College Football 2011 Preview: Ranking the Top Wide Receivers in Each Conference

Luckily for us college football fans, there’s a ton of potential star receivers returning for the 2011 season.

Not only will we get another chance to see proven players such as Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, last year’s Biletnikoff Award Winner, Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles, who led the nation in receptions, and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery, who looks to be the SEC’s new star receiver. We’ll also have the opportunity to watch plenty of up-and-coming receivers emerge right before our eyes.

Every season, there seems to be a receiver that comes out of nowhere to wow us, and it should be interesting to see who surprises us and shines in 2011.

Here’s an early look at some of the most intriguing receivers in each conference.

ACC

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BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver Jarrett Boykin #81 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Lane Stadium on November 4, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

1. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech

2. Dwight Jones, North Carolina

3. Travis Benjamin, Miami

4. Kris Burd, Virginia

5. Conner Vernon, Duke

6. Bert Reed, Florida State

7. DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

8. Erik Highsmith, North Carolina

9. LaRon Byrd, Miami

10. Bobby Swigert, Boston College

Watch Out For: Taiwan Easterling, Florida State

Big East

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Mohamed Sanu #6 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights runs the ball against the Norfolk State Spartans at Rutgers Stadium on September 2, 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights beat the Spartans 31 - 0. (Photo

1. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

2. Tavon Austin, West Virginia

3. Josh Bellamy, Louisville

4. D.J. Woods, Cincinnati

5. Mark Harrison, Rutgers

6. Kashif Moore, UCONN

7. Devin Street, Pitt

8. Van Chew, Syracuse

9. Stedman Bailey, West Virginia

10. Lindsey Lamar, South Florida

Watch Out For: Kenbrell Thompkins, Cincinnati

Big Ten

David Purdy/Getty Images

IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 30- Wide receiver Marvin McNutt #7 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes runs into the end zone for a touch down during the second half of play against the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Iowa City, I

1. Marvin McNutt, Iowa

2. DeVier Posey, Ohio State

3. Derek Moye, Penn State

4. Damarlo Belcher, Indiana

5. B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State

6. Roy Roundtree, Michigan

7. Jeremy Ebert, Northwestern

8. Da’Jon McKnight, Minnesota

9. Nick Toon, Wisconsin

10. Brandon Kinnie, Nebraska

Watch Out For: A.J. Jenkins, Illinois

Big 12

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Ryan Broyles #85 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs after a catch against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Pet

1. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

2. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

3. Kendall Wright, Baylor

4. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M

5. T.J. Moe, Missouri

6. Kenny Stills, Oklahoma

7. Mike Davis, Texas

8. Jerrell Jackson, Missouri

9. Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M

10. Daymond Patterson, Kansas

Watch Out For: Josh Cooper, Oklahoma State

Pac-12

Harry How/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Robert Woods #13 of the USC Trojans carries the ball during the game against the California Golden Bears at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

1. Robert Woods, USC

2. Juron Criner, Arizona

3. Chris Owusu, Stanford

4. Marvin Jones, Cal

5. Marquess Wilson, Washington State

6. Jermaine Kearse, Washington

7. Lavasier Tuinei, Oregon

8. Markus Wheaton, Oregon State

9. Paul Richardson, Colorado

10. Nelson Rosario, UCLA

Watch Out For: Gerell Robinson, Arizona State

SEC

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Alshon Jeffery #1 of the South Carolina Gamecocks smiles after winning a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. The Gamecocks beat the Gators 36-14. (Photo

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina

2. Greg Childs, Arkansas

3. Rueben Randle, LSU

4. Justin Hunter, Tennessee

5. Joe Adams, Arkansas

6. Marquis Maze, Alabama

7. Emory Blake, Auburn

8. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State

9. Jarius Wright, Arkansas

10. Deonte Thompson, Florida

Watch Out For: Tavarres King, Georgia

Conference USA

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 04: Damaris Johnson #3 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes runs past Charles Harris #21 of the Tulane Green Wave at the Louisiana Superdome on September 4, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

1. Damaris Johnson, Tulsa

2. Lance Lewis, East Carolina

3. Patrick Edwards, Houston

4 .Kelvin Bolden, Southern Miss

5. Cole Beasley, SMU

Watch Out For: Marcus Rucker, Memphis

MAC

Nick Harwell 2010 Highlights

1. Nick Harwell, Miami (Ohio)

2. Eric Page, Toledo

3. Cody Wilson, Western Michigan

4. Kamar Jorden, Bowlin Green

5. Marcus Rivers, Buffalo

Watch Out For: Tyshon Goode, Kent State

Mountain West

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 16: Wide receiver Josh Boyce #82 of the TCU Horned Frogs scores a touchdown against line backer Jadon Wagner #49 the BYU Cougars at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU beat BYU 31-3. (Photo by T

1. Josh Boyce, TCU

2. Phillip Payne, UNLV

3. Tyler Shoemaker, Boise State

4. Ty Kirk, New Mexico

5. Lou Greenwood, Colorado State

Watch Out For: Michael Johnson, UNLV

Sun Belt

1. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International

2. Luther Ambrose, Louisiana-Monroe

3. Dwayne Frampton, Arkansas State

4. Darius Carey, North Texas

5. Allen Muse, Arkansas State

Watch Out For: Chip Reeves, Troy

WAC

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 02: Rishard Matthews #15 of the Nevada Reno Wolf Pack grabs a reception over Sidney Hodge #23 UNLV Rebels during the third quarter of their game at Sam Boyd Stadium October 2, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada Reno won 44-26. (Photo

1. Rishard Matthews, Nevada

2. Jalen Saunders, Fresno State

3. Brandon Wimberly, Nevada

4. Royce Pollard, Hawai’i

5. Noel Grigsby, San Jose State

Watch Out For: Taulib Ikharo, Louisiana Tech