2011 College Football Recruiting Rankings: The Top 25 Wide Receivers

As we begin the 2010 high school football season, it's time to re-evaluate the talent of the 2011 recruiting class and hand out some new positional rankings. 

Based on performances throughout the summer in various camps around the country, there's been some noticeable shifts in opinion from every recruiting outlet you'll come across. 

That's the nature of the business; sports are a show me now game and, when it comes to recruiting, there's no difference. 

We'll take a look at the top 25 of every position and keep you up to date with the biggest names to watch out for this year.

Here's the updated rankings for the top 25 wide receivers of the 2011 class. 

25. Miles Shuler

Commitment: Uncommitted

A high school quarterback, Shuler is rated as a four-star receiver who's projected to make the transition into the slot at the next level.

He throws the ball well and has good accuracy, especially on the move, but it's the way he's able to put pressure on defenses with acceleration and change of direction ability that makes him an interesting prospect.

24. A.J. Jordan

Commitment: Uncommitted

Jordan is one of the top prospects from Ohio. He's a four star rated recruit, also one of highest ranked hurdlers in the nation. He's another smooth runner who really explodes off the line of scrimmage and accelerates extremely well.

Like many other prospects who are undersized, he struggles to get free when he's jammed up on the line and he will need to work on his strength to overcome this

23. Evan Spencer, Ohio State

Commitment: Ohio State

Evan Spencer is one of the fastest accelerators in the 2011 class. He reaches top speed so fast that it's hard to believe you aren't watching tape in fast-forward at times. He has the tools to develop into a serious playmaker as a receiver and a return man. 

He's elusive, especially after the catch, and can do some serious damage in open space. Once he learns to run better routes, Spencer has the chance to play right up there with the elite at the position. 

22. DaVaris Daniels

Commitment: Uncommitted

Daniels is ranked as the No. 15 wideout on Rivals and the No. 23 wideout on Scout. At 6'2" and 175 lbs, he's thin and needs to bulk up, but when he's not pressed at the line of scrimmage he can cover a ton of ground very quickly. 

He runs good routes and is strong enough that he won't be bullied by defenders. Daniels is a big target with elite body control and solid change of direction ability; it makes him a great redzone threat. 

21. Tobias Singleton

Commitment: Uncommitted

Singleton is a big, physical receiver who can beat pretty much any defender at the line of scrimmage if you play off of him or use his size to ward off defenders who try to jam him.

It makes for a very difficult cover. Singleton has great speed for his size, 6'2" and 195 lbs, and even better body control. He's raw and struggles to run good routes, but has a ton of potential. 

20. Donte Moncrief, Mississippi

Commitment: Mississippi

Moncrief is ranked as the No. 9 receiver on Rivals, but falls all the way to No. 31 on Scout. He falls somewhere in-between and there's no denying he's a top 25 talent at the position. 

At 6'2" and 215 lbs, he's got great balance and hands and is faster than you'd think. But for his size he isn't very strong and needs to play with more physicality to harness his talent. 

19. Tacoi Sumler, Oregon

Commitment: Oregon

Sumler is one of the most versatile players of the 2011 class. He's a dangerous return man, has great coverage skills as a cornerback, can do some damage as a scat back, and has an especially solid skill set at receiver.

He runs crisp routes, makes smooth cuts, gets off the line very fast, and moves with elite breakaway speed. He's undersized, though, which has somewhat lowered his value.

18. Danny Woodson, Alabama

Commitment: Alabama

Depending on who you're asking, Alabama has a pretty serious duo of receivers lined up. Between Marvin Shinn, ranked No. 8 at WR by both Scout and Rivals, and Danny Woodson, ranked No. 7 at WR by Rivals, the Crimson Tide should be in line for a ton of success.

Of course, Scout ranks Woodson at No. 24 and it's hard to disagree. He is neither as polished as Shinn nor does he have the kind of playmaking ability his fellow commitment has.

17. Rashad Greene, FSU

Commitment: FSU

Greene is not the best at any particular thing, but does pretty much everything you want in a receiver and is one of the most well-balanced prospects in the class. He runs good routes, has a solid pair of hands, and can block and be physical with CBs.

He struggles getting off the line against physical corners at the high school level though, which means his struggles will only grow worse in college. The potential is there, that's the obvious part, but there are concerns you can't ignore. 

16. Damiere Byrd

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Byrd is one of the most athletic prospects of the 2011 class. He would be rated even higher if he was just a little bigger than 5'9" and 160 lbs. As it stands, he is a four-star wideout with about as much potential as any receiver in the class.

He has great straight-line speed and can put eye-popping moves on anyone; he changes direction seemingly at will. Byrd is a touchdown waiting to happen as a halfback, receiver, or return man. If he was just a little bit bigger he'd likely be a 5-star prospect. 

15. Bill Belton, Pitt

Commitment: Pitt

Both Scout and Rivals agree that Bill Belton is a four star prospect, but they don't agree on where he should line up. Scout lists him as the No. 14 WR, while Rivals more conservatively pushes him back to No. 28 on their top ATH list. One thing is very clear, Belton is exceptionally fast on the football field and needs the ball in his hands.

He's tough, plays with great control, and is a dangerous player in space. The major knock on his game is a near total lack of blocking ability that needs to be refined before he can make any effort. 

14. Darius Jennings

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 5'11" and 175 lbs, four star receiver Jennings isn't a traditional speedster, but he moves incredibly fast in traffic. He's got a short stride and has a really good first burst off the line of scrimmage.

He can change gears about as fast as anyone and those short, choppy steps let him accelerate very fast in space. He can be a force in the Wildcat as he's got experience running the system in high school. He'd be an ideal slot receiver, but needs to bulk up some before he can make too big of an impact on the next level. 

13. Ladarius Brown

Commitment: Uncommitted 

At 6'2" and 185 lbs, Brown runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and is one of the best downfield threats in the country. He moves swiftly and has a really special ability to make big plays over the top of defenders. 

He runs good routes, can play in the middle of the field or down the sidelines and can make things happen after the catch. He's not consistent though and struggles in the redzone despite his size and leaping ability. 

12. Jaxton Shipley, Texas

Commitment: Texas

The younger brother of former Longhorn Jordan Shipley, Jaxton will be following in his brother's footsteps and might prove to be even better at Texas in a couple years time. The steam has started to pick up for Shipley as he's now considered a top 10 receiver.

He's been getting a lot of praise based on his exceptional hands and body control. He runs polished, professional routes and is ready to play immediately. All he really needs to do is bulk up and get stronger so college defenders won't out-muscle him. 

11. Nickolas Brassell

Commitment: Uncommitted

Brassell is a high-energy, competitive wideout who can get deep in a hurry every play of the game. He goes hard no matter what the situation and when he's hot, he's one of the best play-makers in the country. 

The problem is he tends to play out of control and needs to refine his route-running skills to be more than just a deep-ball threat. If he can figure that out and play with more consistency, Brassell has the chance to be potent force on the next level. 

10. Kelvin Benjamin

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'6" and 210 lbs, Benjamin's a huge target that some have projected as a tight end, but he's shown the speed and athleticism to be a force at wide receiver.  

He makes the tough catches, the acrobatic, circus catches. Add in his size, speed, and toughness and he's one of the toughest covers in the country. 

Benjamin needs to work on his route running, concentration, and separation skills, but the tools are there for him to be a truly special talent. 

9. Victor Blackwell, USC

Commitment: USC

Blackwell's greatest asset is without a doubt his hands. The ball just sticks to some guys when they go up for it and he's one of them.

He's got great speed and can really adjust to the ball when it's in the air, but is undersized and needs to bulk up. Rivals ranks him No. 10 among WRs and Scout ranks him No. 12.

Blackwell has USC written all over him; it's a perfect fit. He's a four star receiver with great change of direction ability, acceleration, and has perhaps the best body control of any receiver in the 2011 class.

8. Marvin Shinn, Alabama

Commitment: Alabama

If you're an Alabama fan you've probably already heard quite a bit about "Marvelous" Marvin Shinn. He's one of the most electric wide receivers in the 2011 class and a playmaker who can score any time he gets into open space.

He's taken a huge jump this summer and is ranked as a top 10 WR by both Scout and Rivals.

Shinn is one of the best deep-threat receivers in the class and has such long strides that once he gets going in open space, more times than not he's behind the defense and gone. Add in a solid pair of hands and you have a dangerous receiving threat.

7. DeAnthony Arnett

Commitment: Uncommitted

Arnett is one of the top receivers in the country, but doesn't receive the same attention as the likes of George Farmer or Kasen Williams. The reality is while they might have more upside, Arnett is ready-now and could make a bigger instant impact. 

He's great at creating separation from defenders and runs some of the smoothest and polished routes of any receiver from the 2011 recruiting class. 

He's on the small side at 6' and 175 lbs, but he has great elevation and consistently gets up high to make the catch. His body control and catching ability are really impressive, especially when it comes to making plays in traffic.

6. Charone Peake, Clemson

Commitment: Clemson

Peake will join Mike Bellamy at Clemson to form a scary one-two punch on the offensive side of the ball. The five star receiver is quick off the line and one of the best deep-ball threats in the country.

He's Scout's No. 4 WR and No. 6 on Rivals.

Peake will score on you at almost any time and has the speed and height to go over the top of defenders with elite ability. He's grown tremendously more consistent over the last year and will have the chance to be one of the top impact freshman in the country. 

5. Sammy Watkins

Commitment: Uncommitted

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a game-breaker at the receiver position.

He's the complete package in terms of size and speed and a dangerous weapon in the return game as well; he's a threat to take it the distance on any play and has that sixth gear you look for in elite prospects.

The only knock on Watkins is that for someone with his size and catching ability he hasn't been much of a redzone threat to this point in his career and that's a bit troubling.

4. Kasen Williams, Washington

Commitment: Washington

Kasen Williams is ranked as the top receiver in the nation by Scout. He's a big, strong receiver who runs very good routes and creates great separation down-field by overpowering and out-maneuvering defenders.

He's also so strong at the line of scrimmage that its nearly impossible to jam him; when it's attempted he usually makes the defender pay big-time.

Because of his size and strength he is one of the hardest players to take down and when he gets loose in open space, he's a threat to take it to the house every time.

3. Trey Metoyer. Oklahoma

Commitment: Oklahoma

Trey Metoyer is one of the highest-rated receivers of the 2011 class. He's rated top-five at his position by both Scout and Rivals and presents a great combination of size and speed.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed of a George Farmer, but he still runs a 4.5-second 40 and has enough quickness to break loose for a big play if you let him get into space.

At 6'2" and 185 lbs, he needs to put some weight on his frame, but he's already a very strong athlete who uses his strength to avoid getting jammed at the line and to ward off defenders downfield and create separation.

2. Jarvis Landry, LSU

Commitment: LSU

Landry is one of those prospects that fits into the "needs to bulk up" category more than the "will always be undersized" category. No matter how much weight he's able to put on, he'll always be a sub-six foot receiver though, and scouts tend to undervalue you immediately when you fit into that category.

He makes up for that with solid route-running and great movement in closed spaces, but that doesn't even begin to describe how much of a playmaker he is.

Landry is a sure-handed player that demands the ball on big plays and will quickly develop into a third-down conversion machine. Give him the ball 

1. George Farmer

Commitment: Uncommitted

He has the speed to get past pretty much anyone and the size to ward off stronger defenders without much effort.

Farmer has an ideal combination of skills and natural ability, but needs to fine tune his game some.

He'll make the spectacular catch, but then drop an easy one. Some scouts question his level of concentration and desire to go all out on every play; that's troubling. If he can improve on his consistency though, Farmer has the goods to be a special talent.