Where Does Bobby Shaw's 1997 Season Rank Amongst the Best in Cal History?

The California Golden Bears have recently had a fair share of solid wide receivers during the Jeff Tedford era, a list that includes Geoff McArthur, Desean Jackson, and Lavelle Hawkins. Also, Marvin Jones and freshman sensation Keenan Allen will eventually make the list. 

Before Tedford arrived, the Bears weren't a team that had much success. Needless to say, big name players weren't the norm for the team. A few wide receivers did make a name for themselves Dameane Douglas, Na'il Benjamin, Bobby Shaw, Sean Dawkins, Steve Rivera, Iheanyi Uwaezuoke, and Mike Caldwell. 

Here's a look at the year and the best season in terms of receptions for each wide receiver that have finished their careers at Cal: 

Douglas: 100 receptions, 1,150 yards, and four touchdowns in 1998. For Douglas, his best game of the season was 15 catches for 140 yards,  

McArthur: 85 receptions, 1,504 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2003. His Best game of the season was a total of 16 catches for 245 yards.  

Shaw: 75 receptions, 1,093 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 1997. His best game was 11 catches for 204 yards. 

Hawkins: 72 receptions, 862 yards, and six touchdowns in 2007. 

Dawkins: 65 receptions, 1,070 yards, and 14 touchdowns in 1992.

Jackson: 59 receptions, 1,060 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2006.

Rivera: 57 receptions, 790 yards, and four touchdowns in 1975. 

Uwaezuoke: 56 receptions, 716 yards, and five touchdowns in 1994. His best game of that season was 13 catches for 162 yards.

Caldwell: 55 receptions, 962 yards, and seven touchdowns.  

Most receiving yards in a season

McArthur: 1,504

Douglas: 1,150

Shaw: 1,093

Dawkins: 1,070

Jackson: 1,060

Caldwell: 962

Rivera: 938

Jessee Thompson (1977) and Rance McDougald (1983): 797

Most receiving yards in a game 

Wesley Walker (1976): 276

McArthur (2003): 245

Rivera (1974): 205

Shaw (1997) : 204

Steve Sweeney (1971): 195

Robert Jordan (2005): 192

Rivera (1975): 183

Damien Semien (1993): 182

Walker (1976): 181

McArthur (2003): 180

Brian Treggs (1990): 180

Most touchdowns in a single season

Dawkins (1992): 14

Sweeney (1972): 13

Shaw (1997): 10 

McArthur (2003): 10 

Shaw (1996): 9

Jackson (2006): 9

Jim Hanifan (1954): 7

Caldwell (1993): 7

Jonathan Makonnen: 7

McArthur (2004): 7

Jackson (2005): 7

McArthur clearly shows that he has the most impressive season in 2003 when he caught 85 passes for 1,504 yards, and 10 touchdowns. In the Bears history the yards rank first, the receptions second, and the total touchdowns rank third. Also worth noting, McArthur had the second and 10th best yards receiving in a game during his impressive 2003 campaign. 

As for the second best season in Cal history, that's where it gets a little murky. Shaw had the third most receptions, third most touchdowns, third most yards, and the fourth best yardage in a single game.  

While Dawkins had the fifth best season in terms of receptions, he also holds the Cal record for most receiving touchdowns with 14, and the fourth best season in terms of yards. 

Since Dawkins set a Cal record for most receiving touchdowns in a season, by default he had the second best season in Cal history, coming in third would be Shaw, fourth would be Douglas, and rounding out the top five would be Jackson. 

Rankings 

1. McArthur (2003): 85 catches, 1,504 yards, 10 touchdowns, and best games of 16 catches for 245 yards.

2. Dawkins (1992): 65 catches, 1,070 yards, and 14 touchdowns.

3. Shaw (1997): 75 catches, 1,093 yards, 10 touchdowns, and his best game would be 11 catches for 204 yards. 

4. Douglas (1998): 100 catches, 1,105 yards, four touchdowns, and his best game 15 catches for 140 yards. 

5. Jackson (2007): 59 catches, 1,060 yards, and nine touchdowns.