College Football's Top 20 Quarterback-Receiver Tandems for 2012

Very rarely in college football do we see the No. 1 quarterback in the country and the No. 1 wide receiver in the country play for the same school, but that will be the case in 2012, as USC’s Matt Barkley and Robert Woods are ready to team up and cause plenty more havoc in the Pac-12 next season.

There’s not a secondary in the country that wants to face off with the Barkley-Woods passing combination, as they are two of the top offensive difference-makers in college football.

Barkley will enter the season as the consensus 2012 Heisman favorite as well as the favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, while Woods will go into the year as the top-ranked receiver in the country after posting a sensational sophomore season in 2011.

The Trojans won’t be the only team that will be able to flaunt a top-notch passing tandem in 2012, though. There are plenty of other quarterback-receiver relationships that will have the chance to blossom into something special next season.

With that in mind, here’s a look at college football’s top 20 quarterback-receiver tandems for the 2012 season.

Matt Barkley and Robert Woods, USC

Matt Barkley's decision to return to USC for his senior year is bad news for the rest of the Pac-12, as Barkley's return ensures that the Trojans will be the clear-cut conference favorite going into the 2012 season.

Last year, Barkley solidified his status as one of college football's true elite quarterbacks by throwing for over 3,500 yards, hitting 39 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions and leading USC to its first double-digit win campaign since 2008.

Not only will Trojans fans have the treat of watching Barkley for one more season in 2012, they will also have the benefit of once again seeing him throw to college football's most talented receiver, Robert Woods. Woods led the Pac-12 with 111 catches for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

The 6'1'', 190-pound junior will likely join Barkley in the top 10 of the 2013 NFL draft, but before the two make that dream a reality, they'll both be trying their best to reach another goal next season: bringing the BCS championship trophy back to Los Angeles.

Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

It certainly won't be easy for Arkansas to replace receivers like Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs. However, even with those three gone, that doesn't mean the Razorbacks' offensive attack will be any less explosive in 2012.

Not only does the offense welcome back star running back Knile Davis, who missed the entire 2011 season with an ankle injury, but Arkansas will have the dangerous passing combination of QB Tyler Wilson and WR Cobi Hamilton to exploit as well.

Wilson is the second-best quarterback in the country behind USC's Matt Barkley, and Hamilton has the type of physical gifts to be a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Last year, Wilson took over for Ryan Mallett and flourished in his first year as a starter, throwing for 3,638 yards and leading the Razorbacks to an 11-win season and a Top Five national ranking.

Hamilton will be Wilson's new top receiving target for 2012. The 6'3'', 209-pound senior possesses remarkable speed and athleticism for his size. He's got a great pair of hands as well.

Next season, Arkansas will have one of the top quarterbacks in the country (Wilson), one of the top running backs (Davis), one of the top receivers (Hamilton) and also one of the top tight ends (Chris Gragg).

Needless to say, the Razorbacks will certainly have enough offensive firepower to compete for an SEC championship, as well as a national championship, in 2012.

Geno Smith and Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Geno Smith proved to be the perfect type of intelligent, strong-armed quarterback to run Dana Holgorsen's Air Raid-style passing attack in 2011.

Last year, the 6'3'', 214-pound senior finished fourth in the nation with 4,385 passing yards, and he completed nearly 66 percent of his passes and threw 31 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.

The now-famed 70-point performance in the Orange Bowl is what helped Smith and the Mountaineers offense garner the most attention, but that sure wasn't the only impressive performance he had last season.

Smith will now enter 2012 as one of college football's most explosive signal-callers, and he has the talent around him to make a legitimate run at a Heisman Trophy next season.

West Virginia's two top receivers from a year ago, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, who combined to catch 173 passes for 2,465 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2011, will both be back and ready to once again burn up plenty of secondaries.

While both should be in store for big campaigns in 2012, Austin is the real player to watch.

The 5'9'', 176-pound senior is one of the most electric offensive playmakers in the country, and Smith will be looking to find a way to get the ball in his hands as often as possible next season.

Landry Jones and Kenny Stills, Oklahoma

Landry Jones made the right decision to return to Oklahoma for his senior season, as his pro stock definitely dropped during 2011, especially with embarrassing losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

Still, that doesn't mean that Jones didn't have a highly productive campaign last year. In fact, the 6'4'', 229-pound senior finished third in the country with 4,463 passing yards in 2011.

Jones will obviously miss Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma's all-time leading receiver, but he does have a potential star to work with in Kenny Stills.

Last year, Stills hauled in 61 passes for 849 yards and eight touchdowns.

After a disappointing campaign in 2011, Jones, Stills and the rest of the Sooners should be motivated to prove themselves next season, and Oklahoma should once again have one of the most lethal passing attacks in the country in 2012.

Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins, Clemson

No other freshman in the country could compare to Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins in 2012, as the former 5-star recruit became an instant sensation in his first season in a Tigers uniform.

Last year, Watkins totaled 1,450 yards of offense and scored 12 touchdowns. He played a pivotal role in Clemson's run to the ACC championship.

Another crucial piece of the team's championship run was QB Tajh Boyd.

In his first year as a starter, Boyd led the ACC with 3,828 passing yards and 33 touchdown strikes, and he helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever BCS bowl game.

The Boyd-to-Watkins passing combination will once again give ACC defenses plenty of headaches in 2012. With them leading the way, the Tigers should be right back in the hunt for another conference championship next season.

Aaron Murray and Tavarres King, Georgia

If Georgia QB Aaron Murray missed star receiver A.J. Green last season, he certainly didn't show it. Murray still threw for over 3,100 yards and 35 touchdowns and led the Bulldogs to 10 wins and an SEC East division title in 2011.

Last year, Murray managed to find two new receivers who he could trust in Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell. The two talented pass-catchers finished with nearly identical stats this past season, as King caught 47 passes for 705 yards while Mitchell hauled in 45 catches for 665 yards.

King and Mitchell should be two of the SEC's best receivers in 2012, but it wouldn't be surprising to see King emerge as the true star of the duo.

The 6'1'', 192-pound senior is a former 4-star recruit who has the size, speed and hands to pose a major threat to any secondary that Georgia goes up against next season.

While he may not be the true impact player that Green was, King has the chance to have a truly special season in 2012.

Casey Pachall and Josh Boyce, TCU

TCU's offense is loaded with speed and athleticism for 2012, and the Horned Frogs have the type of talent at the skill positions to compete with the top teams in the Big 12 next season. It also helps that they have a developing star quarterback, Casey Pachall, to be the trigger man of the group.

Last year, Pachall handled replacing Andy Dalton about as well as anyone could have hoped, as he completed 66 percent of his passes, threw for over 2,900 yards and helped lead TCU to an 11-win season.

Pachall has the look of a future star signal-caller, and he could be in store for a monster campaign in 2012.

The 6'5'', 216-pound junior will have three supremely talented receivers at his disposal with Josh Boyce, Brandon Carter and Skye Dawson all returning to the fold.

Boyce, who led the team with 61 catches for 998 yards in 2011, will be the real receiver to watch out of the three.

The 6'1'', 203-pound junior has the type of game-changing speed and playmaking ability to be the 2012 version of Kendall Wright. With Pachall tossing him the ball, he should be able to put up some crazy numbers next season.

Tyler Bray and Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee

After starting off his tenure in Knoxville with two mediocre campaigns, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is going to be under a ton of pressure to win in 2012. Luckily for Dooley, the Volunteers will have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC, Tyler Bray, and the conference's leading returning receiver, Da'Rick Rogers, to build around next season.

Bray was limited to just seven games in 2011 due to a hand injury, but he still managed to throw for 1,983 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

Rogers, on the other hand, led the SEC with 67 catches for 1,040 yards, even though he was without his starting quarterback for almost half the season.

While the 6'3'', 215-pound junior has had his fair share of issues during his collegiate career, Rogers has as much natural ability as any receiver in the country. If he can keep his head on straight, he should be in store for another highly productive campaign in 2012.

With Bray, Rogers and Justin Hunter, who is returning from a knee injury that kept him out of the team's final nine games last season, leading the way, Tennessee should have one of the best passing attacks in the SEC in 2012.

A.J. McCarron and Kenny Bell, Alabama

Alabama QB A.J. McCarron proved that he was more than just a game manager in the Tide's dominating BCS championship victory over LSU, as McCarron turned in a great clutch performance against the Tigers' tenacious defense in the 21-0 win.

That showing has helped ease some Alabama fans' concerns about the loss of key offensive playmakers like RB Trent Richardson and WR Marquis Maze, given that McCarron now looks ready to emerge as a true team leader in 2012.

Losing Maze and second-leading receiver Darius Hanks is tough, there's no doubt about it, but Alabama has plenty of former highly-touted recruits still stocked in its receiving corps.

The real name to watch next season will be Kenny Bell, a 6'1'', 180-pound junior who has the physical skills to be a star in the SEC.

Bell only caught 17 passes in 2011. However, he'll now be asked to play a much bigger role in the passing game next season.

McCarron and Bell should give the Tide quite a passing tag team in 2012.

James Vandenberg and Keenan Davis, Iowa

Iowa is going to have to figure out how to replace RB Marcus Coker, who finished second in the Big Ten with 1,384 rushing yards last season. However, the Hawkeyes should at least have one of the league's best passing games to rely on, as QB James Vandenberg and WR Keenan Davis will be two of the best offensive players in the conference next season.

Last year, Vandenberg threw for over 3,000 yards, and he proved that he has what it takes to be the catalyst of a dangerous passing attack.

While the 6'3'', 212-pound senior will certainly miss leading receiver Marvin McNutt, Vandenberg should be fine, as Davis looks capable of handling the No. 1 role in 2012.

Last year, the big, speedy senior averaged over 14 yards per catch, and he showed that he could make things happen when he had the ball in his hands.

The duo of Vandenberg and Davis should at least help offset the losses of Coker and McNutt. If more playmakers step up, Iowa could actually have one of the strongest offenses in the conference next season.

Denard Robinson and Roy Roundtree, Michigan

Denard Robinson may be known more for his tremendous running ability and athleticism than he is for his passing prowess at this stage in his development. However, now that he has a good feel for Al Borges' offensive system, Robinson should be able to really wow onlookers with his arm as well as his legs in 2012.

Yes, it's true, the dangerous dual-threat quarterback did lead the Big Ten with 15 interceptions last season, but he also made some big strides from the beginning of the season to the end, as he helped lead the Wolverines to an 11-win campaign and a victory in their first BCS bowl since 2000.

If Robinson can get a more consistent effort out of his wide receivers next season, especially Roy Roundtree, then the Wolverines should have an explosive and versatile offensive attack.

Roundtree only caught 19 passes in 2011. He and Robinson never seemed to click, but they'll have an entire offseason to work out the kinks. They should be a much more productive passing duo in 2012.

If Roundtree can step up and become the reliable go-to receiver that Michigan needs him to be, Robinson will have the chance to flourish as both a passer and a runner next season.

Zach Mettenberger and Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

LSU fans definitely aren't going to miss QB Jordan Jefferson, especially after his pathetic performance in the BCS championship game loss to Alabama. However, the Tiger faithful can't be happy about the departure of last year's leading receiver Rueben Randle.

Randle provided the LSU offense with a dangerous downfield threat that was capable of stretching a defense and opening things up.

With Randle gone, it will now be up to Odell Beckham Jr., a former 4-star recruit out of New Orleans, to step up and become a game-changer in the passing game.

Given Beckham's remarkable speed and playmaking ability, he should have no problem finding holes in coverage next season.

It will be up to new quarterback Zach Mettenberger, a former highly touted JUCO prospect who started his career at Georgia, to find Beckham in the open field in 2012.

Mettenberger was the most talented quarterback on LSU's roster last season. However, he didn't see much action during the team's run to an SEC championship because there was simply no reason to use him.

The 6'5'', 222-pound junior still has a lot to prove, but he has the natural skill set to be a star in the SEC next season.

Given that the Tigers will have the nation's deepest and most talented backfield, along with college football's most dominant defense, it's not as if they're going to have to rely on the passing game to win games next season.

Still, Mettenberger, Beckham and other receivers such as Russell Shepard and Jarvis Landry should be able to give the Tigers the explosive passing element that they seemed to lack in 2011.

Seth Doege and Eric Ward, Texas Tech

Texas Tech may have struggled to find consistency during its 5-7 campaign in 2011, but the Red Raiders could definitely do one thing right, and that was throw the football. They ended up ranking seventh in the country in passing offense in 2011.

With QB Seth Doege and his three top receivers—Eric Ward, Alex Torres and Darrin Moore—all returning, Texas Tech should once again have one of the top passing offenses in the country next season.

Ward was the true standout of the three last year, as he reeled in 84 passes and scored 11 touchdowns. 

Doege completed 68 percent of his passes and threw for over 4,000 yards last season. The 6'1'', 200-pound senior signal-caller should once again put up some hefty numbers in 2012 with Ward, Torres and Moore all returning.

James Franklin and T.J. Moe, Missouri

The big news around Missouri this offseason will be the arrival of highly touted 5-star receiver recruit Dorial Green-Beckham, who was the most decorated and hyped-up recruit in the history of the state.

Hopefully, though, Tigers fans won't forget that they already have a proven receiver to root for in T.J. Moe.

For the past few years, Moe has been one of the most reliable and consistent receivers in the country, as he's totaled 146 catches for 1,694 yards over the last two seasons.

The 6'0'', 195-pound senior may not be the same type of rare, physically gifted receiver as Green-Beckham, but it's hard to argue with his production.

QB James Franklin, who showed some glimpses of his prodigious potential in 2011, will surely be looking towards Moe quite often next season. The two of them shouldn't have much trouble opening up some eyes and making a name for themselves in their new home, the SEC East.

Bryn Renner and Erik Highsmith, North Carolina

Bryn Renner didn't receive a ton of national publicity during his first year as a starter in 2011, but that doesn't mean that he didn't enjoy an eye-opening campaign last year.

Even though the Tar Heels had their fair share of struggles last season—they went just 7-6 and only won three conference games—Renner still had a great individual performance, as he completed 68 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and threw 26 touchdown passes.

Renner is definitely going to miss the presence of last year's leading receiver Dwight Jones, who had 85 catches in 2011. However, the junior signal-caller will have a new talented top target, Erik Highsmith, to focus on.

Last year, Highsmith caught 51 passes for 726 yards, and he showed that he has the type of traits that you look for in a potential No. 1 receiver.

Highsmith shouldn't have much of a problem stepping up and handling his new role as Renner's go-to receiver. The two should make quite a passing pair in 2012.

Jeff Tuel and Marquess Wilson, Washington State

Washington State has been one of the most lifeless programs in college football for the past few years, but that will change in 2012, as former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach should bring plenty of excitement to Pullman.

Leach is going to have some work to do to reshape the offense to fit his Air Raid-style pass-happy attack, but he should be happy that he has one of college football's most talented wide receivers, Marquess Wilson, to lead the way next season.

Wilson caught 82 passes and averaged nearly 17 yards per catch in 2011, and he showed that he's the type of explosive receiving threat that can put a bunch of stress on an opposing secondary.

The 6'4'', 183-pound junior should be a first-round pick if he decides to enter the 2013 NFL draft, and it will be interesting to see how he works with QB Jeff Tuel next season.

Tuel fractured his collarbone in the first game of 2011 and only played in three games all year, but now that he's back and healthy, he'll be ready to show the Pac-12 what he's really made of.

Leach will certainly be excited about exploiting the dangerous passing combination of Tuel and Wilson in 2012. Both of them should help the Cougars have one of the most dynamic passing attacks in the Pac-12 next season.

Zach Maynard and Keenan Allen, Cal

Zach Maynard may have targeted his half-brother Keenan Allen more than any other Cal receiver last season, but given that Allen is one of college football's most dangerous receivers, it's really hard to blame him for showing some favoritism.

Allen flourished in 2011, catching 98 passes for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns, and he proved that he has the physical ability and skills to be a future first-round NFL draft pick.

Maynard still has some work to do and some room to grow as a passer this offseason, as he completed just 57 percent of his passes and tossed 12 interceptions last year.

The 6'2'', 190-pound senior should, however, improve dramatically in his second season as a starter for Cal.

With Maynard, Allen and RB Isi Sofele all returning, the Golden Bears possess the type of dangerous offensive trio that could cause a whole lot of trouble for Pac-12 defenses next season.

Teddy Bridgewater and Michaelee Harris, Louisville

It didn't take long for Teddy Bridgewater to prove to Louisville fans that he's the team's unquestioned leader for the future, as Bridgewater took over the starting role early in October and proceeded to help the Cardinals go 5-2 against Big East opponents and capture a piece of the conference championship.

Bridgewater and the rest of the team will now have their sights set on making it to a BCS bowl game next season. Luckily for the budding star sophomore quarterback, he'll have plenty of talent to work with at the receiver position once again in 2012.

You won't find many receiving trios that can compare to the group of sophomores that Louisville can boast with Eli Rogers, DeVante Parker and Michaelee Harris. All three of them should be major contributors in the passing game in 2012, but the most talented of the three is Harris.

Like Bridgewater, Harris was a star at Miami powerhouse Northwestern High School. If he can get over the injury bug that he's battled early in his college career, he's got a chance to be a star at Louisville as well.

Last year, the 6'2'', 198-pound sophomore caught 37 passes for 455 yards, and he should be in store for a much bigger campaign in 2012, as long as he can fully recuperate from a knee injury he suffered prior to the Belk Bowl.

If Harris can get back to 100 percent by the time fall rolls around, the Cardinals will have the type of receiver trio that they need to finally take the next step under coach Charlie Strong.

Keith Price and Kasen Williams, Washington

Last year, Keith Price put himself on the college football map with his outstanding performance against Baylor in the Alamo Bowl, as he managed to outshine Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III in the wild 67-56 loss. Against the Bears, Price threw for 438 yards and accounted for seven of his team's eight total touchdowns.

That certainly wasn't the only big outing that the 6'1'', 195-pound junior had last season, though, as he finished the season with over 3,000 passing yards, 33 touchdown strikes and a passer rating of 161.9, which was the seventh-highest in the country.

The problem for Price is that he lost his two top receivers from last season, Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar. However, the good news is that he'll have one of the most intriguing young receivers in the country, Kasen Williams, to work with in 2012.

Williams was one of the most coveted receiver prospects of the 2011 recruiting class, and last year he proved why, as he hauled in 36 passes for 427 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman.

Price and Williams are two of the most explosive offensive players in the Pac-12. Both of them seem like they're ready to inflict plenty of passing punishment on opposing defenses in 2012.

E.J. Manuel and Rashad Greene, Florida State

Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel wasn't exactly a model of consistency during his first season as a starter in 2011, but the same can't be said about the team's leading receiver Rashad Greene.

Last year, Greene enjoyed a breakout campaign, as he hauled in 38 passes for 596 yards and seven touchdowns in just nine games of action.

The 6'1", 175-pound sophomore is a dynamic playmaker who has the chance to be one of the ACC's biggest offensive stars in 2012.

Manuel could also be in store for a breakout year of his own next season, as the big, athletic senior signal-caller has what it takes to lead the Seminoles to their first ACC championship since 2005.

With receivers like Greene, Rodney Smith, Kenny Shaw and Christian Green at his disposal, Manuel will have the necessary offensive firepower to make Florida State's passing game explode in 2012.

Honorable Mention

Taylor Martinez and Kenny Bell, Nebraska

Connor Shaw and Ace Sanders, South Carolina

Riley Nelson and Cody Hoffman, BYU

Jordan Wynn and Josh Gordon, Utah

Logan Thomas and Marcus Davis, Virginia Tech

Clint Chelf and Tracy Moore, Oklahoma State

Tino Sunseri and Devin Street, Pittsburgh

Jordan Rodgers and Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

Collin Klein and Chris Harper, Kansas State

Zac Dysert and Nick Harwell, Miami (Ohio)

Sean Renfree and Conner Vernon, Duke