College Football: Top 10 Wide Receivers Heading into the 2011 Season

By (Featured Columnist) on August 19, 2011

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COLUMBIA, SC - SEPTEMBER 11:  Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs to the line of scrimmage before a play during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Columbia, South Carol
Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

College football season kicks off in less than two weeks and fans everywhere can't wait.

The wide receiver position is always sexy and one of the main positions to focus on. But this year's wide receiver class is deep and very talented.

There will be tons of wide receivers going over 1,000 yards and several catching over 100 passes. If one of these great receivers is on your team, there's a chance your team is going places this season.

Here is the list of the top ten wide receivers entering the 2011 college football season.

T.Y. Hilton: FIU

Ty_2_display_image

Class: Senior

Career stats: 157 receptions, 2,493 receiving yards, and 17 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 59 receptions, 848 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns

T.Y. Hilton does it all for Florida International and is not just the best player on the team, he is probably the best player in the entire Sun Belt Conference. He holds several FIU receiving records and is the only player in school history to have a receiving touchdown, rushing touchdown, passing touchdown, kick return touchdown, and punt return touchdown in the same season.

He helped the Panthers make their first bowl game last season and his hook and lateral play on 4th and 17 helped them win against the Toledo Rockets.

If he wasn't on a team that was run first his numbers would be even more impressive. But as it is, he is the heart and soul of this FIU team and they only go as far as Hilton takes them.

James Rodgers: Oregon State

BERKELEY, CA - OCTOBER 24: James Rodgers #8 of the Oregon State Beavers scores a touchdown against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 177 receptions, 2,064 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 16 receptions, 215 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns

Rodgers suffered a knee injury last season, ending his senior year, but he was eligible to medical redshirt and was able to return for another season.

The brother of Atlanta Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers, he holds the Beavers record for most receptions in a season with 91. He is also just 54 receptions away from holding the career record of 220 receptions. 

When healthy he is one of the most explosive players in college football and is able to run the ball, as well as return kicks and punts.

Questions remain if the knee is completely healthy, but if it is, it would make life much easier for the Beavers.

Robert Woods: USC

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16:  Robert Woods #13 of the USC Trojans carries the ball during the game against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Harry How/Getty Images

Class: Sophomore

Career stats: 65 receptions, 792 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: Same

The speedy receiver had a solid freshman season which began to breakout in the middle of the season. The Trojans lost to Stanford by two points, but none of that was Woods' fault as he caught 12 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns.

He was also a good kick returner for USC last season, averaging 25.5 yards a return and even taking one back 97 yards against Minnesota.

He has big play and deep threat written all over him. But Matt Barkley's consistency at the quarterback position is going to determine just how much Woods builds on his freshman season.

Jeff Fuller: Texas A&M

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 07:  Wide receiver Jeff Fuller #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies makes a reception against the defense of Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes during NCAA college football action at Folsom Field on November 7, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 163 receptions, 2,264 receiving yards, and 28 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 72 receptions, 1,066 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns

Fuller has not had a season of less than 40 catches and at least seven touchdowns. Which is pretty impressive, because before Fuller arrived, the Aggies struggled at the wide receiver position.

His first two seasons he was a Big 12 honorable mention but he made the first team last year with his breakout junior season. 

The 6'4", 215 pound receiver is a match up nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators and cornerbacks. He currently holds the Texas A&M career receiving touchdown record and still has a season left.

Fuller averaged a touchdown every six receptions, and instead of entering the NFL draft, he returned for his senior season. Can't wait to see what he has in store for an encore.

Devier Posey: Ohio State

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04:  DeVier Posey #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty
Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 124 receptions, 1,793 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 53 receptions, 848 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns

Posey is a good receiver with great hands, who averaged 16 yards a reception last season. He always seems to make the big plays, as his first career reception was a 25 yard touchdown against Youngstown State.

DeVier Posey's situation is a little different than the rest of the receivers on this list. He will miss the first five games of the season due to breaking NCAA rules by accepting extra benefits. When he gets back his quarterback will be senior Joe Bauserman, who doesn't have much experience at the collegiate level.

There's no question Posey is talented but it will be interesting to see how he overcomes this situation.

Juron Criner: Arizona

TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 23:  Wide receiver Juron Criner #82 of the Arizona Wildcats runs with the ball during the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Arizona Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona.   The Wildcats defeated the Husk
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 134 receptions, 1,903 receiving yards, and 21 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 82 receptions, 1,233 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns

Criner was an absolute beast last season and had five games with over 100 receiving yards, which was one of the best seasons in Arizona history. He has 20 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

He's one of the biggest receivers in the country at 6'4", 215 pounds, and he only seems to get better and better as the years go on.

Only problem is, he plays for the Arizona Wildcats who haven't been very good in years past. Hopefully this year it'll be different so Juron Criner can get some shine.

Michael Floyd: Notre Dame

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20:  Michael Floyd #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish loses his footing against the Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium on November 20, 2010 in the Bronx borough of New York City.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Nick Laham/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 171 receptions, 2,539 receiving yards, and 28 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 79 receptions, 1,025 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns

Michael Floyd is the best receiver in Notre Dame history. When this season is over he will own all the career records for every major statistical category for wide receivers.

For his career he has averaged over 14 yards a catch and has over 20 touchdowns the last two seasons combined. And with better quarterback play, it's possible he could put up even better numbers than he did last season.

He may not be the captain this season due to receiving a citation for drunk driving, but he remains the best player for the Fighting Irish.

Ryan Broyles: Oklahoma

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01:  Ryan Broyles #85 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs after a catch against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Christian Pet
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Class: Senior

Career stats: 266 receptions, 3,429 receiving yards, and 35 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 131 receptions, 1,622 receiving yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns

Ryan Broyles had a season for the ages last year, including 131 receptions which is good for fourth all time in college football. He needs just 1,577 receiving yards to become the FBS all-time leading receiver.

He had ten games last season where he went over 100 receiving yards, including a game where he went over 200 against Colorado. Out of 14 games last season, there were only five where Broyles didn't have at least one touchdown reception.

With one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Landry Jones throwing him the ball, there's no reason Broyles couldn't join him in New York if he has another season like he had last season.

Alshon Jeffery: South Carolina

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31:  Alshon Jeffery #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks against Terrance Parks #4 of the Florida State Seminoles during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Class: Junior

Career stats: 134 receptions, 2,280 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 88 receptions, 1,517 receiving touchdowns, and nine receiving touchdowns

The 2010 All-American had a fantastic season last year with over 1,500 receiving yards. He had eight games with over 100 receiving yards and averaged over 17 yards per catch. 

His numbers last season helped lead the Gamecocks to their first SEC Championship appearance, where Jeffery had 36 receiving yards on four catches and one touchdown.

He has at least one reception in 23 straight games and could be even more impressive if South Carolina gets more consistent quarterback play out of Stephen Garcia. 

Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 05:  Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  The Cowboys defe
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Class: Junior

Career stats: 131 receptions, 2,042 receiving yards, and 22 receiving touchdowns

Stats last season: 111 receptions, 1,782 receiving yards, and 20 receiving touchdowns

Justin Blackmon is a man amongst boys and he proved it last season with over 100 receptions and his 20 touchdowns. There was not one game he played where he didn't have at least one touchdown reception and go over 100 yards. His season was legendary and his career will go down in the record books if he can continue that type of production. 

He won the Biletnikoff Award for the nation's number one receiver and was the first wide receiver in Big 12 history to be named the league's offensive player of the year.

Blackmon is just getting started and he has All-Pro written all over him at the next level.

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