Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon and College Football's 5 Best Receivers

Is there anything quite as breathtaking as a wide receiver pulling in a gorgeous pass? 

The 2011 College Football season has seen a number of wide outs excel, but none more so than Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon and the other four athletes on this list. 

From the Big 12 to the Pac-12 to Notre Dame, let’s take a look at Justin Blackmon and college football’s five best receivers.

5. Juron Criner, Arizona

In 2010, Criner was perhaps the single greatest reason Arizona was the ninth-ranked passing offense.  He had 1,233 receiving yards—more than twice the amount of yards of the second-ranked Wildcat receiver.

Criner had an emergency appendectomy earlier this season and is just now hitting his full potential again.  

4. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd had a ton of buzz heading into the season, and he has lived up to the hype.  Three games into the season, the senior wide receiver for the Fighting Irish has 397 receiving yards in three games.

But with Floyd, it isn’t always the stats, but his ability to catch the ball in almost any circumstance that matters.

The Irish have moved Floyd all over the field this season, and Floyd’s versatility is unique and amazing.

3. Robert Woods, USC

USC has a tradition of outstanding receivers: Lynne Swann, Keyshawn Johnson, Mike Williams, Keary Colbert, Johnnie Morton and Dwayne Jarrett have all donned the Trojan colors. 

But nearly no Trojan wide out has been more prolific than sophomore Robert Woods.

Woods is averaging a nation-best 11 receptions per game and is poised to become the first Trojan ever to lead the country in this category.   

Woods caught a school-record 17 passes in the season opener against Minnesota and had eight receptions against Utah and Syracuse.

However, it goes beyond mere receiving with Woods.  He is such a force on the offense that opposing defenses have to plan for him and cover him and this has allowed freshman receiver Marqise Lee to get more catches, as well as tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer.

Trojan QB Matt Barkley has said that he and his favorite receiver have a “telepathic” connection.

2. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Broyles is small for a receiver—various outlets report him as either 5 foot 11 or 5 foot 9, as well as 183 lbs.  So far this season, the Sooner wide out is averaging 10.1 yards per reception with a season total of 213 yards.

What makes Broyles stand out is that he is the type of receiver that is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. He has a knack for finding the route and outpacing defenders.

And it doesn’t hurt that he has Landry Jones, one of the nation’s best quarterbacks throwing to him, either.

Last season, Broyles had 1,622 yards over 133 receptions and 14 touchdowns.

1. Justin Blackmon: Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden are amongst the most prolific pass and catch duos in college football.  

Blackmon has 27 receptions for 327 yards and a per-catch average of 12.1 yards so far this season.  He is far and away the best wide receiver in college football in 2011.

Blackmon has caught 12 touchdown catches for 20 yards or more since the beginning of the 2010 season, which is tops in the nation in that category.

Stats aside, Blackmon is fun to watch and the tandem of Blackmon and Weeden are exciting and sure to go down as two of the best players in Oklahoma State’s history.