Arizona and Notre Dame during the course of his junior season. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh visited him in person in January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Crawford accounted for 44 receptions for 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior at St. Francis, per Aram Tolegian of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. However, he is set to wrap up his high school carer at Santa Margarita Catholic with coveted 2016 quarterback recruit K.J. Costello.
They could form the top passing duo on the West Coast with some cohesion. Crawford, who does the dirty work as a blocker (5/5), shines downfield with double-moves that show off his agility (15/15) and reliable hands (23/25).
5. 4-Star Devin Duvernay
15 of 19
Height/Weight: 5'11"/185 lbs
High School: Sachse (Sachse, Texas)
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 wide receiver; No. 44 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Baylor and Auburn.
Devin Duvernay quickly developed into a top in-state recruiting target, landing offers from Texas Tech, Texas, Baylor and TCU before the end of his sophomore year. His offer sheet now spans several conferences, from the SEC (Alabama and Auburn) to the Pac-12 (UCLA and Oregon).
Bleacher Report Analysis
He operates almost exclusively out of the slot, though you'll occasionally find him lined up alongside the quarterback or taking snaps himself in a Wildcat setting. Duvernay is a dangerous weapon who brings breakaway quickness (15/15) and a strong dose of physicality to the position.
His ability to exploit gaps within the defense shows a strong feel for the game, as does precise route-running technique (19/20). Whether he's slipping away off a screen pass or shooting up the seam, Duvernay is a powerful runner with great potential for physical development.
4. 4-Star Sam Bruce
16 of 19
Height/Weight: 5'8"/160 lbs
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 wide receiver; No. 38 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 95/100
Committed to Miami on July 8, 2014.
Sam Bruce pledged to the Hurricanes last summer, but this recruitment feels as through it's meant to stretch deep into the cycle. High school teammate Jordan Scarlett flipped from Miami to Florida days before national signing day 2015, and Bruce has both the Gators and Florida State in hot pursuit.
Bleacher Report Analysis
The nephew of former St. Louis Rams receiving great Isaac Bruce has 65 catches for 1,099 yards and 16 touchdowns since 2013. Defenders be warned: He's a much better blocker (5/5) than his size would indicate.
That facet of his game is just a piece of the fabric that makes him such a compelling prospect. Bruce plays the game full-throttle and adds juice to the offensive attack. He runs through tackles, finishing head-first with excellent velocity (14/15), and occasionally flashes a vicious stiff-arm.
Bruce is the kind of player who motivates teammates to work harder, and he's one heck of a threat in the special teams return game.
3. 4-Star Tyler Vaughns
17 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'3"/175 lbs
High School: Bishop Amat (La Puenta, California)
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 wide receiver; No. 37 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Uncommitted: Offers include Notre Dame, USC, Washington, UCLA and Texas Tech.
Tyler Vaughns added offers from Oklahoma and Notre Dame during his junior season, piling on a collection predominantly filled with Pac-12 opportunities. USC offered last spring and welcomed him to campus for a summer camp.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Vaughns and fellow 4-star receiver Trevon Sidney both wreak havoc on opponents, but he collects the bulk of production. His junior campaign included 83 catches for 1,183 yards and 12 touchdowns, per MaxPreps, adding four interceptions as a defensive back.
A massive catch radius makes tough receptions possible even when he appears to be perfectly covered, and Vaughns' hands (25/25) might just be the best in this class. He isn't a burner (13/15 speed) and must refine his route-running technique, but Vaughns surges downfield with strong strides and contends for every reception opportunity with full exertion.
2. 5-Star DeKaylin Metcalf
18 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'3"/195 lbs
High School: Oxford (Oxford, Mississippi)
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 wide receiver; No. 24 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 96/100
Committed to Ole Miss on June 8, 2013
The Rebels struck gold with an extremely early commitment from DeKaylin Metcalf, an Ole Miss legacy who pledged to the program after his freshman year. His father, Terrence, was an All-American offensive lineman in Oxford and eventual NFL veteran.
Bleacher Report Analysis
If you tell Metcalf where to go and put the ball near that location, you probably just picked up a big play. He's an incredibly reliable target who is coming off a career-best season that featured 79 receptions for 1,229 yards and 19 scores, per MaxPreps.
His hands are money (25/25) and routinely come through in traffic, as Metcalf maintains competitiveness that even opponents must respect. Once the ball is in his mitts, immediate acceleration (14/15) and a powerful rushing approach make him a tough man to take down in the open field. He's the best kind of bully and one who could immediately emerge as a No. 1 target at Ole Miss.
1. 5-Star Nate Craig-Myers
19 of 19
Height/Weight: 6'2", 205 lbs
High School: Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Florida)
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 wide receiver; No. 11 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 97/100
Committed to Auburn on July 21, 2014
Nate Craig-Myers committed to the Tigers just days after spending time on campus last summer. He visited UCF and Florida State during the 2014 season but returned to Auburn in late January and remains a staple of Gus Malzahn's class.
Bleacher Report Analysis
He suffered a season-ending leg injury in September after catching 12 touchdowns as an underclassman. Unfortunately the setback occurred just as "Nitro Nate" appeared to be on the cusp of a monster campaign that would serve as confirmation of a spot atop this list.
His size and aggression already translate well to the collegiate game, as does his speed (15/15). Craig-Myers is capable of making circus catches or inflicting damage as a rusher via jet sweeps or reverses. He catches a lot of lateral pass attempts, setting the stage for him to improvise and weave his way through defenses with incredible agility (15/15).
Craig-Myers' physical recovery will be one to monitor during the camp circuit this summer, as he looks to re-establish himself as one of the top overall 2016 prospects.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
