Do you smell it? I smell it. All of it. It being college football of course. We’re back… almost back. With the anticipation of the season gnawing away at each and every one of us, rankings and lists make a furious charge back into our daily lives. I’m sorry, or you’re welcome. I’m not sure how you responded to this news. As per usual, I wanted to do something different for my lists so I’ll be doing a bunch of articles where I share my top five players at a position and share some of yours as well. Because well, you tweeted them at me after I asked. Thank you for that. Let’s see how unique some lists are, how chalky others are, and who is predicting success or banking off previous production. Let’s go. Let’s have some fun.
Liam Blutman’s Top 5 Wide Receivers in College Football
- Marvin Harrison Jr. – Ohio State
- Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
- Rome Odunze – Washington
- Antwane Wells Jr. – South Carolina
- Malachi Corley – Western Kentucky
First things first, if Marvin Harrison Jr. is not No. 1 on your list, it’s invalid. I’m sorry, but you and I both know this is only fair. And yeah, I did use my Biletnikoff voting powers to crown him the king last year but my fellow voters didn’t share that same vision. It happens. He does everything so well from being perfect at the point of the catch to contorting his body in obscene ways… WR1. I feel strongly about his teammate Emeka Egbuka. He’s smooth and savvy, a creative route-runner that shines with fantastic footwork, and boasts prolific change of direction.
This is an easy 1-2, and I think it’s a pretty easy choice of Rome Odunze for the third spot too. Odunze is going to put up great numbers in a pass happy aerial attack with Michael Penix Jr. slinging him the rock in all facets of the passing game. Rome is a complete three-level receiver; he wins in a variety of ways and is dripping with enticing traits. A few that come to mind are how smooth he is, playing with great physicality, immaculate ball skills, and outstanding body control. The fourth spot is where things got tough, so tough in fact that I switched up my list. A special thank you to Kyron Samuels for helping me get back on the right path with Antwane Wells Jr. I’ve been extremely high on Juice since he was carving at James Madison in 2021, and he’s always been a certified NFL talent in my opinion. He has a great chance to prove that this fall as he’ll be the main subject in the Gamecocks’ offense and will demand the ball yet again. His lack of targets in 2022 puzzled me. Going into the year I really thought he could compete for 100 catches. It’s crucial for the Gamecocks to feed Wells because whenever the ball is in his hands, good things happen. He’s an aggressive receiver that wins downfield with big-time ball skills and hops. But don’t sleep on him in the short passing game as he showcases lethal YAC ability thanks to sharp instincts and ridiculous strength.
Speaking of YAC, the YAC King is No. 5 on my list, and I’m so proud to say that we at The Transfer Portal CFB slotted him in as a Second Team All-American! Malachi Corley is quickly gaining plenty of fans thanks to some NFL draft hype during the offseason. He’s so deserving of that hype and plenty more as he brings a unique skillset to the table. Corley gives off the vibes of a running back; when the ball is in his hands, he looks like an exceptional back looking to will himself into the end zone, whether he’s in the red zone or at midfield. He plays with a ton of determination, zero fear, breathtaking burst, and quick and violent cuts. When the ball is in Corley’s hands, good things happen and you’ll see that this fall in a potent WKU offense as the YAC King shows off what he’s best at in addition to creating separation and finishing with great ball skills and phenomenal athleticism.
Your Top 5 Wide Receivers in College Football
Look at Kyron Samuels man… so inspirational. Juice Wells fans stand up.
Dorian Singer is going to put up some ludicrous numbers with Caleb Williams, eh?
A fellow Malachi Corley truther has entered the building.
I really liked watching Tez Johnson at Troy and am stoked to see him cook with someone he’s very familiar with in Bo Nix! However, the third-best receiver in the nation might be a little too high, but as always I respect the take!
People are going to be very upset at you for having the Huskies duo above the Buckeyes duo. Banking on the Isaiah Bond breakout campaign is sick. I like going for the breakout prediction.
College football fans LOVE Johnny Wilson. Here’s the problem… I think you all think he’s a whole lot better than he actually is. *Ducks*
I am being very cautious when it comes to Xavier Worthy this fall. It’s the biggest season of his life and he needs to lock in. If he leaves the bad in 2022, he obviously should be one of the better wideouts in our sport.
Yeah so, Malik Nabers is who I left off my list in favor of Juice Wells. I love Nabers and was surprised to see so little love for him from tweeters. He’s suited well for the NFL and I think he will be talked about as a first-round pick plenty.
Love that you showcase a blocking receiver. I also see a lot of Longhorns representation here but still showing an Aggie love with Evan Stewart. Respect. I’ve been tweeted a ton of lists involving AD Mitchell. High praise.
Karan knows ball. Invest in Troy Franklin folks, and you’ll be glad you did.
Keon Coleman moments. Wow. You’re a rich man if he’s a top three receiver in our sport this season.
It’s hilarious that Travis Hunter Jr. would be the most fun receiver to watch if he played it full time. What a wild talent that kid is.
About the author
I am a diehard UCLA fan that has enjoyed (?) mediocrity year after year. My favorite CFB moment was witnessing UCLA comeback from 34 down against Texas A&M. Being at the Rose Bowl for that historic moment is something I’ll never forget. I have written about CFB since I was 14 and my favorite thing to do is give under-the-radar athletes the recognition they deserve. You might know me from @NoContextCFB !
