Editor’s Note: This is the next in our ongoing series, looking at “The Best Returning” in the Big XII:
The Big 12 is a conference that college football fans associate with great offense. The 2024 season will not be any different with the playmaking talent in the league. The quarterback position could be the very best in the country. Those signal callers cannot throw the football to themselves though. We continue looking at the top players in college football by looking at the best returning Big 12 receivers.
Best Returning Big 12 Receivers
4. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
We look to Ames, Iowa to start the list of best returning Big 12 receivers. The Cyclones had a bounce-back season in 2023 with a 7-6 record after a disappointing 4-8 mark in 2022. A big factor in that turnaround was the play of receiver Jayden Higgins. He led the team with 983 yards and showed big play ability averaging 18.5 yards per catch. Higgins was second on the team with six receiving touchdowns. 2023 was his first season with Iowa State after transferring from Eastern Kentucky. Higgins had his best performance against the Memphis Tigers in the Liberty Bowl. He caught nine passes for 214 yards in one touchdown in the 36-26 loss.
3. Kobe Hudson, UCF
Kobe Hudson has made great strides in his college career. He struggled in his first two collegiate seasons at Auburn in 2020 and 2021. When Hudson reunited with Gus Malzahn, he found his footing as a reliable receiver. Last season, he was sixth in the Big 12 with 900 yards receiving. Hudson caught 44 passes and eight touchdowns. He was also a big play threat averaging 20.5 yards per catch. That was an improvement from 2022 when his average was 16.4 yards. He had three games over 100 yards, but perhaps his best performance came in a 45-3 win over Oklahoma State. Hudson had just three catches for 96 yards, but also three touchdowns. With the departure of Javon Baker, Hudson could be looked to be the number one option on offense along with new quarterback KJ Jefferson.
2. Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Brennan Presley returns to the Oklahoma State Cowboys as the Big 12’s leader in catches with 101 last season. The previous receivers mentioned in the list were big-play threats with a high average per catch. Presley averaged just under 10 yards per reception but was third in the conference with 991 yards. He closed out the 2023 season with a big performance against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl. Presley caught a season-high 16 passes for 152 yards. His season-high in yardage occurred on November 18th against Houston with 189 yards on 15 receptions. The Cowboys should be one of the favorites in the new Big 12, and Presley will be a huge factor.
1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
The top pass-catcher of the best returning Big 12 receivers is new to the conference but not to his team. Tetairoa McMillian finished second in the Pac-12 last season behind Rome Odunze with 1,402 yards. McMillan was tied with his teammate Jacob Cowing for second with 90 catches. Cowing is now a member of the San Francisco 49ers. He also found the endzone 10 times and should look to increase that number this season. McMillan almost doubled his production from 2022 of 702 yards. His best game of 2023 came against arch-rival Arizona State. In the 59-23 win, McMillan caught 11 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown. In the Alamo Bowl against a former Big 12 member, he caught 10 passes for 160 yards. McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita will give the Wildcats one of the best duos in the conference and the country.
