2011 NFL Draft: Top 10 Underclassmen Wide Receivers
This year’s crop of senior wide receivers seems to lack a true standout prospect worthy of a first round selection.
Luckily for the many receiver starved NFL franchises out there, an abundance of highly skilled underclassmen receivers are likely to declare early, and we could see at least five of them selected in Round 1.
Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones are the two juniors who’ve been receiving the most attention and praise, but they aren’t the only big names in their class.
Let’s have a look at some of college football's best young wide receiver prospects who are eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft.
1. A.J. Green, Georgia
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What can you say about A.J. Green that hasn’t already been said?
He’s the most dangerous receiver in the college game today. We saw how different of a team Georgia was without him in the lineup as they struggled out of the gate to a 1-3 start during his four game suspension.
The 6‘4’’ 205 lb. junior is a little on the lanky side but he possesses every trait you want in a No. 1 receiver. His hands and concentration are at a level that almost defy explanation, they're just something that have to be witnessed in order to fully be grasped.
As he showed in this past Saturday’s game at Auburn, Green has stretches where he simply can’t be contained. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be a top ten pick in 2011.
2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
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This season hasn’t gone as well as many Notre Dame fans would’ve hoped, but one bright spot for the Irish has been the play of wide receiver Michael Floyd.
Floyd has shaken off the injury bug that plagued in 2009 and regained his tremendous playmaking form. The 6‘3’’ 225 lb. junior could be the best pass adjuster at the college level and his knack for coming through when he’s counted on should make him a valuable commodity in the eyes of scouts.
Floyd already has 59 catches and 9 TDs this season and his production and flashy highlights during his three years in South Bend have really helped put him on the map as an elite receiver prospect.
3. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
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Justin Blackmon has turned out to be one of the true breakout stars of the 2010 season, bursting onto the scene to carry the Cowboys to a 9-1 record, a top ten BCS ranking and first place seat in the Big 12 South.
Blackmon, who was relatively unheard from as a redshirt freshman catching only 20 balls, has made Oklahoma State fans forget about troubled receiver Dez Bryant.
The 6‘1’’ 205 lb. sophomore leads the nation with 1,430 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns and has put up the type of performances that could land him in New York in early December.
Blackmon, a likely Top 20 pick, is eligible for the draft as a redshirt sophomore but it’s still up in the air whether he’ll test the waters after one season of greatness or opt to return to school for another year.
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4. Julio Jones, Alabama
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It seems like the light has finally turned on for Alabama’s Julio Jones, a former superstar recruit out of Alabama’s Foley High School. Jones failed to fully match his recruiting hype during his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, but this year is a different story.
The 6'4 220 lb. junior has emerged as a valuable weapon for the Alabama offense, hauling in 58 balls for 800 yards.
His tendency to disappear at certain times could have NFL teams concerned but there’s no denying that the Tide receiver has been blessed with rare athletic gifts.
5. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
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For the past two seasons, Ryan Broyles has been the spark that makes the Oklahoma offense go.
The 5‘11’’ 185 lb. junior has posted back-to-back 1,000 plus yard receiving seasons and he’s already surpassed his phenomenal sophomore numbers through ten games this season.
Broyles has scored 11 touchdowns this year and he currently leads the nation with 94 receptions. He’s topped the 100 yard receiving mark in eight out of the ten games he’s played in.
Broyles is a little on the small side but he’s truly a dynamic player who produces at a rate that few receiving prospects can match.
6. Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt
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Jonathan Baldwin’s production has dropped off due to the lack of consistency at the quarterback position, but if you watched Pittsburgh’s battle with UCONN this past Friday, you know why Baldwin is such a talked about commodity. His toe tapping touchdown at the back of the end zone demonstrated the type of natural ability he really has.
At 6‘5’’ 230 lbs, Baldwin towers over every defensive back that tries to cover him and he presents a real matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators.
Some have questioned his long speed, but it’s been reported that Baldwin runs in the 4.4. range in the 40 yard dash. If that's true, Baldwin could find himself being selected somewhere in the first round next year.
His lackluster season could hurt his stock a bit, but all scouts have to do is go back and look at some his sophomore highlights to get a good feel for the type of player he’s capable of becoming at the next level.
7. Greg Childs, Arkansas
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When people think of the Arkansas football team, the first person that probably comes to mind is quarterback Ryan Mallett. But one of the keys to Mallett’s success this season has been the play of his wide receivers, especially Greg Childs.
Before being knocked out for the season with a tendon injury, Childs was manhandling secondaries and offering Mallett a go to downfield passing option.
The 6‘3’’ 215 lb. junior, whose caught 94 balls for over 1,500 yards the last two seasons, is one of most talented receivers in the country, but his injury, which will likely keep him sidelined until April, could play a major factor in his decision to return for his senior season.
8. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
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One of the most consistent players during Texas A&M’s up and down 2010 campaign has been wide receiver Jeff Fuller.
The 6'4’’ 215 lb. junior is a big target and a favorite option of quarterback Jerrod Johnson.
Fuller has been an end zone magnet this year, scoring 11 touchdowns in ten games, and is on the verge of breaking the 1,000 receiving yard mark soon.
The former blue chip recruit out of McKinney Boyd High School in Texas has molded himself into a very legitimate looking NFL prospect during his time in College Station.
9. Chris Owusu, Stanford
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Stanford’s Chris Owusu came into the season known more as a great returner than a great receiver, but this year, Owusu has shown the diversity it takes to get it done in both phases of the game.
Although injuries have taken their toll on the 6‘2 200 lb. junior, forcing him to miss four games, there’s still been bursts of greatness mixed in.
Owusu’s coming out party came in the blowout of Arizona two weeks ago. The receiver caught nine passes for 165 yards and a touchdown in the 42-17 victory.
It would be wise for Owusu to come back for his senior season and boost his stock up. He’ll likely be one of the top names in his class going into the 2011 season.
10. DeVier Posey, Ohio State
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Many, including myself, were expecting a big breakout type year for DeVier Posey in 2010 after his superior sophomore season.
So far, the 6'2 210 lb. speedster has looked solid, but he just hasn’t had the opportunity to take the next step to that elite level just yet.
Posey’s numbers - 43 catches, 664 yards and 5 TDs - are by no means bad, but he has drifted away from the offense at times this year.
With Terrelle Pryor announcing his intentions to return for his senior season, it would be wise for Posey to follow suit and join his quarterback and keep one of the nation's deadliest passing duos intact.
With a great senior showing, Posey's stock could go through the roof.
Honorable Mentions
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- Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
- Jermaine Kearse, Washington
- Darvin Adams, Auburn
- Randall Cobb, Kentucky
- Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech
- Nick Toon, Wisconsin
- Tandon Doss, Indiana
- Marvin Jones, Cal
- Marvin McNutt, Iowa
- Travis Benjamin, Miami
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