Projecting College Football's 10 Most Productive Wide Receivers in 2016
College football teams utilize a variety of uptempo spread offenses, and several wide receivers will torch opposing defenses, rising up the positional rankings.
And for this collection of players, it's all about the box score.
This list specifically focuses on wideouts who will accumulate gaudy numbers—not necessarily the best prospects for future NFL drafts.
USC's JuJu Smith-Schuster is arguably the top receiver returning for 2016, but a quarterback change will likely drop his numbers. Most of the following wideouts will be catching passes from the same gunslingers as last season, an important advantage for massive stats.
10. D.J. Thompson, Southern Miss
1 of 10
East Carolina's Isaiah Jones received serious consideration here, but Blake Kemp transferring created a weakness behind center. Southern Miss doesn't have the same issue.
Nick Mullens racked up 4,476 passing yards and 38 touchdowns last season, mainly targeting Mike Thomas and Casey Martin. However, both have exhausted their eligibility.
The Golden Eagles' leading returning receiver is D.J. Thompson, who snared 55 passes for 779 yards and six touchdowns. He'll slide into a leading role and take a good chunk of the targets credited to Thomas and Martin last season.
Thompson has both the ability and opportunity to approach 85 receptions, 1,200 yards and 12 scores.
9. Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech
2 of 10
In 2015, Isaiah Ford caught 75 passes for 1,164 yards and 11 touchdowns despite Virginia Tech's average aerial attack.
Since new head coach Justin Fuente is implementing a faster offensive tempo, the Hokies will have more possessions in 2016. That means an increased number of snaps—as well as stats.
Granted, there's a reasonable chance Ford's numbers drop because Memphis never had a flashy wideout during Fuente's four-year tenure. However, Fuente never had a receiver like Ford.
The junior has the perfect system to help replicate his 2015 output.
8. James Washington, Oklahoma State
3 of 10
James Washington's production from last season is a bit skewed because more than 50 percent of his yards and touchdowns came over a three-game sample.
The Oklahoma State receiver managed 60 yards or fewer seven times in 2015 but still tallied 53 receptions, 1,087 yards and 10 touchdowns.
But that's why 2016 could be a special year.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph and the entire offensive line are returning. The No. 22-ranked offense from a season ago should be even better, and Washington will once again be the primary target.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. KD Cannon, Baylor
4 of 10
Corey Coleman was on a ridiculous pace prior to QB Seth Russell's neck injury midway through the season. If he stays healthy in 2016, KD Cannon will dominate the box score.
Similar to Washington, Cannon excelled in three games last year.
The speedster recorded 48.6 percent of his yards and 66.7 percent of his touchdowns against SMU, Kansas State and Oklahoma State. Otherwise, Cannon failed to reach the 60-yard mark eight times.
He'll take over Coleman's spot as the No. 1 receiver this year. While the 20-touchdown mark is unlikely, it would be surprising if Cannon didn't match Coleman's 74 catches and 1,363 yards.
6. Thomas Sperbeck, Boise State
5 of 10
Relatively quietly, Thomas Sperbeck amassed 88 receptions, 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. He accomplished those numbers while catching passes from a true freshman, no less.
Brett Rypien's second year at Boise State figures to bring better numbers, especially since he didn't play in two games and was a backup for a third.
Plus, the Broncos didn't reach the Mountain West Conference championship game. They're a favorite to win the division this season, which would provide a 14th game.
Sperbeck might not duplicate the 20-catch, 281-yard day he posted on New Mexico, but a steady stream of targets—and he had 140 last year, per NCAA Savant—means another outstanding campaign.
5. Taywan Taylor, Western Kentucky
6 of 10
One of the lone exceptions on the list, Taywan Taylor must adapt to a new quarterback. Brandon Doughty is now chasing an NFL dream after shattering records at Western Kentucky.
However, Taylor can drop from 86 receptions, 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns yet remain among the nation's leaders.
Besides, the Hilltoppers graduated wideouts Jared Dangerfield and Antwane Grant, so Taylor will further stand out as the best option above Tyler Higbee, Nicholas Norris and Nacarius Fant.
Western Kentucky will encounter some struggles, but Taylor can handle a heavy target share at receiver.
4. Corey Davis, Western Michigan
7 of 10
There's a legitimate chance Corey Davis will become the NCAA leader in career receiving yards at some point next season.
A three-year standout for Western Michigan, he's only 1,227 yards behind the 5,005-yard mark set by Nevada's Trevor Insley. Considering Davis has notched consecutive 1,400-yard campaigns, the record is well within his grasp.
Perhaps just as important, the same quarterback will be leading the Broncos offense. Zach Terrell is entering his third season as a full-time starter, boasting back-to-back campaigns of at least 3,400 yards.
Daniel Braverman's departure will sting, but the Terrell-Davis combination won't be silenced.
3. Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
8 of 10
How can Tulsa replace Keyarris Garrett? It takes a special wideout to grab 96 passes for a Football Bowl Subdivision-best 1,588 yards and eight touchdowns.
Well, Keevan Lucas only appeared in four contests before a knee injury ended his year. Extrapolated to a 13-game season, Lucas was on pace for 85 receptions, 1,329 yards and 16 scores.
That's how.
Additionally, 4,300-yard passer Dane Evans returns in Baylor-taught Philip Montgomery's offensive system. Barring injury, Lucas is destined for a top-10 spot in each category.
2. Richie James, Middle Tennessee
9 of 10
The country's best sophomore-to-sophomore quarterback-receiver combination is found at Middle Tennessee.
Brent Stockstill threw for 4,005 yards and 30 touchdowns last year, while Richie James pulled in 108 receptions—second most in the FBS—for 1,346 yards and earned eight trips to the end zone.
James snared at least six passes in every game, recorded fewer than 70 yards just once and eclipsed the 100-yard barrier five times.
Like Davis, the departure of a proficient teammate (Ed'Marques Batties) figures to affect the offense as a whole, but James will shred Conference USA competition with Stockstill slinging the ball.
1. Gabe Marks, Washington State
10 of 10
Washington State quarterback Luke Falk attempted an FBS-high 644 passes last season, a staggering 71 more than Patrick Mahomes II at No. 2. Oh, and Falk missed one game because of a concussion.
Meanwhile, Gabe Marks notched 104 receptions, 1,192 yards and 15 touchdowns. He turned down the opportunity to declare for the NFL draft and will instead give Pac-12 defenses another test.
Good luck stopping him.
River Cracraft and Robert Lewis are superb, but Wazzu's system favors outside receivers. Since the Cougars must replace Dom Williams (75/1,040/11), Marks should garner even more attention from Falk, who should once again average 50-plus passes per game.
Marks will be college football's most productive wideout in 2016.
Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
