The B1G was one of the top conferences last season due to their explosive offenses. At the front of those explosive offenses were some of the best wide receivers in College Football. The B1G had seven total wide receivers drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, as three of them went into the first round. Ohio State wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson were some of the best pass-catchers in the nation last season. This 2022 season, several more elite caliber wide receivers are set to take to their offenses to huge performances. These wide receivers had huge games last year, but they will be the face of the B1G going forward. Here are the top three returning wide receivers for the B1G this 2022 College Football Season.
B1G’s Best Returning Wide Receivers
3. Parker Washington (Penn State)
Like his former teammate Jahan Doston, Parker Washington is a dynamic and efficient route-runner at slot receiver. What makes him different is his durability and his toughness. He can take hits and push for more yards after first contact for a smaller receiver. He also doesn’t give up on a route as he will look for ways to get open due to his elusiveness. Washington caught 64 receptions (sixth in the B1G) for 820 yards (ninth in the B1G) and four touchdowns as a sophomore. He caught 36 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns in the season before. He will go into the 2022 season as one of the main leaders of a Nittany Lions’ offense that looks to get into the College Football Playoffs for the first time in program history.
2. Jayden Reed (Michigan State)
The Spartans had a huge breakout year thanks to their offense being one of the dynamic offenses in the B1G. They will be returning two of their star offensive players in quarterback Payton Thorne and Jayden Reed. In his junior season in 2021, Reed caught 59 receptions for 1,026 yards and ten touchdowns. The explosive pass-catcher has caught 148 receptions for 2,230 yards and 21 touchdowns, including his true freshman 2018 season with Western Michigan. Reed is a strong candidate to be another B1G wide receiver selected high in the NFL Draft. His reliability as a catcher, explosive runner after the catch, and breakout speed while vertical routes make him one of the most difficult receivers in College Football to track down. He was named to Athlon Sports’ B1G First-Team All-Conference for the upcoming season.
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)
While all eyes were on Wilson and Olave for the Buckeyes, another wideout was having a tremendous breakout season. After catching ten receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown as a freshman in 2020, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had one of the best performances in the 2021 season. Smith-Njigba caught 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the B1G in receptions and receiving yards last season. Smith-Njigba played a significant amount of time as a slot receiver, but many distinctive routes. He can cause separation at the line of scrimmage, separate himself from the defensive backs with the flip of his hips, beat coverage defenders with speed, and contend for the catch. He is the jack of all trades when it comes to winning matchups against the coverage defenders, making him one of the most reliable receivers in College Football.
