College Football's Top 20 WRs Entering 2015 Spring Practice
Another year, another outstanding class of wide receivers heading to the draft. Go ahead: imagine life without Alabama's Amari Cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White—or even a smaller guy like Kansas State's Tyler Lockett.
Tough, right?
Fear not, as there's another crop of returning receivers ready to form their own legacy. Which ones are off to the best starts? That's what this list is for.
There's a lot taken into consideration. Some names are going to be left off. Yes, stats play a big role in ranking the following players. Each slide has a wideout's stats from a year ago. Adding some help is a useful tweet by Bill Connelly of SB Nation, who charted another important number: targets.
But stats are not the only criteria. Was a player hurt? How's his recovery looking? What does he mean to an offense? Is he versatile or still growing into the position? Was he a red-zone threat or more of a between-the-20s type of player?
With that said, let's get to it. Entering spring practices, here are the top 20 wide receivers in college football.
No. 20 Pig Howard, Tennessee
1 of 20
2014 Stats: 54 catches, 618 yards, 1 TD
Seeing only one touchdown on Pig Howard's stat sheet requires second and third takes. It just feels like he had a bigger impact than that. Technically, he was the team's leading receiver and caught at least five passes in five games a year ago.
He's a productive pass-catcher who can get open all over the field. That much isn't up for debate. It's his end-zone effectiveness that needs room for improvement.
The Vols are a young team with a ton of capable receivers. Now that Joshua Dobbs has all-but-officially cemented himself as the starting quarterback, the passing game should see a boost from its middle-of-the-SEC place in 2014 (224.2 yards per game).
With that, perhaps Howard's numbers will pop off the sheet more.
19. Jordan Westerkamp, Nebraska
2 of 202014 Stats: 44 catches, 747 yards, 5 TDs
Kenny Bell was the primary target for Nebraska's passing offense a year ago and holds a number of school records. Naturally, Bell was going to get all the attention. But now that Bell is gone, Jordan Westerkamp enters 2015 as the Huskers' best pass-catcher.
Westerkamp's numbers were actually almost identical to Bell's, catching only three fewer passes and one less touchdown but averaging 17 yards a catch. He also caught nearly two-thirds of the balls thrown his way, according to Connelly's numbers.
Westerkamp's most famous grab came against Florida Atlantic in last year's opener, when he literally caught the ball behind his back.
18. Travis Rudolph, Florida State
3 of 20
2014 Stats: 38 catches, 555 yards, 4 TDs
If you're looking for one breakout wide receiver in 2015, Travis Rudolph from Florida State should be your guy.
Rudolph was good enough to play as a true freshman and finished fourth on the team in receptions. However, he was on a second tier behind Rashad Greene and Nick O'Leary. Now that both are gone, this feels like the natural time for Rudolph to emerge as the Seminoles' next No. 1 guy.
The major question for Rudolph's production, and for Florida State in general, revolves around the quarterback situation. Sean Maguire is likely the early front-runner to succeed Jameis Winston, but that's far from a sure thing. That question isn't necessarily a bad thing, however; now is the time for Rudolph to develop chemistry with the new starting quarterback.
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17. Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
4 of 20
2014 Stats: 101 receptions, 1,219 yards, 11 TDs
Tulsa sputtered to just a pair of wins last season, but you can't blame wide receiver Keevan Lucas. The sophomore had more than twice the number of catches and touchdowns as the team's second-leading receiver. With former Baylor offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery leading the Golden Hurricane, you can bet Lucas is bound for another big season.
There were plenty of catches that had an argument for best of the year. Westerkamp, mentioned on this very list, had one. But this one-handed grab by Lucas against Central Florida last November deserves consideration.
And another look. And again. And again. Thank goodness for Vines.
16. Cayleb Jones, Arizona
5 of 20
In his first season as a contributor with Arizona, Texas transfer Cayleb Jones was the Wildcats' leading receiver. The offense's favorite play? As Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star wrote last October, throw the ball up and let Jones (6'3" and 215 pounds) come down with it:
"Of his six scores, three have been "go up and get them" balls where quarterback Anu Solomon throws it up to the end zone and lets his tall receiver outjump the defensive back.
Five of the six touchdowns have come on the outside of the field, where Jones can work the sideline and use his strength and size to beat his defender. The only exception came against California when Jones lined up outside, dashed inside and caught a slant from Solomon that he took in for a 16-yard score.
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Jones was a reception machine for the Wildcats, picking up 100-yard games four times in 2014. Against Cal, he had a season-high 13 receptions and three touchdowns.
15. Leonte Carroo, Rutgers
6 of 20
2014 Stats: 55 catches, 1,086 yards, 10 TDs
Even if it was only for a year, bringing in Ralph Friedgen as Rutgers' offensive coordinator did good things for the passing game. Most notably, the Scarlet Knights finished third in the Big Ten with 8.3 yards per attempt.
It's not surprising, then, that Leonte Carroo averaged an astonishing 19.7 yards per reception. That was second in the Big Ten only to Devin Smith from Ohio State. However, Carroo averaged two receptions more per game (4.2) than Smith did.
Carroo opted to return for his senior season instead of pursue the NFL draft. In an interview with Dan Duggan of NJ.com, Carroo said he was advised to stay in school by the NFL draft advisory board. Without Friedgen as the team's OC, though, it'll be interesting to see if Carroo is the downfield threat he was a season ago.
14. Speedy Noil, Texas A&M
7 of 20
2014 Stats: 46 catches, 583 yards, 5 TDs
Former 5-star prospect Speedy Noil wasted no time making a name for himself at the college level. As a freshman for Texas A&M, Noil finished fourth on the team in receptions and showed why he was one of the most explosive playmakers in the country. His season-high 11 catches against Ole Miss were the second-most ever by an Aggies freshman.
Noil is so much more than a pure wide receiver, as he led the team in all-purpose yards. Perhaps his best attribute, besides speed, is his competitiveness. A lot of players "can take it to the house" every time they touch the ball. Noil seems like he wants to every time he touches it.
13. Duke Williams, Auburn
8 of 20
2014 Stats: 45 catches, 730 yards, 5 TDs
Sammie Coates may have led Auburn in receiving yards, but no one on the Tigers offense caught more balls or touchdowns than Duke Williams. That's impressive by itself, but also consider that Williams missed three games last year: two to a leg injury and one to a suspension.
The thing that stands out about Williams is his catch radius. He has incredible length and makes some of the most difficult catches look easy. He had more than his fair share of highlight-reel grabs last year. With Jeremy Johnson likely stepping up as Auburn's new quarterback, Williams can continue to evolve as a downfield threat.
12. Mike Williams, Clemson
9 of 20
2014 Stats: 57 catches, 1,030 yards, 6 TDs
Considering Clemson had quarterback issues—like injuries and rotation—a year ago, the fact that it nearly had two 1,000-yard receivers is amazing.
Sophomore Mike Williams specifically was the team's best deep threat, gaining about 18 yards every time he caught the ball. At 6'4" and 210 pounds, Williams has the ideal size to stretch things vertically.
Now that the Tigers have settled on Deshaun Watson at quarterback, the passing attack can really take off in 2015—provided Watson stays healthy following his ACL injury.
"I’ve been in the training room watching him rehab and seen what’s he’s doing," Williams said of Watson to Brad Senkiw of OrangeandWhite.com. "It was unbelievable. He’s just ahead of the game from where someone is supposed to be."
11. KD Cannon, Baylor
10 of 20
2014 Stats: 58 catches, 1,030 yards, 8 TDs
Freshman sensation KD Cannon absolutely exploded onto the college football map last September. In his first three games, the former blue-chip recruit had back-to-back performances of at least 189 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The problem is that the first three games were against SMU, Northwestern State and Buffalo. It's impossible to maintain that type of production throughout the entire season, but Cannon only had one touchdown the rest of the year until the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State.
Cannon is the deep threat every team wants. He fits perfectly into Baylor's offense and will be a success story. Now it's a matter of keeping it up throughout all of 2015.
10. Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
11 of 20
2014 Stats: 52 catches, 842 yards, 13 TDs
Speedy Noil has already made the list of the 20 best receivers entering spring practice. But, hey, what's one more for Texas A&M, right?
Reynolds led all Aggies with 842 yards and 13 touchdowns and had at least five receptions in six games, including the Liberty Bowl win over West Virginia. Those numbers were good enough to merit team MVP honors and a second-team All-SEC selection by the conference's coaches.
Regardless of who the Aggies' starting quarterback is next season, Reynolds is capable of 1,000 receiving yards provided he stays healthy.
9. Artavis Scott, Clemson
12 of 20
2014 Stats: 76 catches, 965 yards, 8 touchdowns
Remember seeing Clemson wideout Mike Williams on this list? Yeah, the Tigers aren't finished. This offense should have one of the best one-two receiving punches in the country in 2015 with Williams and Artavis Scott.
Even though Williams was the deep threat, Scott actually led the team in receptions and touchdowns. Four times, Scott went over the 100-yard receiving mark. What's more, he seemed to get better as the year went on. He had back-to-back 10-reception games against Louisville and Boston College and caught at least five passes in seven of his final eight games.
As Aaron Brenner of the Post and Courier wrote last October, Scott has already cemented himself as a team leader despite his young age.
8. Nelson Spruce, Colorado
13 of 20
2014 Stats: 106 catches, 1,198 yards, 12 TDs
Colorado has been so, so close to turning a corner under head coach Mike MacIntyre. Could it finally happen in 2015? If nothing else, the Buffs have one of the most reliable receiving weapons in the Pac-12 in Nelson Spruce. The junior tied for best in the conference in receptions, receptions per game and touchdowns.
The Buffaloes have been a pass-happy team lately thanks to a combination of offensive philosophy and playing from behind. In any case, Spruce should get his numbers again. At 6'1" and 195 pounds, Spruce has prototypical No. 1 receiver size and has the speed and vision to be a valuable return man.
If Colorado can notch enough wins to get back to a bowl game, expect Spruce to receive more attention.
7. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
14 of 20
2014 Stats: 78 catches, 1,408 yards, 15 TDs
Say what you will about the MAC, but no one stopped Western Michigan receiver Corey Davis last season. No. One. His worst game as a sophomore in 2014? Four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Purdue, of all teams.
Davis went over the 100-yard mark seven times last year and hit 212 receiving yards against Ohio. His 117 receiving yards per game ranked second nationally among receivers returning for 2015. According to Connelly's numbers, Davis ranked second in the country with 12.2 yards per target.
The Broncos love to air it out, averaging 9.3 yards per passing attempt. That just means more video game numbers for a former 2-star recruit.
6. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
15 of 20
2014 Stats: 48 catches, 632 yards, 5 TDs
To this day, the gruesome leg injury Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell sustained last November against Auburn is chilling. The good news is that Treadwell will be back to full strength after spring break, according to Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger.
Before his injury, Treadwell was the Rebels' leading receiver. The stats shown above are what he accomplished in nine games. At 6'2" and 230 pounds, Treadwell is a monster. Once he's fully healthy, he'll re-establish himself as one of the best receivers in the SEC, if not the country. The question for Ole Miss next year is: Who's going to get him the ball?
5. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
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2014 Stats: 69 catches, 1,136 yards, 9 TDs
There may not be a more fun wide receiver on this list than Pharoh Cooper from South Carolina, who also doubles as an All-Name Team selection. Not only was he the Gamecocks' leading receiver, but he also accounted for another four touchdowns rushing and throwing.
The whole "utility player" label can get tossed around lazily from time to time, but not many get selected to All-SEC honors as a wide receiver and second-team honors as an all-purpose back.
The combination of Cooper's versatility and production is why he's ranked so highly. Though he's built like a running back (5'11" and 208 pounds), Cooper has a claim to being the SEC's best receiver.
4. Corey Coleman, Baylor
17 of 20
2014 Stats: 64 catches, 1,119 yards, 11 TDs
Ranking guys is hard, but to be honest, Corey Coleman's stiff arm in the picture above almost gives him a top-five ranking by itself.
With Coleman and Cannon back, Baylor once again will have the best one-two wide receiver unit in the Big 12. Coleman leads all returning Big 12 receivers in total yards and yards per game (111.9). He managed four 100-yard games and one 200-yard game.
What's even more amazing: He missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury.
3. Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
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2014 Stats: 51 catches, 970 yards, 5 TDs
If Dorial Green-Beckham was in fact returning for the 2015 season—Albert Breer of NFL.com reported that DGB was considering it—he surely would have made this list. Even though he sat out the '14 season, the Missouri transfer is one of the most physically gifted athletes in college football.
But Sterling Shepard isn't a bad consolation prize. Actually, scratch that. Shepard is anything but that. Despite being hampered by a groin injury that basically cost him the final six games of the year, Shepard was far and away the Sooners' best receiver last year. He returns as one of the best in the country.
Shepard doesn't have ideal size at 5'10" and 195 pounds, but he knows how to get open and is better than expected in the vertical passing game. This is the most accomplished receiver returning in the Big 12.
2. Tyler Boyd, Pitt
19 of 20
2014 Stats: 78 catches, 1,261 yards, 8 TDs
In terms of what he means to an offense, Pitt's Tyler Boyd might be the most underrated receiver in the country. Everyone knows about Panthers running back James Conner, who bruised his way to more than 1,700 yards and 26 touchdowns.
But Boyd essentially was Pitt's passing offense. No other Panthers receiver came close. The next-leading receiver in yards was Manasseh Garner (201). The next-leading pass-catcher was J.P. Holtz with 21 grabs.
Pitt ran the ball at nearly an exact 2-1 rush-pass ratio, yet Boyd's numbers were up there among the best in the country. Just a sophomore, Boyd has the ideal size at 6'2" and is almost the literal definition of a No. 1 receiver.
1. Rashard Higgins, Colorado State
20 of 20
2014 Stats: 96 catches, 1,750 yards, 17 TDs
Put simply, Colorado State's Rashard Higgins is the most prolific receiver in college football returning from 2014. No one in the country had more receiving yards, yards per game or touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Higgins was named a consensus first-team All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist along with Amari Cooper (Alabama) and Kevin White (WVU). According to Connelly's numbers, Higgins caught about 73 percent of the passes thrown his way and still finished with about 18.23 yards per reception.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of numbers Higgins puts up in 2015. His quarterback, Garrett Grayson, is gone, as is his coach, Jim McElwain. But entering the spring, Higgins gets the No. 1 vote.
Ben Kercheval is a Lead Writer for college football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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