Some of the top pass catchers in college football and in the NFL hail from the Big Ten. With the loss of guys like leading receivers, Charlie Jones (Purdue), Ronnie Bell (Michigan), Keon Coleman (Michigan State transfer to Florida State), and all three of last year’s best Big Ten wide receivers, there are big shoes to fill. We have already looked at the running backs and quarterbacks. Wide receivers are next in our series of the best players returning to the Big Ten for 2023.
In today’s game, the wide receiver position is integral to a team’s ability to get going. Last year, four receivers eclipsed 1,000 yards and two of them have since moved on. There are a few players who will look to take a step forward in 2023 and lead their team to the promised land (Indianapolis, Indiana).
The Best of the Big Ten Wide Receivers Returning This Season
Honorable Mentions: Dante Cephus (Penn State transfer from Kent State), Daniel Johnson (Minnesota), Julian Fleming (Ohio State), Tyrese Chambers (Maryland transfer from Florida International)
5. Jeshaun Jones, Maryland
The leading receiver from last year’s Maryland offense that averaged over 400 yards per game is back yet again. Jeshaun Jones is as gritty as any in the conference and was a key piece of Maryland’s offense. Coach Mike Locksley made it known that his first priority as soon as the final whistle sounded on the 2022 season was to get Jones back.
After taking off as a freshman in 2018 with five touchdowns, Jones battled injuries throughout his career. He saw his 2019 and 2021 seasons end via torn ACLs. The former was in the preseason, so he missed the entire 2019 season.
In 2022, Jones topped all Terps in receptions (44), yards (557), and touchdowns (four). If you believe in momentum in sports, Jones is due for a massive 2023. In his final two games (vs Rutgers and NC State in the bowl game), Jones accounted for 231 yards and a score off of just 13 receptions. The sixth-year receiver will be an integral part of Maryland’s offense,
4. Cam Camper, Indiana
One of the best newcomers to the conference last year, former JUCO star Cam Camper made a name for himself with Indiana. In his first game on campus, Camper went off for 156 yards off of 11 receptions. That mark is the best in Indiana history for a debut.
In total, Camper amassed 569 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Despite playing in just seven games, Camper led the team in receiving and is slated for a big year with the Hoosiers in 2023. In that seventh game against Rutgers, Camper suffered a season-ended ACL injury.
Despite only playing in seven games, Camper has already notched his name in Hoosier history. With his two 100+ yard performances, Camper is one of eight receivers in Indiana history to have multiple 100-yard days. With a full offseason of healing and getting better acquainted with the offense, Camper is set to lead the way yet again. He could very well end up as of the top Big Ten wide receivers at the season’s end.
3. Isaiah Williams, Illinois
Perhaps the best quarterback-to-receiver player in the nation, Isaiah Williams – not to be confused with the Illini legend, Isiah “Juice” Williams – looks to be the third-best of the Big Ten wide receivers this Fall. After spending his first two seasons on campus as a quarterback, Williams made the switch to wide receiver and has been the top target for the Illinois offense in each of the last two years.
In his first year as a receiver, Williams led the Illini with 525 yards and four touchdowns off of four receptions. He also added 61 yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Considering he averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 2020 at quarterback, it’s no surprise they can utilize his legs in designed runs.
Last year, his development took a step forward and he led the way with 715 yards and five touchdowns. He will look to continue his ways and finally eclipse 1,000 yards. If he can go over 100 yards more than three times in a season, it will happen. He’s taken over as a leader for the squad ever since making the switch. With the loss of running back Chase Brown to the NFL, Williams will likely be asked to do more for an offense that finished right in the middle of the conference in 2022.
2. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
The second head in that two-headed behemoth that lives in Columbus is Emeka Egbuka. As the Buckeyes’ number-two receiver, Egbuka has made a career of taking advantage of the attention paid to his peers. Is he a product of his environment and does he just thrive because of his team? Absolutely not, Egbuka would be an elite playmaker for just about any program in the nation.
As the second receiver in Ohio State’s offense, Egbuka amassed 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns off of 74 receptions. On six separate occasions, Egbuka tallied at least 100 yards.
In addition to being the second-best of the Big Ten wide receivers, Egbuka is widely regarded as the second-best receiver in all of college football. He’s a versatile weapon who can line up outside or in the slot. One of his best traits is his acceleration. Egbuka can hit top speed (which some postulate to be 4.30 speed) quickly.
Should Ohio State choose to utilize him further – which, admittedly, is unlikely now – Egbuka can return kicks. As a true freshman, Egbuka returned 20 kicks for 580 yards.
1. Marvin Harrison, Jr. Ohio State
Last year, Marvin Harrison Jr. was supposed to be a solid number-two to Jaxon Smith-Njigba after the pair exceeded expectations in the Rose Bowl. It did not go quite to plan because Smith-Njigba suffered an injury in the opening game against Notre Dame and was never fully healthy. Harrison Jr. was going to be a star, he just had to step up sooner than expected.
And step up he did.
He ended the season with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns off of 77 receptions. On seven occasions, Harrison logged more than 100 yards in a single game. That’s even more impressive considering he only hit double-digit receptions once.
Harrison is far and away the best returning Big Ten wide receiver. He’s been lauded by NFL Draft experts as a generational talent with shades of Ja’Marr Chase. A few have even gone so far as to say that he would have been the first receiver selected in the 2023 draft with just one full year under his belt.
Ohio State was on its way to a win over Georgia in the CFP Semi-Final before Harrison was knocked out of the game due to a helmet-to-helmet hit in the back of the endzone. Considering that before that hit, Harrison had already accounted for 106 yards and two scores off of just five receptions.
Harrison has been racking up pre-season All-Big Ten and All-American honors. The hype has never been higher for a Buckeye receiver and for good reason.
Photo courtesy: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
