College Football: Robert Woods and 11 WRs Who Will Put Up Epic Numbers in 2012

Robert Woods, a rising junior wide receiver from the University of Southern California, is the only 2011 Biletnikoff Award finalist returning to college football in 2012. This should make him the preseason favorite to win this year’s version of the award.

Woods is the best receiver on arguably the nation’s best team heading into 2012, as Athlon Sports has ranked USC No. 1 in its preseason Top 25 poll. This does not guarantee that Woods will be the best wideout in college football this season, though.

Many pass-catchers could challenge Woods for the 2012 Biletnikoff Award. Their performances in 2011 made enough headlines within their respective schools and conferences to warrant elite status heading into 2012. If these players meet their expectations, they will make Biletnikoff Award voters think very hard before choosing a winner.

Starting with Woods, let’s take a look at 11 wide receivers who can grab top honors for their position in 2012.

Robert Woods

Robert Woods returns to USC in 2012 as arguably college football’s best wide receiver. Woods could become the greatest all-around receiver in school history with another outstanding season.

In 2011, Woods set the Pac-12 single season record with 111 receptions. His 15 receiving touchdowns led the conference, and his 1,292 receiving yards placed fourth in the Pac-12.

Woods also returns kicks and punts for the Trojans. With 360 more kick return yards, Woods will break the USC career record.

As a receiver, Woods needs 41 more receptions and 21 more receiving touchdowns to break the current school records. 

CBS Sports' 2013 NFL Draft projections suggest Woods should make 2012 his last college football season. With numerous school and conference records and a national championship possibly in tow, the rising junior could do just that.

If he can outperform the next receiver on this list, expect Woods to repeat as a consensus First Team All-American in 2012.

Marqise Lee

Marqise Lee serves as possibly the most direct threat to Robert Woods’ winning the 2012 Biletnikoff Award. Lee makes up the starting wide receiver tandem at USC with Woods.

The rising sophomore could be the reason why Woods did not win the award in 2011. Lee trailed Woods in the major receiving categories for the Trojans, but his numbers made the college football world pay attention, too.

Lee caught 73 passes for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a result, the Pac-12 made Lee the conference’s Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley decided to return for his senior season after turning down a sure first round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. Lee, along with Woods, should make Barkley’s choice worthwhile.

Sammy Watkins

Sammy Watkins made the All-ACC First Team as a true freshman wide receiver in 2011. He also was an AP First Team All-American as an all-purpose player.

As a receiver, Watkins tied for the ACC lead in touchdowns (12), finished second in yards (1,219), and finished third in receptions (82).

Yahoo! Sports voted Watkins its Freshman of the Year in 2011. Watkins helped the Clemson Tigers win its first conference championship since 1991. Clemson earned the No. 22 ranking in the AP final poll.

2012 has not been kind to Watkins so far. First, West Virginia handed Clemson a 70-33 walloping in the Orange Bowl. Then, Watkins was arrested on drug charges.

Head coach Dabo Swinney has not decided on the exact punishment for Watkins, but he said the receiver will miss part of the season.

Whenever he returns to the field, look for Watkins to shine just as he did in 2011. Though the total numbers may not be strong, his production per game should match up with the nation’s top receivers.

Marquess Wilson

Washington State University has not fielded a winning football program in nearly a decade. The Cougars have not made a bowl game since the 2003 Holiday Bowl.

Despite the team struggles, rising junior Marquess Wilson has turned himself into one of the nation’s best wide receivers. In 2011, Wilson made the All-Pac-12 Second Team.

Wilson ranked second in the conference in receiving touchdowns (12) and receiving yards (1,388). His 82 receptions placed third in the Pac-12.

As Washington State’s clear top offensive threat, he will hear his number called a lot in the Cougar huddle this season. Though opposing defenses will focus their attention on Wilson in the passing game, this should not hamper his production one bit. Wilson had 554 more yards from scrimmage and six more touchdowns from scrimmage than any other one of his teammates in 2011.

The addition of Mike Leach as head coach will help Wilson tremendously. Athlon Sports projects Washington State at No. 51 in its preseason poll, and that all has to do with Leach’s arrival. Leach likes to throw the football, and a player like Wilson makes his chances for creating a successful offense in Pullman much easier.

Da'Rick Rogers

In 2011, Da’Rick Rogers’ game was just as cool as his name. This season, Rogers enters as the best wide receiver in the nation’s best conference (the SEC).

Rogers led the SEC in receptions (67) and placed second in both receiving yards (1,040) and receiving touchdowns (9). He also led all Tennessee Volunteers in scoring (54 points). These numbers put the rising junior on the All-SEC Second Team.

Tennessee has not finished a season ranked in the AP final Top 25 since 2007. With one of the nation’s best passing combinations in Rogers and quarterback Tyler Bray, the Volunteers can throw their way back into the national elite.

Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey

Behind Robert Woods and Marqise Lee at USC, the West Virginia Mountaineers have arguably the next best wide receiver pair in Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.

At wide receiver, Austin made the All-Big East First Team in 2011, and Bailey made the All-Big East Second Team. Austin also made the First Team as a return specialist.

Austin, a rising senior, set a West Virginia single season record with 101 receptions. Bailey, though, was the better pure receiver. The rising junior led the team with 1,279 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.

Why did Austin make the First Team, then? He had better all-around production; he impacted games as a running back and as a returner as well.   

This year, the Mountaineers move into the Big 12 Conference after spending the last two decades in the Big East. Though this will be a huge adjustment for West Virginia, which will play new teams in new places, head coach Dana Holgorsen will prepare his troops well.

Holgorsen has experience coaching in the Big 12. He was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University during the 2010 season. The Cowboys finished with the nation’s most potent offense under Holgorsen’s direction.

With quarterback Geno Smith giving the ball to these receivers, the Mountaineers represented the Big East in the Orange Bowl and earned the No. 17 ranking in the AP final poll.

West Virginia’s offense would scare defenses in any conference. Though the Big 12 offers more challenges than the Big East, the Mountaineers should have no problem scoring touchdowns with Austin and Bailey on the outside.

Cobi Hamilton

In 2011, six Arkansas Razorbacks had at least 200 receiving yards. Four had at least 500. Under Bobby Petrino, quarterback Tyler Wilson threw to arguably the deepest group of receivers in the country.

Jarius Wright, Joe Adams, and Greg Childs have all moved on from Fayetteville. Petrino has also left the program.

Despite all this change, Wilson remains a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2012. Rising senior Cobi Hamilton will take over as the leader of the Arkansas receivers.

Hamilton could match his career receiving numbers (85 receptions, 1,519 yards, 13 touchdowns) in just one season with Wilson throwing him the ball. With the bulk of Arkansas’ 2011 offensive production being replaced, and with a new head coach (John L. Smith), Wilson should stick to who he knows best—Hamilton.

Phil Steele expects Hamilton to be one of the nation’s best receivers in 2012, as he has placed Hamilton on his preseason All-America Second Team.

Keenan Allen

The Pac-12 has some strong individual talent at wide receiver in 2012. Keenan Allen is the fourth receiver from the conference to appear on this list.

In 2011, the University of California-Berkeley star joined Robert Woods on the All Pac-12 First Team. Allen placed second in the conference in receptions (98) and third in receiving yards (1,343).

With Marvin Jones gone, Allen should see even more balls thrown his way in 2012. Allen and quarterback Zach Maynard are half-brothers, so they surely have a strong chemistry.

The Golden Bears will play football in a newly-renovated Memorial Stadium this season. Allen, a rising junior, should christen the field with a stellar 2012 performance.

Conner Vernon

When college sports fans hear the word Duke, they immediately think of the men’s basketball team.  Adjacent to Cameron Indoor Stadium, though—at Wallace Wade Stadium—Conner Vernon shows off his skills on fall Saturdays.

Now that Donovan Varner has graduated, Vernon will cement himself as the clear No. 1 receiver in Durham.

Head coach David Cutcliffe knows offense. He coached both Peyton Manning and Eli Manning in college. Vernon and quarterback Sean Renfree have benefitted from Cutcliffe’s teaching for the past three seasons.

With Varner gone, Vernon should get close to 100 receptions this season.  In 2011, Vernon caught 70 balls. 1,400 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns are also within reach for the rising senior.

CBS Sports projects Vernon could get drafted in the seventh round in 2013. A breakout 2012 should do wonders for his draft stock.

Phil Steele has placed Vernon on his preseason All-America Fourth Team.

Ryan Swope

The Texas A&M University football program has undergone numerous big changes since it last took the field in the 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl of Houston.

First, the Aggies have moved into the SEC West. This division features LSU and the University of Alabama, which faced each other in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game.

Also, 2011 starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and head coach Mike Sherman have moved on to the Miami Dolphins. New head coach Kevin Sumlin will need to replace the No. 8 overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Cyrus Gray—the leading rusher from 2011—and wide receiver Jeff Fuller have also graduated.

The Aggies passing attack will feature Ryan Swope in 2012. Swope placed third in the Big 12 in receptions (89) and receiving yards (1,207) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (11) last season.

An elite offensive line should give whoever lines up at quarterback enough time to throw Swope the ball.

Texas A&M fans who wonder how the Aggies will hold up in the SEC in 2012 should not worry about Swope. Even with the change in conference, Phil Steele has placed Swope on his preseason All-America Fourth Team.