Sometimes, it’s simply better to receive than to give. That’s certainly the case for the wideouts on this here list, who are all set to take to the field in this renewed season of college football.
And unlike our list of top quarterbacks found here, the top three players on this countdown come from teams that are far from being elite squads aiming for a national title. Continue reading to find out who these outstanding game-breakers are as they look to vault their respective teams to new heights.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Top 10 Wide Receivers in the NCAA 2015-16 Season
10. D’haquille Williams (Auburn)
The Auburn Tigers cannot let a talent such as D’haquille “Duke” Williams go unused. In spite of missing three of the last four games plus a Bowl game suspension last season, Williams still managed to finish third in the SEC with his 730 receiving yards.
Now with a much better quarterback in Jeremy Johnson set to take the snaps for the Tigers, expect the 6’2”, 224-pound Williams to impose his will downfield even more this 2015.
9. Leonte Carroo (Rutgers)
[sc:NCAA240banner ]It’s no secret that Leonte Carroo was the most essential player in Rutgers’ offense last year. He finished second in the Big Ten with his 1,086 yards, and his whopping 19.8 yards per reception makes his production from last season even more impressive.
However, Carroo will enter 2015 without his quarterback Gary Nova and offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen to back him up. Still, he possesses the natural abilities necessary to be the focal point of Scarlet Knights’ offense, regardless of who’ll be the one throwing the ball in his direction.
8. William Fuller (Notre Dame)
From out of nowhere, Notre Dame’s William Fuller went from being a six-reception freshman to a full-on stud of a sophomore in 2014. Fuller’s output exponentially rose to the tune of 76 receptions for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Now that the Fighting Irish have Malik Zaire as the team’s extremely mobile quarterback literally running things on the ground, expect Fuller to be the downfield threat that will make the opposing defenses pay if they continue to affix their attention to the agile QB instead. Both Fuller and Zaire are the key components of the Fighting Irish in hopes of defying the +2,000 odds against them in winning the national title.
7. Keevan Lucas (Tulsa)
Keevan Lucas flies under the radar simply because the Golden Hurricane are far from being solid title contenders. As the bright spot in Tulsa’s otherwise subpar offense, Lucas grabbed a staggering 101 catches for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
The good news for Lucas is that he’ll have the pleasure of working with new head coach Philip Montgomery, who was the offensive coordinator of Baylor’s prolific offense of seasons past. As such, the versatile wideout should be in line for another monstrous season.
6. Nelson Spruce (Colorado)
For all of Colorado’s shortcomings, there’s nothing short about Nelson Spruce’s game whatsoever. Spruce, hands down, is the most consistent player on the Buffaloes roster. He had 106 catches for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Now in his senior year, Spruce should be in line for another stellar performance as he continues to boost his value for the upcoming NFL draft.
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5. De’Runnya Wilson (Mississippi State)
Yes, we know, Dak Prescott is the heart and soul of this Mississippi State team. But where would Prescott be without De’Runnya Wilson?
Wilson’s stats are rather mundane: 47 receptions and just 680 yards to be exact. However, nine of those 47 catches were touchdowns. Furthermore, 70 percent of Wilson’s catches from last year saw him convert a first down or reach the end zone, making him the best option that Prescott can lean on this 2015.
4. Josh Doctson (TCU)
Another receiver who benefited from having a standout quarterback and offensive system is Josh Doctson.
Thanks to TCU’s transition of going with the Air Raid offense, and with Trevone Boykin’s emergence as one of the best QBs in the nation, Doctson finished last season with 65 receptions for 1,018 yards and 11 scores. Boykin’s not going anywhere, so expect Doctson to lead the Horned Frogs’ aerial corps once more.
3. Pharoh Cooper (South Carolina)
Can the Gamecocks, who are currently priced at +3,500, win their first ever conference title in the SEC? With wide receiver Pharoh Cooper’s wide skill set, this could very well be South Carolina’s year.
Cooper did most of his damage through the air last season with his 69 catches for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns. But he also excelled in the backfield considering that he’s a natural wideout, rushing for 200 yards and a pair of TDs in just 27 carries. His one-two punch on offense will be such a thrill to witness come opening kickoff as he attempts to break his team’s state of mediocrity.
2. Rashard Higgins (Colorado State)
Perhaps the most prolific receiver on this list, Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins’ stat line from last season speaks for itself. 96 receptions, 1,750 receiving yards and an unbelievable 17 touchdowns should be enough for you to drool over.
However, what hindered him from topping our list is that the Rams have a new head coach and starting quarterback and running backs entering this new season. While the thought of him regressing is not far-fetched, Higgins can still hold his own as a terrific playmaker in the open field. He racked up almost 1,000 yards after receptions in 2014.
1. Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh)
Given that the Pittsburgh Panthers are a run-heavy team (they ranked 16th-overall in the nation in rushing), Tyler Boyd should not be posting the solid numbers that he’s putting up at all.
In spite of Pitt attempting an average of just 23 passes per game, Boyd managed to put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the past two years. He even had 78 catches for eight receiving touchdowns in 2014, while no other Panthers receiver had more than 21 receptions then. With that said, it’s clear that Boyd is the team’s best weapon downfield should defenses somehow put Pittsburgh’s ground attack to a halt.
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