College Football Power Rankings: 10 Best WRs Heading into Week 5

By (Correspondent) on September 27, 2011

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 8:  Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys runs downfield against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half on September 8, 2011 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Oklahoma State defeate
Brett Deering/Getty Images

In the first four weeks of the 2011 college football season we have seen some amazing performances from wide receivers.

We saw USC's Robert Woods score three touchdowns against Minnesota in Week 1 and FIU's T.Y. Hilton grab seven balls for 201 yards and two scores in Week 2.

More outstanding performances from wide receivers are on the way, and here are the 10 best heading into Week 5. 

10. T.Y. Hilton (Florida International Golden Panthers)

Florida International's T.Y. Hilton burst onto the scene against Louisville with seven receptions, 201 yards and two touchdowns.

At that point in the season, Hilton may have been on top of these rankings, but he has cooled off since with two consecutive games without reaching 50 yards receiving (30 against UCF and 32 against Louisiana-Lafayette).

Still, Hilton's Week 2 performance grabs him the No. 10 spot in the Week 5 wide receiver power rankings. 

9. Kendall Wright (Baylor Bears)

WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 14:  Inside receiver Kendall Wright #1 for the Baylor Bears pull in a pass against defensive back Clark Ford #29 for the Texas Longhorns in the second half on November 14, 2009 at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.  The Longhorns beat
Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Heading into the 2011 season, Kendall Wright had never surpassed 1,000 yards in a season, but through three games he's on pace to surpass that total. 

Wright has emerged in 2011 along with his quarterback, Robert Griffin III, as two of the top offensive players in the Big 12.

In three games this season, Wright has surpassed the 100-yard mark all three times and has scored a touchdown in each game.

In total, he has 31 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns, good for second in the Big 12 in receiving. 

If the Baylor Bears keep their offense outburst going, Wright could break some Baylor records this season, but for now he finds himself at No. 9 on the list of wide receivers heading into Week 5. 

No. 8 Tavon Austin (West Virginia Mountaineers)

Standing at just 5'9", Tavon Austin may not be your prototypical wide receiver, but he sure gets the job done for the West Virginia Mountaineers.

He didn't start off the season too hot, with 32 yards against Marshall, although he did have a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown, but has progressively improved as the season has gone on.

The premier performance for Austin came against the LSU Tigers last Saturday when he caught 11 balls for 187 yards.

If not for his lack of touchdowns, Austin would probably be higher on this list, but for now he settles in at the No. 8 spot.

No. 7 Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24:  Stephen Hill #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets makes a catch for a 59-yard touchdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bobby Dodd Field on September 24, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Imag
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Stephen Hill is an unlikely candidate for this list, playing in the run-happy, triple-option offense at Georgia Tech, but he has had a knack for the big play through the air in the 2011 season.

Hill has 462 yards receiving for the Yellow Jackets to go along with 14 receptions and four touchdowns.

The most impressive stat of Hill's season is his 33.0 yards-per-catch average with receptions of 82, 79 and 53 yards to his credit. 

The sixth-leading receiver in the nation, Hill finds himself at the No. 7 spot in the wide receiver rankings going into Week 5. 

No. 6 Ryan Broyles (Okalhoma Sooners)

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01:  Ryan Broyles #85 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty I
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Ryan Broyles has carried over his 2010 success of 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns to the 2011 season, with two games of more than 150 yards receiving.

Broyles has taken advantage of having Heisman Trophy-candidate Landry Jones throwing him the ball and has 34 receptions for 347 yards and four touchdowns in just three games. 

He averages more than 10 receptions a game, making him one of the top targets in college football this season.

By the end of the season, Broyles could find himself higher on this list, but for now he finds himself in the No. 6 spot. 

No. 5 Keenan Allen (California Golden Bears)

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 24:  Keenan Allen #21 of the California Golden Bears runs for a touchdown after a catch against the Washington Huskies for a 7-0 lead during the first quarterat Husky Stadium on September 24, 2011 in Seattle, Washington.  (Photo by
Harry How/Getty Images

In his second season at Cal, Keenan Allen has positioned himself as one of the best receivers in college football.

After four weeks, he is atop the nation in receiving yards with 498, already eclipsing his 490-yard total of last season.

In four games, Allen has only failed to breach the 100-yard mark once and has scored a touchdown in every game except a Week 1 win against Fresno State. 

If not for the four elite guys ahead of him, Allen could much higher on this list, but until he shows us he can keep up this torrid pace he will have to settle for the No. 4 spot. 

No. 4 Michael Floyd (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 17:  Michael Floyd #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches the ball while Darqueze Dennard #31 of the Michigan State Spartans works to break up the pass during the first half September 17, 2011at Notre Dame Stadium in South
John Gress/Getty Images

Michael Floyd may be the best wide receiver in college football, but the fact that teams gameplan to stop him has slowed his production a bit, keeping him from the top of this list. 

After a fast start to the season with two games of 150 yards or more, Floyd's production has come to a halt with just 27 yards in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh.

He hasn't scored a touchdown since the Week 1 loss to South Florida and will need to start getting open somehow if Notre Dame wants to win more games.

He will certainly be a first-round pick when the NFL draft comes in April, but he sits at No. 4 in the wide receiver power rankings headed into Week 5. 

No. 3 Robert Woods (Southern California Trojans)

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 17:  Wide receiver Robert Woods #2 of the USC Trojans carries the ball against cornerback Kevyn Scott #26 of the Syracuse Orangemen at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by S
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Just a sophomore, Robert Woods has been one of the best receivers in the country thus far with the second-most receptions and third-most yards in the country.

He averages more 10 receptions a game—41 total—and more than 100 yards a game—492 total—as the Trojans lead receiver.

Woods has cooled off a bit since his opening performance against Minnesota of 17 receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns, but it is near impossible to keep up a pace like that.

If Woods can keep up his great play, he could find himself on the short list for the Heisman Trophy come 2012 and a first-round pick in the NFL draft, but for now he sits at No. 3 in the wide receiver power rankings. 

No. 2 Sammy Watkins (Clemson Tigers)

CLEMSON, SC - SEPTEMBER 17:  Sammy Watkins #2 of the Clemson Tiger against the Auburn Tigers during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 17, 2011 in Clemson, South Carolina.  (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The lone freshman on this list, Sammy Watkins has picked up his game in the past two weeks when the Clemson Tigers needed him the most. 

In games against Auburn and Florida State—two wins for the Tigers—Watkins totaled 18 receptions for 296 yards and four touchdowns. 

He has scored a touchdown in each of his first four games and leads the country with six. 

The most impressive thing about Watkins' start is that not only is he a freshman, but he is a true freshman and just 18 years old.

With his performances in the past two games, he has cemented his spot at No. 2 in the wide receiver power rankings. 

No. 1 Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State Cowboys)

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 8:  Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys gestures to the crowd during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats on September 8, 2011 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  Okl
Brett Deering/Getty Images

Despite his miscue that cost Oklahoma State a touchdown on Saturday, Justin Blackmon is the top wide receiver in college football.

He has taken in 38 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns while being targeted by each defense he plays.

His Cowboys are ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll after a victory over Texas A&M, and people who didn't know who Blackmon was before will now know him.

Blackmon will likely join Michael Floyd as a first-round pick when the draft rolls around in April, but for now, he reigns as the top wide receiver in all of college football. 

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