For the most part, my battle at the top series has been one on one battles between two of the nation's elite players to determine who is the clear-cut number one—Maualuga versus Laurinaitis, Tebow versus White, and Wells versus Moreno.
However, wide receiver is a three-headed monster this year in college football, with Jeremy Maclin of Mizzou, Percy Harvin of Florida, and Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech all pushing to be THE number one threat in America.
The differing skill sets of these kids, coupled with the abject mediocrity of their nationwide receiving peer group, truly make these three a hot commodity in college football.
Harvin, Crabtree, and Maclin are the best of the best heading into 2008, and while names such as Aaron Kelly and Kenny Britt may make some splashes ,these three have the market cornered.
With their dynamic capabilities, each is a terrorizing foe for defenses in the Big XII and SEC—however, only one can truly be considered the best wide receiver in college football.
Percy Harvin (5'11", 178 pounds)
Looking at his size, Harvin seems too small to be a serious contender in an era where bigger is better, but a look at his numbers tells the true story of his larger-than-life contribution to the Gators. In 2007, Harvin caught 59 balls for 858 yards and carried 83 times for 764 yards on the ground.
Percy Harvin is a more than capable receiver—he's a true deep threat who was exposed to the nation during his performance in the national title game two years ago. At 5'11", Harvin has the great hands a receiver needs and the fearless nature that makes him a true asset to the Florida squad.
Harvin has the best stop-and-go speed in the nation—he cuts on a dime, and his elusiveness in traffic is eerily similar to the college greats Peter Warrick and Reggie Bush. The difference for Harvin is that his speed comes with an innate toughness.
His 858 rushing yards were truly running-back-styled yards. Although he ran reverses like other receivers, a large portion of Harvin's yards came hitting the hole and taking on linebackers to get tough yards.
He's not afraid of contact, whether it's running a dig into a linebacker covering the curl or taking a handoff off tackle and absorbing a blow to get a first down.
As great as Harvin is on the ground, he's equally exceptional when the ball is in the air. He's a legitimate deep threat who is not only capable of breaking short passes, but who has also shown the ability to go upfield and catch the deep ball in traffic.
Lee Corso puts it like this, simply describing Harvin as "the finest, most exciting football player in the nation."
With any luck, Harvin's junior campaign will be less about running and more about catching, as he was forced into too much of a running back role for his slight frame to comfortably accomodate, as evidenced in his absence from two late-season games against FAU and USC.
By sticking to receiver he'll save his legs, limit the bruises, and perform solidly with a thousand-yard season in the air and five hundred on the ground.
Michael Crabtree (6'3", 208 pounds)
23 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment
Tim Pollock about 1 year ago
Great article.
And I agree. But while Crabtree is probably the best WR, I have to give best overall skill player to Harvin.
Edit Comment Cancel
James Doker about 1 year ago
Excellent article. Well-reasoned and fair, good analysis of the clear top-three receivers. Loved it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Felder about 1 year ago
Thanks guys, I was trying to narrow it down to two guys like my other pieces but in the end you can't exclude Harvin or Maclin because they're both so good at what they do.
I like the fact that three guys playing the same position in the same base offense (shotgun spread) can have such different roles yet be so extremely successful in them.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Augustin, Jr. about 1 year ago
Good article, Michael. I completely agree with your selection of Crabtree. He does play in a system that allows him to make plays, but wide receiver is a very dependent position. With his size, I don't see many DBs with the ability to get physical with him at the line.
Edit Comment Cancel
Eric Brown about 1 year ago
Good stuff. I fully expect it to come down to these three guys.
Just a note and certainly not trying to be picky - the weight you listed for Harvin was his weight as a freshman almost three years ago. He's lately been called one of the strongest guys on the team (pound for pound) by Urban Meyer and has been confirmed weighing in at just over 200 lbs by several Gator insider writers. Of course he can't really expect to get any taller, but at least he's filling out to absorb some punishment.
I also think Crabtree will get the award.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jordan Coleman about 1 year ago
Great article. I to think Crabtree is the best receiver in the nation but I'm a big fan of Percy Harvin even though I'm a UK fan.
Edit Comment Cancel
bowlbasaur golden bears about 1 year ago
I doubt they will be the 3 finalists when its all said and done.
Expect Brandon Gibson, Aaron Kelly, Joquian Igleasias, Mike Jones, Sammie Stroughter or maybe some relative unknown RS Fr or juco transfer to be in the running at the end of the season.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago
I agree with you here! Crabtree is definitely the best of the already talented bunch.
Edit Comment Cancel
katherine meyers about 1 year ago
If you watch percy harvins videos on u tube you will see how fast and how cordinated he is how easy it is for him to come out of any situation
Edit Comment Cancel
Justin Goar about 1 year ago
good article. i also agree with crabtree.
his offensive system will probably back him with the best stats too.
harvin's probably the hardest to gameplan though, dude's scary.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jordan Vandiver about 1 year ago
You are a true analyst. While Maclin and Harvin are all-around guys, the player who is best at the position is Crabtree. And yes, he will repeat the Biletnikoff. Seeing guys like this make eveyone drool.
Edit Comment Cancel
Peter Fleischer about 1 year ago
Great article.
I think Harvin is the most exciting, Maclin is the best overall, and Crabtree is the best receiver. All three are disgusting on the gridiron.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Felder about 1 year ago
Thanks for the reads guys:
I agree with what everyone is saying about Harvin being the most dangerous. When the ball is in his hands he can do just about anything. He stops on a dime and is back to full speed in two steps, its really a treat to see him weave his way through defenses.
Maclin is a guy who has some world class and as I said, given a seam he'll take it. His ability to get open and make crucial receptions should develop better once he learns to use that 6'1" frame to shield defensive backs from the football and catch in a small window.
Crabtree is a pure receiver and even if he was taken out of the pass happy TTU offense would still be the most paralyzing deep threat to defensive backfields. The guy has all the tools to be successful both in college and at the next level.
Too bad they all can't be All-American wide receivers because they deserve it; luckily Maclin will still be an AA with his ability to punish special teams for letting him touch the ball.
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate about 1 year ago
Crabtree.
Edit Comment Cancel
Chris Clow about 1 year ago
You got Harvin's Rushing and recieving numbers reversed. Only James Rodgers had that kind of explosiveness when running the ball last season. Harvin had 764 rushing yards on 83 carries.
Edit Comment Cancel
Marcus Detweiler about 1 year ago
This article holds no merit without the mention of the best WR in college football: Mr. Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland. It's like writing an article on who's the best QB of all time without mentioning Johnny U. Go back in the lab and rewrite your article.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Felder about 1 year ago
Marcus,
Thanks for your read and taking the time to comment, with that being said I have to respectfully disagree with you. First of all Harvin, Maclin and Crabtree are without a doubt the best in the nation, their productivity and talent is unrivaled by any of the nations other receivers.
I'm guessing that you've been reading draft boards for the 2009 draft and seeing Heyward-Bey listed as the #2 receiving prospect going into 2008. This article isn't about projecting players to the NFL, its about who is the best WR in college football right now.
Heyward-Bey is, by all tangible accounts and favorable forecasting, the #3 receiver in the ACC heading into 2008. Hakeem Nicks of UNC and Aaron Kelly of Clemson have been more productive in every area and only look to improve upon their strong 2007 seasons.
I'm sure your guy will be a high draft pick if he has a strong season, but for college football 2008, barring a significant improvement in production, Heyward-Bey is an afterthought in the best receiver race.
Thanks for the read, and please don't compare the Louisville great Johnny U to Heyward-Bey.
Edit Comment Cancel
Champ Newman 12 months ago
Harvin didn't miss the FAU and USC games due to injury. He had a sinus problem that was causing him to have awful migranes. He did have surgery in the offseason to relieve a bone spur problem he has had since he was in high school. What's scary about that is it may make him even faster now he wont be playing in pain as he was his first 2 years.
Edit Comment Cancel
Collin McCartney 11 months ago
Ummm I don't think bone spurs in the nose would have anything to do with how fast Percy Harvin is. If anything Maclin would be the one to improve on his speed the most seeing as he had a season long leg injury the year he redshirted (two years ago).
Edit Comment Cancel
Sean Harbin 8 months ago
Bone spurs in the nose?? Is that possible. They were in his foot man. hahaha too funny.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Felder 11 months ago
The bone spurs were in his foot, the surgery removed those this off season.
Edit Comment Cancel
Scott Rieger 9 months ago
I agree that Darrius Heyward-Bey should be in the discussion, due to his noticeable improvement in route running and toughness. These were areas of concern with him going into this year which is why some other ACC receivers might have been ahead of him. This is a guy with Olympic grade speed who has managed to refine his route-running and catching ability. There is a reason that he will go high in the NFL draft. Not taking anything away from Harvin, Maclin or Crabtree because they deserve to be in the discussion and I personally believe Crabtree is the best receiver, but DHB will likely go higher in the draft than Crabtree and Harvin. Maclin will likely be the first WR taken, followed by Heyward-Bey, then Crabtree and finally Harvin (who may even slip to the 2nd round ala Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester). I understand that it's difficult to narrow things down to the TOP 2 or the TOP 3 but in this case, a TOP 4 is appropriate.
The problem with the college football awards like the Heisman and others is that they "annoint" people the best players in the nation, overall or at their position, when the true measure of their greatness should be how they will do at the ultimate level, the NFL. Hell, the greatest passer in NCAA history is Timmy Chang for godsakes and wasn't even drafted. Eric Crouch won a Heisman, Gino Torretta too, the list goes on and on and on....just ridiculous.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Felder 9 months ago
Scott,
I hear you on Heyward-Bey. Being an ACC guy through and through I know that he can be dangerous as anyone. His problem will be maintaining any level of production with the poor quarterbacking up there in College Park. With the events of this weekend I find their inability to get him the ball baffling and its got to be frusterating to not be able to get the ball into one of the most dangerous players hands. I think Heyward-Bey will be the second receiver taken, behind Crabtree; a who has similar size is a step slower but has shown tremendous hands and a nose for the end zone.
However, my point in this article was in the title, who would win 2008's Biletnikoff award and I am sticking to my guns with Crabtree. He's a legitimate Heisman contender although he'll split votes with Harrell and he has proven himself to be college football's best option on the edge.
I think that the college awards do serve their purpose, annointing the best at the college football level. Timmy Chang isn't thought of as the greatest passer in college history, he's the guy with the most yards. As far as Crouch and Torretta go they were both great college players who didn't pan out in the NFL, same as Todd Blackledge, Ron Dayne, Jason White and Tommy Frasier. Just because they won't be mentioned in NFL history doesn't mean they weren't deserving of the accolodades.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.