College Football Rankings: Top 10 Wide Receivers

There have been numerous wide receivers in college football to put up stellar numbers as of late, many of whom are surprising and impressive.  

There is also Alshon Jeffery, arguably the top wide receiver in next year's draft, who has been hindered because his quarterback was kicked off the team and will not make this list.  

These wide receivers have been on a tear lately and have put up great numbers this season.  

Here are the top 10 wide receivers right now in college football.

10. Kendall Wright (Baylor)

Kendall Wright is one of the most reliable wide receivers in college football. He ranks second in the Big 12 with 126.2 yards per game. Wright was the only bright spot in a horrible loss to Oklahoma State, with 117 yards on 11 receptions. 

Wright is only 5’10” but he is a speedster with great hands. The senior continues to be on the rise on the NFL draft board and will continue to be Robert Griffin’s favorite target.

9. A.J. Jenkins (Illinois)

A.J. Jenkins has been the best wide receiver in the Big Ten all season long. He is a great receiver with excellent leaping ability. His 268-yard performance against Northwestern really put him on the map.

This past week against a strong Penn State defense, Jenkins had his fair share of problems, being held to 43 yards on six receptions and no touchdowns. This greatly hurt Jenkins’ stock, but he will hope to prove himself against a Wisconsin Badgers defense looking to get back on track.

8. Jordan White (Western Michigan)

Jordan White is from a small school and does not really get any recognition. He has been one of the best receivers in the country the past few years. If White was playing for a bigger school, I have no doubt that his name would be in the discussion as one of the better receivers in college football. 

White racked up 172 yards on only nine receptions against Ball State. He has the speed to gain a lot of yards after the catch. His 132-yard performance against Illinois earlier this year really stands out.

Jordan White is third in the nation in receiving yards and will continue to contend for the top spot all season.

7. Chris Givens (Wake Forest)

Chris Givens is leading the ACC in receiving yards and catches. He had consistently put up 100-yard games until this past week against North Carolina, in which he had 42 yards on six catches and the Tar Heels continued to keep Givens’ big play ability in check. 

In eight games this season, Givens has eight touchdowns. He is one of the best yards-after-catch receivers in college football. Look for Givens to get on track when he plays Notre Dame this week. They tend to give up a lot of yards to receivers.

6. Keenan Allen (Cal)

At 6’3”, 205 lbs, Keenan Allen continues to see double teams whenever he steps on the field. The Cal receiver is a human highlight reel with one-hand catches, ankle-breaking moves and the strength to carry defenders into the red zone. 

Allen is ranked sixth nationally in receiving yardage with multiple quarterbacks behind center who have played below average this season. He had a decent game against UCLA this past week with 83 yards on seven receptions and no touchdowns in a loss. Cal’s quarterback Zach Maynard had problems getting Allen and the rest of the receivers the ball, throwing four interceptions.  

Cal must find ways to get one of the most explosive receivers in the country the ball at all costs when they take on Washington State.

5. Sammy Watkins (Clemson)

I love watching Sammy Watkins play because he is exciting and makes defenders miss. Did I mention that he is seventh in the nation in receiving yards—as a freshman?

The dude can seriously play. He is 6’1” and only 180 lbs. and will likely gain some weight over the next few years, which will surely benefit him. He will also have quarterback Tajh Boyd throwing him the ball for a few more years which is a bonus.

In Clemson’s first loss of the season against Georgia Tech, Watkins still racked up 159 yards on only 10 catches. His 48-yard touchdown catch sparked a second half comeback, and he also threw a bullet on an option wide-out play. With the touchdown catch, Watkins became the ACC’s all-time freshman leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns.  Watkins is seriously talented.

Look for Sammy Watkins to be the top NFL prospect in a few years.

4. Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)

Justin Blackmon is arguably the top wide receiver prospect in this years draft. He has the combination of speed, strength and the hands that you want in a No. 1 receiver. 

He is currently outside the Top 10 in receiving yardage this season, but he has caught at least one touchdown in every game except his first. Blackmon is coming off of his best game of the season against Baylor, in which he tallied 13 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. 

The former Biletnikoff award winner has a chance to win the award once again this season. He also turned down the NFL for the chance to play for a national title. That decision is looking really good right now; his team is ranked third in the nation. 

This will be Blackmon’s final season in college, so you better appreciate such a great talent while we have it.

3. Robert Woods (USC)

I absolutely love how Robert Woods plays. He has great hands and goes up to get the ball. He is hands-down the best player on a very talented USC team. 

For much of the season, Woods has led the nation in most of the statistical categories for a receiver. He has had outstanding games, including the game against Arizona where he had 255 yards on 14 catches and two touchdowns.

In that three-overtime bonanza against a very talented Stanford team, Woods had nine receptions for 89 yards with a touchdown. Stanford continued to double-cover Woods and bumped him on every play. This was Woods’ most difficult match-up, and he showed how talented he was.  

Woods has the school record for most receptions in a game. He has solid size for a sophomore and will continue to add muscle as his body matures. Robert Woods will be competing against Sammy Watkins as the best receiver in the country next year.

2. Patrick Edwards (Houston)

Houston is the top scoring and passing team in the nation thanks to a great receiver in Patrick Edwards. Edwards is just a yard shy of leading the nation in receiving yards, and he has done so with only 51 receptions—a far cry from the leader Ryan Broyles' 81 receptions.

He also leads the nation in receiving touchdowns (11), and he averages 21 yards per catch, which is also tops in the nation. 

The game against Rice this past week was monstrous, with Edwards going for 318 yards on only seven receptions, and did I mention that he had five touchdowns. Five touchdowns on only seven catches is unheard of.

Edwards is a sixth-year senior after tearing his knee last year. It seems as though he has come back better and faster then ever. He is another one of those small speedy receivers that dominate with acceleration and will continue to do so as Houston is hoping to play for a bowl game.

1. Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma)

In most people's minds, Ryan Broyles isn’t the best receiver in the country, but this season he has been. Broyles has the best hands in the game and is a security blanket for quarterback Landry Jones. 

At 5’10” and 188 lbs, Broyles gets the job done. He had a great game against a top 10-ranked Kansas State team. His 14 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown were dominating. He has 13 or more catches in four games this season and leads the nation at 133.8 receiving yards per game. 

Broyles has been the most consistent receiver in the country and has a shot at breaking the NCAA receiving yards record. The match-up against Oklahoma State and against Justin Blackmon will show the world who is the best receiver in the Big 12 this season.