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Let's continue our look at the last decade in college football. Last time we took a look at running backs. In this post, we'll look at wide receivers. To be included in this analysis, you needed to average a minimum of 5 receptions per game. This is a group of 541 receivers over the last ten years. On top of this group, I threw in all Heisman-winning WRs and past Biletnikoff Award winners.
First up, let's take a look at the workhorse group - receivers with the most receptions per game over the last decade. R+ is each receiver's rec/gm divided by the NCAA average over the time period (6.3).
Rank | Player | Season | Rec/Gm | R+ |
1 | Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green | 2009 | 11.9 | 189% |
2 | Jordan White, Western Mich. | 2011 | 10.8 | 171% |
3 | Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech* | 2007 | 10.3 | 164% |
4 | Jordy Nelson, Kansas St. | 2007 | 10.2 | 161% |
5 | Eric Page, Toledo | 2011 | 9.6 | 153% |
6 | Dante Ridgeway, Ball St. | 2004 | 9.5 | 152% |
7 | Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas | 2008 | 9.4 | 149% |
8 | Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma | 2010 | 9.4 | 149% |
9 | Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.* | 2011 | 9.3 | 148% |
10 | Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.* | 2010 | 9.3 | 147% |
10 | Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas | 2007 | 9.3 | 147% |
10 | Robert Woods, Southern California | 2011 | 9.3 | 147% |
13 | Tommy Shuler, Marshall | 2012 | 9.2 | 146% |
14 | Marqise Lee, Southern California* | 2012 | 9.1 | 144% |
15 | Greg Jennings, Western Mich. | 2005 | 8.9 | 141% |
16 | Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers | 2011 | 8.8 | 140% |
17 | Nick Harwell, Miami (OH) | 2011 | 8.8 | 140% |
18 | Stedman Bailey, West Virginia | 2012 | 8.8 | 139% |
18 | Tavon Austin, West Virginia | 2012 | 8.8 | 139% |
20 | Danario Alexander, Missouri | 2009 | 8.7 | 138% |
21 | Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech | 2012 | 8.7 | 138% |
21 | James Cleveland, Houston | 2009 | 8.7 | 138% |
23 | Lance Moore, Toledo | 2003 | 8.6 | 136% |
24 | James Casey, Rice | 2008 | 8.5 | 136% |
25 | Greg Salas, Hawaii | 2010 | 8.5 | 135% |
25 | Kerry Meier, Kansas | 2009 | 8.5 | 135% |
*Biletnikoff Award winning season
NCAA average: 6.3
In 2009, Freddie Barnes collected an FBS-record 155 receptions. On a per-game basis, Barnes got almost twice as many receptions as the average receiver over the past decade. There are some great, great players on this list. In the relatively short history of the Biletnikoff Award (1994), we've had only two multiple winners (Crabtree and Blackmon). Marqise Lee will try to make it three this season.
Next, let's move to yards/catch:
Rank | Player | Season | Yds/Rec | Y+ |
1 | Terry Glenn, Ohio State* | 1995 | 22.0 | 163% |
2 | Tim Brown, Notre Dame** | 1987 | 21.7 | 161% |
3 | Roddy White, UAB | 2004 | 20.5 | 152% |
4 | Charles Rogers, Michigan State* | 2002 | 19.9 | 147% |
5 | Bobby Engram, Penn State* | 1994 | 19.8 | 147% |
6 | Patrick Edwards, Houston | 2011 | 19.7 | 146% |
7 | Troy Walters, Stanford* | 1999 | 19.7 | 146% |
8 | Vincent Brown, San Diego St. | 2010 | 19.6 | 145% |
9 | Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh* | 2000 | 19.1 | 142% |
10 | Greg Lee, Pittsburgh | 2004 | 19.1 | 141% |
11 | Randy Moss, Marshall* | 1997 | 19.0 | 140% |
12 | Terrance Williams, Baylor | 2012 | 18.9 | 140% |
13 | Josh Reed, Louisiana State* | 2001 | 18.5 | 137% |
14 | Robert Meachem, Tennessee | 2006 | 18.3 | 135% |
15 | DeMarco Sampson, San Diego St. | 2010 | 18.2 | 135% |
16 | Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh* | 2003 | 18.2 | 135% |
17 | Gerell Robinson, Arizona St. | 2011 | 18.1 | 134% |
18 | Harry Douglas, Louisville | 2006 | 18.1 | 134% |
19 | Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina | 2008 | 18.0 | 133% |
20 | David Anderson, Colorado St. | 2003 | 18.0 | 133% |
21 | Tim Gilligan, Boise St. | 2003 | 17.8 | 132% |
22 | Stedman Bailey, West Virginia | 2011 | 17.8 | 132% |
23 | Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma St. | 2003 | 17.8 | 132% |
24 | Aldrick Robinson, SMU | 2008 | 17.7 | 131% |
25 | Geoff McArthur, California | 2003 | 17.7 | 131% |
*Biletnikoff Award winning season
**Heisman Trophy winning season
NCAA average: 13.5
The top of this list is a great place to be...here's where the top 5 were drafted: Terry Glenn 7th, Tim Brown 6th, Roddy White 27th, Charles Rogers 2nd, Charles Rogers 52nd.
Now on to points/catch (TDs * 6) / receptions.
Rank | Player | Season | Pts/Catch | P+ |
1 | Desmond Howard, Michigan** | 1991 | 1.84 | 289% |
2 | Randy Moss, Marshall* | 1997 | 1.63 | 255% |
3 | Terry Glenn, Ohio State* | 1995 | 1.59 | 250% |
4 | Lyle Leong, Texas Tech | 2010 | 1.54 | 242% |
5 | Steve Sanders, Bowling Green | 2005 | 1.50 | 235% |
6 | Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh* | 2003 | 1.43 | 225% |
7 | Roydell Williams, Tulane | 2004 | 1.38 | 217% |
7 | Jarett Dillard, Rice | 2006 | 1.38 | 217% |
9 | Jarett Dillard, Rice | 2008 | 1.38 | 217% |
10 | Charles Sharon, Bowling Green | 2004 | 1.36 | 214% |
11 | Patrick Edwards, Houston | 2011 | 1.35 | 212% |
12 | Rhema McKnight, Notre Dame | 2006 | 1.34 | 211% |
13 | DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson | 2012 | 1.32 | 207% |
14 | Stedman Bailey, West Virginia | 2012 | 1.32 | 207% |
15 | Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St. | 2008 | 1.31 | 206% |
16 | Jason Hill, Washington St. | 2005 | 1.26 | 197% |
17 | James Hardy, Indiana | 2007 | 1.22 | 191% |
18 | Sam Hurd, Northern Ill. | 2005 | 1.20 | 188% |
18 | Jeff Moturi, UTEP | 2007 | 1.20 | 188% |
20 | Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech* | 2006 | 1.18 | 186% |
21 | Roddy White, UAB | 2004 | 1.18 | 186% |
22 | James Hardy, Indiana | 2006 | 1.18 | 185% |
23 | Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech* | 2008 | 1.18 | 184% |
24 | Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma St. | 2003 | 1.17 | 183% |
24 | Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame | 2005 | 1.17 | 183% |
*Biletnikoff Award winning season
**Heisman Trophy winning season
NCAA Average: 0.64
In Desmond Howard's Heisman-winning season, he brought in 19 touchdowns in 62 receptions, so 31% of his catches were touchdowns.
Now let's look at the top 100 seasons by a college wide receiver over the last decade (with the historical award winners tossed in for reference).
Notes up top this time so you don't have to scroll like crazy.
Terry Glenn's 1995 season was incredibly efficient. 1,411 yards and 17 TDs on only 64 catches. Randy Moss's 1997 season was equally impressive, but Moss hauled in 96 catches.
Team representation:
4 - Oklahoma State 4 (Rashaun Woods, Bryant, Blackmon, D'Juan Woods)
3 - Pitt, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Washington St., USC, Indiana, Hawaii
Player representation:
3 - James Hardy, Indiana
2 - Randy Moss, Stedman Bailey, Sidney Rice, Roydell Williams, Jarett Dillard, Dwayne Jarrett
Rank | Player | Season | Yds/Rec | Pts/Rec | Rk - Yds | Rk - Pts | Avg |
1 | Terry Glenn, Ohio State* | 1995 | 22.0 | 1.59 | 1 | 3 | 2.0 |
2 | Randy Moss, Marshall* | 1997 | 19.0 | 1.63 | 11 | 2 | 6.5 |
3 | Patrick Edwards, Houston | 2011 | 19.7 | 1.35 | 6 | 11 | 8.5 |
4 | Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh* | 2003 | 18.2 | 1.43 | 16 | 6 | 11.0 |
5 | Roddy White, UAB | 2004 | 20.5 | 1.18 | 3 | 21 | 12.0 |
6 | Charles Rogers, Michigan State* | 2002 | 19.9 | 1.15 | 4 | 27 | 15.5 |
7 | Jason Hill, Washington St. | 2005 | 17.7 | 1.26 | 26 | 16 | 21.0 |
8 | DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson | 2012 | 17.1 | 1.32 | 34 | 13 | 23.5 |
8 | Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma St. | 2003 | 17.8 | 1.17 | 23 | 24 | 23.5 |
10 | Aldrick Robinson, SMU | 2008 | 17.7 | 1.12 | 24 | 28 | 26.0 |
11 | Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St. | 2008 | 17.0 | 1.31 | 40 | 15 | 27.5 |
12 | Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina | 2008 | 18.0 | 1.06 | 19 | 41 | 30.0 |
13 | Mark Clayton, Oklahoma | 2003 | 17.2 | 1.08 | 33 | 34 | 33.5 |
14 | Sam Hurd, Northern Ill. | 2005 | 16.5 | 1.20 | 51 | 18 | 34.5 |
15 | Charles Sharon, Bowling Green | 2004 | 16.2 | 1.36 | 61 | 10 | 35.5 |
16 | Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh* | 2000 | 19.1 | 0.97 | 9 | 64 | 36.5 |
17 | Jarius Wright, Arkansas | 2011 | 16.9 | 1.09 | 42 | 33 | 37.5 |
18 | Stedman Bailey, West Virginia | 2011 | 17.8 | 1.00 | 22 | 54 | 38.0 |
19 | Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame | 2005 | 16.2 | 1.17 | 59 | 24 | 41.5 |
20 | Sidney Rice, South Carolina | 2005 | 16.3 | 1.11 | 55 | 29 | 42.0 |
21 | DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss. | 2008 | 16.7 | 1.07 | 47 | 38 | 42.5 |
22 | Desmond Howard, Michigan** | 1991 | 15.9 | 1.84 | 85 | 1 | 43.0 |
23 | Roydell Williams, Tulane | 2004 | 15.9 | 1.38 | 86 | 7 | 46.5 |
23 | Robert Meachem, Tennessee | 2006 | 18.3 | 0.93 | 14 | 79 | 46.5 |
25 | Leonard Hankerson, Miami (FL) | 2010 | 16.1 | 1.08 | 72 | 35 | 53.5 |
25 | Greg Lee, Pittsburgh | 2004 | 19.1 | 0.88 | 10 | 97 | 53.5 |
27 | Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech* | 2006 | 15.8 | 1.18 | 88 | 20 | 54.0 |
27 | Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska** | 1972 | 17.5 | 0.93 | 30 | 78 | 54.0 |
29 | Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St.* | 2010 | 16.1 | 1.08 | 73 | 36 | 54.5 |
30 | Mario Manningham, Michigan | 2007 | 16.3 | 1.00 | 57 | 54 | 55.5 |
31 | Vincent Brown, San Diego St. | 2010 | 19.6 | 0.87 | 8 | 106 | 57.0 |
32 | Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame | 2005 | 16.7 | 0.96 | 48 | 67 | 57.5 |
33 | Steve Sanders, Bowling Green | 2005 | 15.3 | 1.50 | 116 | 5 | 60.5 |
34 | Torrey Smith, Maryland | 2010 | 15.7 | 1.07 | 92 | 38 | 65.0 |
35 | Trae Johnson, Tulsa | 2007 | 15.5 | 1.11 | 102 | 29 | 65.5 |
36 | Jarett Dillard, Rice | 2008 | 15.1 | 1.38 | 125 | 9 | 67.0 |
36 | Golden Tate, Notre Dame* | 2009 | 16.1 | 0.97 | 69 | 65 | 67.0 |
38 | B.J. Cunningham, Michigan St. | 2011 | 16.5 | 0.91 | 50 | 87 | 68.5 |
39 | Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., UTEP | 2006 | 16.1 | 0.95 | 70 | 68 | 69.0 |
40 | Patrick Edwards, Houston | 2010 | 15.5 | 1.10 | 108 | 32 | 70.0 |
41 | Marquess Wilson, Washington St. | 2011 | 16.9 | 0.88 | 41 | 100 | 70.5 |
42 | Troy Walters, Stanford* | 1999 | 19.7 | 0.81 | 7 | 135 | 71.0 |
43 | Bobby Engram, Penn State* | 1994 | 19.8 | 0.81 | 5 | 138 | 71.5 |
44 | Jeremiah Cockheran, Hawaii | 2003 | 16.3 | 0.89 | 54 | 96 | 75.0 |
45 | Dwayne Bowe, LSU | 2006 | 15.2 | 1.11 | 120 | 31 | 75.5 |
45 | Alex Neutz, Buffalo | 2012 | 15.6 | 1.02 | 101 | 50 | 75.5 |
47 | Jarrett Hicks, Texas Tech | 2004 | 15.5 | 1.03 | 109 | 47 | 78.0 |
48 | Brandon Marshall, UCF | 2005 | 16.1 | 0.89 | 64 | 93 | 78.5 |
49 | Cortez Gent, Fla. Atlantic | 2007 | 16.9 | 0.84 | 44 | 120 | 82.0 |
50 | LaVon Brazill, Ohio | 2011 | 16.0 | 0.92 | 80 | 86 | 83.0 |
51 | Brandon Gibson, Washington St. | 2007 | 17.6 | 0.81 | 27 | 140 | 83.5 |
52 | Marvin McNutt, Iowa | 2011 | 16.0 | 0.88 | 74 | 100 | 87.0 |
53 | Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas | 2008 | 15.3 | 0.98 | 115 | 63 | 89.0 |
53 | Jason Rivers, Hawaii | 2006 | 16.4 | 0.83 | 53 | 125 | 89.0 |
53 | Austin Hill, Arizona | 2012 | 16.8 | 0.81 | 45 | 133 | 89.0 |
56 | Derek Hagan, Arizona St. | 2003 | 16.3 | 0.82 | 58 | 129 | 93.5 |
57 | Marqise Lee, Southern California | 2011 | 15.7 | 0.90 | 98 | 90 | 94.0 |
58 | Kealoha Pilares, Hawaii | 2010 | 14.8 | 1.02 | 141 | 48 | 94.5 |
59 | Hannibal Thomas, Cincinnati | 2004 | 16.1 | 0.84 | 71 | 120 | 95.5 |
60 | David Anderson, Colorado St. | 2003 | 18.0 | 0.75 | 20 | 175 | 97.5 |
61 | Terrance Williams, Baylor | 2012 | 18.9 | 0.74 | 12 | 184 | 98.0 |
62 | James Hardy, Indiana | 2007 | 14.2 | 1.22 | 182 | 17 | 99.5 |
62 | Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M | 2010 | 14.8 | 1.00 | 145 | 54 | 99.5 |
64 | Stedman Bailey, West Virginia | 2012 | 14.2 | 1.32 | 186 | 14 | 100.0 |
65 | D'Juan Woods, Oklahoma St. | 2005 | 15.7 | 0.86 | 95 | 109 | 102.0 |
66 | Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech* | 1998 | 14.3 | 1.16 | 180 | 26 | 103.0 |
66 | Titus Young, Boise St. | 2010 | 17.1 | 0.76 | 35 | 171 | 103.0 |
68 | Dwayne Jarrett, Southern California | 2006 | 14.5 | 1.03 | 165 | 46 | 105.5 |
69 | Eric Deslauriers, Eastern Mich. | 2004 | 15.0 | 0.93 | 132 | 80 | 106.0 |
70 | James Hardy, Indiana | 2006 | 14.2 | 1.18 | 192 | 22 | 107.0 |
71 | Martel Moore, Northern Ill. | 2012 | 14.4 | 1.04 | 171 | 44 | 107.5 |
72 | Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech* | 2007 | 14.6 | 0.99 | 156 | 60 | 108.0 |
72 | Kerry Wright, Middle Tenn. St. | 2003 | 17.5 | 0.74 | 28 | 188 | 108.0 |
74 | James Hardy, Indiana | 2005 | 14.6 | 0.98 | 157 | 62 | 109.5 |
74 | Hank Baskett, New Mexico | 2005 | 16.0 | 0.81 | 79 | 140 | 109.5 |
74 | DeMarco Sampson, San Diego St. | 2010 | 18.2 | 0.72 | 15 | 204 | 109.5 |
77 | Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati | 2008 | 15.8 | 0.81 | 91 | 133 | 112.0 |
78 | Skyler Fulton, Arizona St. | 2003 | 14.5 | 0.97 | 162 | 65 | 113.5 |
79 | Darius Hill, Ball St. | 2007 | 14.2 | 1.02 | 181 | 50 | 115.5 |
80 | Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss | 2012 | 14.8 | 0.91 | 143 | 89 | 116.0 |
81 | Geoff McArthur, California | 2003 | 17.7 | 0.71 | 25 | 209 | 117.0 |
82 | Jarett Dillard, Rice | 2006 | 13.7 | 1.38 | 228 | 7 | 117.5 |
82 | Steve Savoy, Utah | 2004 | 14.3 | 0.99 | 175 | 60 | 117.5 |
84 | Sammy Watkins, Clemson | 2011 | 14.9 | 0.88 | 137 | 100 | 118.5 |
85 | Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma | 2008 | 15.5 | 0.81 | 103 | 135 | 119.0 |
86 | Brandon Banks, Kansas St. | 2008 | 15.7 | 0.81 | 99 | 140 | 119.5 |
87 | Greg Jennings, Western Mich. | 2004 | 14.8 | 0.89 | 147 | 93 | 120.0 |
88 | Jovon Bouknight, Wyoming | 2005 | 14.5 | 0.94 | 167 | 74 | 120.5 |
89 | Austin Franklin, New Mexico St. | 2012 | 16.8 | 0.73 | 46 | 196 | 121.0 |
90 | Jeff Moturi, UTEP | 2007 | 13.7 | 1.20 | 225 | 18 | 121.5 |
91 | Martin Nance, Miami (Ohio) | 2003 | 16.6 | 0.73 | 49 | 195 | 122.0 |
92 | Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech | 2011 | 15.2 | 0.84 | 121 | 124 | 122.5 |
92 | Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee | 2011 | 15.5 | 0.81 | 105 | 140 | 122.5 |
94 | Sidney Rice, South Carolina | 2006 | 15.1 | 0.83 | 122 | 125 | 123.5 |
95 | Dwayne Jarrett, Southern California | 2005 | 14.0 | 1.05 | 206 | 42 | 124.0 |
95 | Derek McCoy, Colorado | 2003 | 14.0 | 1.05 | 205 | 43 | 124.0 |
95 | Maurice Purify, Nebraska | 2007 | 14.3 | 0.95 | 179 | 69 | 124.0 |
95 | Roydell Williams, Tulane | 2003 | 15.2 | 0.82 | 119 | 129 | 124.0 |
99 | Travis LaTendresse, Utah | 2005 | 14.7 | 0.87 | 148 | 104 | 126.0 |
100 | Joel Filani, Texas Tech | 2005 | 16.1 | 0.74 | 67 | 190 | 128.5 |
*Biletnikoff Award winning season
**Heisman Trophy winning season
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