Skill players, the wide receiver position in particular, are the superstars of college football. Every great offense has to have great receivers. The 2019 LSU squad widely regarded as the greatest team ever fielded had Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at the top. Now, both of those players are among the greatest in the NFL.
As we trudge through the offseason, lists and rankings come out of the woodwork just to help us get through. The NFL is seemingly year-round but college football, as a fan, is a bit more condensed. On3, one of the premier recruiting services, has put out its rankings of the top wide receiver rooms in college football. Unsurprisingly, two of the Big Ten’s best top the list at one and two.
Ohio State and Oregon Top On3’s Top Wide Receiver Rooms
The Buckeyes Best
For a while now, Ohio State has had an incredibly deep wide receiver room. Over the last 10 NFL Drafts, 13 Buckeyes have been selected. Of those 13, 10 were selected in the first three rounds. Despite losing Marvin Harrison, Jr., the Ohio State wide receiver room is set to reload.
At the top, Emeka Egbuka is expected to play his way into the first round of the NFL Draft. Egbuka is well within reach of breaking long-standing records at Ohio State. To this point, he’s amassed 1,857 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 14 yards per reception. Last year, he was hampered by injuries, so he is looking to remind everyone what he’s capable of.
With him, two young, unproven talents have incredibly high expectations. Carnell Tate is a true sophomore who logged 264 yards and a touchdown off of 18 catches. In his little time on the field — only about 292 snaps, most of which in the Cotton Bowl with Harrison opting out — Tate flashed. He looks more polished than expected and is set to take a step as a full-time option.
Jeremiah Smith, on the other hand, has all the hype in the world. He’s an early-enrollee true freshman who has already earned a role with the first-teamers. Coaches could not stop gushing about him during Spring practices and if he plays up to that potential, he could be a serious threat to be a Freshman All-American.
All in all, Ohio State’s wide receivers are going to reload yet again.
Pacific Northwest Newcomers
Over the last few seasons, the Ducks have been on the cusp of breaking through and getting into the College Football Playoff. Last year, they had the opportunity to avenge the loss to Washington but ended up falling short. Oregon’s wide receiver room is poised for a big year, with Dillon Gabriel at quarterback.
If there is a program that’s recruited on par with Ohio State at the position, it’s Oregon. Despite losing Troy Franklin to the NFL, Oregon has top-tier depth. At the top, Tez Johnson will get to replicate a strong 2023 performance. Last year, he ended up with 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns off of 86 catches. Before that, he was one of the better receivers in the Sun Belt at Troy. Johnson led the way with his 86 receptions, so he knows what it takes to be a number-one option.
Among returning wide receivers on the roster, Traeshon Holden is next up. Last year, he added 452 yards and six touchdowns off just 37 catches. The Alabama transfer even added a rushing touchdown in the win over Utah. Alongside him, Gary Bryant, Jr. is next up. His 2023 season ended with 442 yards and four touchdowns off of 30 receptions on the year. Holden and Bryant are set to take up larger roles in the offense in their second year in the system.
Oregon does have some potential star power behind these three, of course. Former five-star receivers Jurrion Dickey and Evan Stewart have been pushing for their own spots in the rotation. Stewart has been touted as a guy who can take the offense over in 2024 after transferring from Texas A&M. Not to mention incoming four-star Jeremiah McClellan who the Ducks flipped from Ohio State on National Signing Day.
B1G Playmakers
The Big Ten has been home to many great receivers over the last few years. With the addition of the four West Coast teams, that will continue. USC just missed the mark on On3’s list, unfortunately. However, the Trojans do boast a future star in Zachariah Branch. As a true freshman, Branch caught 31 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed how dynamic a returner he is with 24 kick returns and 16 punt returns with a touchdown from each.
The other programs are home to some solid wide receiver talent, as well. Indiana has the likes of Elijah Sarratt, a solid receiver who accounted for 1,191 yards and eight scores a year ago. Rutgers’ Dymere Miller transferred in from Monmouth and has high expectations himself. Daniel Jackson (Minnesota), Will Pauling (Wisconsin), and Jeremiah Hunter (Washington) are also names to watch.
