Best wide receivers in college football

[Clayton80future]

There's so many great receivers in college that I can't even make up a list of the best ones.

The most talented receivers in the nation by class, I would say:

Seniors

1. Eric Decker, MIN
2. Brandon LaFell, LSU
3. Marty Gilyard, CIN
4. Mike Williams, SYR
5a. Jordan Shipley, TEX
5b. Damian Williams, USC

Juniors

1. Dez Bryant, OSU
2. Dezmon Briscoe, KU
3. Demaryius Thomas, GT
4. Arrelious Benn, UI
5. Golden Tate, ND

Sophomores

1. A.J. Green, UG
2. Julio Jones, UA
3. DeVier Posey, OhSU
4. Randall Cobb, KU
5. Michael Floyd, ND

Freshman

1. Alshon Jeffery, USC
2-5 ???????


I see some being really great pro prospects someday, like Bryant, Green, or Julio. I'd like to know your thoughts, because I feel lost when determining which receivers in college are the most talented and best for the pro game.

[h-town baller]

I saw Thomas from GT make that catch against FSU. Wow!

[NoAlibi]

Mike Williams is the best in the nation....too bad his QB is a Duke PG who can't read a defense to save his life.

[ArmchairBuc]

When Michael Floyd is healthy he is easily one of the top in the nation, the kid is just constantly making plays.

[White Tiger]

Golden Tate!

He's far from the finished product, he still needs to work on the "little things", but if he keeps working and progressing......WOW!?!

[jbucs13]

There is a tall freshy from PSU that is pretty good. HIs name has escaped me.

[Clayton80future]

There is a tall freshy from PSU that is pretty good. HIs name has escaped me.

They had a top recruit in the 2009 class named Justin Brown. He's 6-3 205 lbs. Is he the one? He doesn't have a catch this season so I imagine he's redshirted.

I wouldn't know how to judge the freshmen.

[KG21MVP]

Green, Jones, Bryant and Shipley all stand out to me. I'd love to have any of them. Shipley may even fall down to the 3rd round or so.

[BarbarianBuc]

Do you really think Eric Decker is the number one senior? I had him as my sleeper kinda (in the other thread). Maybe not. I didn't know if he was that high up.

[Clayton80future]

Do you really think Eric Decker is the number one senior? I had him as my sleeper kinda (in the other thread). Maybe not. I didn't know if he was that high up.

In my opinion, I would take him over any of the other seniors that I've watched. Decker has it all, even good speed, although he is better suited as a possession-intermediate route receiver to me. He always comes down with the ball, because he's big, has great hands, awareness, and instincts. He will instantly make an impact for a team, because he's already polished as a route runner.

I haven't seen Mike Williams play from Syracuse, though I hear awesome reports about him. Gilyard is a big playmaker, but not the physical receiver I like about Decker. I would take Decker over any of them, scratch Williams because I want to see him play.

[jbucs13]

When is the earliest possibility of the Bucs picking a WR. I doubt it is in the first.

[h-town baller]

When is the earliest possibility of the Bucs picking a WR. I doubt it is in the first.

i could see them taking a first. If they are in that 8-12 range and both Bryant and Clayton are gone; but they would have to have a 6-10 record right around there.

[razorboy]

Mike Williams is the best in the nation....too bad his QB is a Duke PG who can't read a defense to save his life.

Agreed. I still think he'll end up this best pro WR out of this draft.

[razorboy]

Oh, and Mardy Gilyard is a slower Crabtree without anywhere near the hands Crabtree has. The system has absolutely made the man in Gilyard's case.

[Jakopo]

did you guys see the numbers that guy from Bowling Green is putting up - Freddie Barnes

Thru 6 games he has 75 catches (12.5 per game) and 722 yards (120 per game).



Last game vs. Kent he had 22 catches for 278 yards.

He has games of

22, 17, 15, 10, 7 and 4.


Not saying he is a pro prospect, in fact, I've never seen him play, but just sharing something I just read.

[Clayton80future]

did you guys see the numbers that guy from Bowling Green is putting up - Freddie Barnes

Thru 6 games he has 75 catches (12.5 per game) and 722 yards (120 per game).



Last game vs. Kent he had 22 catches for 278 yards.

He has games of

22, 17, 15, 10, 7 and 4.


Not saying he is a pro prospect, in fact, I've never seen him play, but just sharing something I just read.

Truly amazing number of catches. Jordan Shipley is second in the nation with 47 receptions, a full 28 receptions behind Barnes!

I know players like Troy Edwards were big-time studs in college ball and didn't turn out well, but Barnes needs some attention. Thanks for pointing him out.

[uscbucsfan]

I love Jeffery, but he's only really played in 1 game. Uzoma Nwachukwu out of Texas A&M has had a better year thus far. I'm sure others have as well.

[BlackHawk]

Mike Williams is the best in the nation....too bad his QB is a Duke PG who can't read a defense to save his life.

While I agree Paulus has no place playing QB, calling Mike Williams the best is a bit of a stretch. As a Syracuse guy I'd love to say he's the best, but he drops way too many easy balls. He reminds me of Braylon Edwards when he was at Michigan. He'll make the flashy big plays, but when you need a guy to find the sticks and make a catch in traffic...he's not it. He's killed multiple drives because a ball hit him in the chest (which is rare when Paulus throws it) and he looked upfield too early and dropped it.

He has strong hands, good speed, catches with his hands and not his chest (sometimes), and runs solid routes. He'll be a solid pro, but he won't be the best in this draft.

[Nina27Bucs]

Who has the best hands in the draft this year? We just need a guy who will catch the football when it's thrown to him on 3rd down. I'm tired of seeing a perfect pass dropped to end a drive.

Who could we get in a later round that can catch? It's obvious that we will be going defense in the first few rounds so our best bet of taking a WR is 4th-7th rounds, maybe 3rd.

[jbucs13]

did you guys see the numbers that guy from Bowling Green is putting up - Freddie Barnes

Thru 6 games he has 75 catches (12.5 per game) and 722 yards (120 per game).



Last game vs. Kent he had 22 catches for 278 yards.

He has games of

22, 17, 15, 10, 7 and 4.


Not saying he is a pro prospect, in fact, I've never seen him play, but just sharing something I just read.


WOW! 22 in a game:eek:

[BucsLJohnson34]

Homer pick, Chazz Powell has the talent to be one of the best receivers in the nation. He's got the Quickness, and the hands. He showed it against Iowa too.

[acooke2]

Floyd the 5th ranked sophomore?!? He's a top 5 receiver overall in my opinion.

I'll admit I'm biased, I attend Notre Dame right now, it's tough missing every bucs game while being away from home, but the kid's hands and body control and can hop out of the stadium.

A.J. Green is the only sophomore I think that has him, I really believe he is better than Julio

[DAFIF]

I'll go on record as wanting Ben from Illinois.

Bad year for the team but the guy is a beast.

[Jakopo]

Floyd the 5th ranked sophomore?!? He's a top 5 receiver overall in my opinion.

I'll admit I'm biased, I attend Notre Dame right now, it's tough missing every bucs game while being away from home, but the kid's hands and body control and can hop out of the stadium.

A.J. Green is the only sophomore I think that has him, I really believe he is better than Julio


i loathe fat *** Weiss and ND since he took over, but I will agree with you there.

for sophomores i think it is easily

green
floyd

then a fairly substantial gap to jones & posey (in fact, i think posey is better than jones)

[Jmiller21]

Forgot Danario Alexander

[BUCSFANDAN09]

I'll go on record as wanting Ben from Illinois.

Bad year for the team but the guy is a beast.

I second this. I can see him dropping to the top of the second round where we can snag him. That way we can go DT or DE with our first pick.

[nensey_zy]

While I agree Paulus has no place playing QB, calling Mike Williams the best is a bit of a stretch. As a Syracuse guy I'd love to say he's the best, but he drops way too many easy balls. He reminds me of Braylon Edwards when he was at Michigan. He'll make the flashy big plays, but when you need a guy to find the sticks and make a catch in traffic...he's not it. He's killed multiple drives because a ball hit him in the chest (which is rare when Paulus throws it) and he looked upfield too early and dropped it.

He has strong hands, good speed, catches with his hands and not his chest (sometimes), and runs solid routes. He'll be a solid pro, but he won't be the best in this draft.

I'd actually disagree.
He consistently got open in traffic last week, and USF is no slouch of a secondary. Williams was the only thing that kept the Orange in the game. Period.

[NoAlibi]

Who has the best hands in the draft this year? We just need a guy who will catch the football when it's thrown to him on 3rd down. I'm tired of seeing a perfect pass dropped to end a drive.

Who could we get in a later round that can catch? It's obvious that we will be going defense in the first few rounds so our best bet of taking a WR is 4th-7th rounds, maybe 3rd.

Eric Decker.

[BlackHawk]

I'd actually disagree.
He consistently got open in traffic last week, and USF is no slouch of a secondary. Williams was the only thing that kept the Orange in the game. Period.

Is that the only SU game you've watched this season? He had a good game no doubt, but he's not the best in the nation. He has killed almost as many drives as he's saved in his career. Depending on who comes out early, he's looking at a late first round pick, possibly early 2nd.

[terencej11]

DeZZZZ Bryant, in my opinion the best WR in college. Really reminds me of Andre Johnson & Fitz, not great speed but can makes spectacular catches. Would be perfect for Freeman downfield(still not sure about AB).

[NoAlibi]

DeZZZZ Bryant, in my opinion the best WR in college. Really reminds me of Andre Johnson & Fitz, not great speed but can makes spectacular catches. Would be perfect for Freeman downfield(still not sure about AB).

Andre Johnson has really great speed.

Dez Bryant = terrell owens.

[h-town baller]

Andre Johnson has really great speed.

Dez Bryant = terrell owens.

dez reminds me of bowe

[Jakopo]

dez reminds me of bowe

i don't know why but whenever I see the last name bowe, i think of the old fighter riddick bowe...i never immediately think of the receiver.



anyway, i'm still unsold on just how good bryant is. he will have the same question marks that all receivers who operate out of the spread have -- can he get separation when there are only two receivers on the field in a pro set?

i've probably watched about 2 or 3 OSU games with him playing and have always been impressed with him -- but the WR position, other than hands, is so difficult to assess on TV.

[DemonBuc]

Naaman Roosevelt, WR from Buffalo, should not be left off of any list of the best WRs. One of the most underrated and prolific WRs in the nation, Roosevelt had 1400 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air last year, and already has 600 yards and 4 touchdowns this year.

He doesn't have elite top end speed, but he has outstanding hands, elite acceleration, and crisp route running ability. The guy is absolutely deadly on screens and slant routes. One of the best run-after-catch receivers I have ever seen.

He's a top 10 WR and probably top 5 senior WR. But because he went to a small school and doesn't have elite size or speed, he'll drop a little in the draft.

He'll be a steal in the 3rd-4th round and has the potential to be a major impact player on sundays.

[Nina27Bucs]

Eric Decker.

Yes!! I would love to get him. I saw 1 of his games and was very impressed. It was obvious that he was the QB's favorite target and the defense still couldn't keep him covered... and he caught everthing.