Ranking the State's Receiving Corps

[Brad]

Ranking receivers

We continue our position-by-position rankings at the state schools by looking at receivers. Next week, it'll be the offensive line.

One thing to keep in mind: This ranking incorporates talent level and how comfortable coaches should be entering the season with these guys.

1. Florida: The Gators lost leading receiver O.J. Small, but this season's group -- headed by juniors Andre Caldwell and Chad Jackson -- should put up better numbers as a whole. Sophomore TE Tate Casey should be a nice weapon, too.

2. Miami: Maybe this is the season Ryan Moore, a junior from Dr. Phillips, lives up to his potential. Lance Leggett, Sinorice Moss and Darnell Jenkins also are in the hunt to be new QB Kyle Wright's go-to guy. Sophomore TE Greg Olsen should be a star.

3. Florida State: The leading returning receiver among the wideouts is Willie Reid, who had 15 catches last season. The 'Noles need slithery junior Chris Davis to emerge as a playmaker and for true freshman Fred Rouse to live up to his immense hype. Rouse (6-4/195) has a great size/speed combo and should contribute right away.

4. UCF: Local products Mike Walker (Edgewater) and Brandon Marshall (Lake Howell) hope to hook up with local product Steven Moffett (Winter Park) to give the Knights an attack to be proud of. Depth looks OK. TE Darcy Johnson could become a weapon.

5. USF: The passing attack was abysmal last season, and while most of that can be blamed on bad quarterbacks, the receivers deserve some criticism, too. The Bulls return four of the top five wideouts, but that quartet combined for just 68 catches and five TDs. Johnny Peyton is the guy to watch.

6. FIU: Cory McKinney (DeLand), coming off a 58-catch season, should be one of the most productive players in the Sun Belt Conference. But after you get past the other starter, Chandler Williams, there are huge concerns.

7. FAU: The Owls' projected starting wide receivers combined for 14 catches last season. TE Dantson Dareus is the leading returning receiver.

BEST IN THE NATION: Ohio State has the best duo in Santonio Holmes (Belle Glade Glades Central) and Ted Ginn Jr. The only question: Will Coach Jim Tressel open up his offense to get the ball into the hands of two of the nation's best playmakers? The deepest group of receivers is at USC, edging out Pac-10 foe Arizona State.

ACC: Miami. This is not a league with a bunch of elite receivers, but UM has the best combination of size, speed, experience and big-play ability.

BIG EAST: Louisville. Pittsburgh has the best receiver in the league (Greg Lee, from Tampa Chamberlain), but the Cardinals have the best group, thanks to a trio of seniors: Montrell Jones, Joshua Tinch and Broderick Clark. There's also a nice crop of freshmen.

CONFERENCE USA: UTEP. Fifteen players caught passes for UTEP last season, and 11 return. Of the four who are gone, none was a wide receiver. The top four receivers return; each caught at least 32 passes but no one caught more than 42.

SEC: Tennessee. Florida will have a more productive group, but as a whole, the Vols' receivers are a bit better. LSU also has a nice crew, though you wonder if the Tigers will throw it enough. Tennessee's quintet of Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain, Chris Hannon (Sarasota Riverview), Bret Smith and C.J. Fayton is big (each is at least 6-1, and only Smith weighs less than 195), physical and fast.

SUN BELT: Middle-Tennessee. The Blue Raiders lost the best receiver in the league (Kerry Wright), but there's still good talent, led by Chris Henry, Cleannord Saintil (Naples) and TE Stephen Chicola (Jacksonville Bolles).

BEST GROUP OF RECEIVERS IN OTHER LEAGUES: Ohio State in the Big Ten; Texas A&M in the Big 12; Miami (Ohio) in the Mid-American; San Diego State in the Mountain West; USC in the Pac-10; and Nevada in the Western Athletic.

BEST LEAGUE OVERALL: The Big Ten. The league of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler is loaded with big-play receivers. And a nod should go to the Pac-10 for having the best group of tight ends. A strong case can be made that four of the top five tight ends in the nation are in the Pac-10.

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[Ricky the Bull]

Regardless of what he says, I think the production numbers are mostly due to the QB not putting the ball in their hands rather than drops.  It'll be interesting to see how he ranks us next year, with the same basic corps, if we get good QB performance.

[CoolBull1]

No way UCF has better receivers than us...Mike Walker is talented but he's certainly not any better than Peyton.   Depth doesn't put them over us either.

[FreaKnight]

No way UCF has better receivers than us...Mike Walker is talented but he's certainly not any better than Peyton.   Depth doesn't put them over us either.

There is no question that Peyton and Walker are our team's most talented respective WR.  As far as who is better, time will tell.  Statistically they are fairly even.

After those two, I think it's fairly even, with a sllght nod to USF for overall experience and overall athleticism with the new corps brought in after the end of the 2004 season.

UCF has the clear edge at TE due to Darcy Johnson.  USF's Cedric Hill is a talent but with no experience.

Both teams have good talent at WR.

[E.T.]

Can't argue with it, but agree that our WR potential is much better than ucf.

Go BULLS !!!

[Guest S.  Bien]

Let me get this straight.  We return 68 catches, and our top 4 out of 5 WR's including our top 2....

Forget it, doesn't really matter anyway.

[DawgPound]

The Slantinel is anything but credible when it comes to anything outside of the Big 3.

[Knight_Light]

Let me get this straight.  We return 68 catches, and our top 4 out of 5 WR's including our top 2....

Forget it, doesn't really matter anyway.

I thought your returning stats were 68 catches and 73 drops (did UCF even throw the ball 73 times last year?).

Just like any rankings (well, heck, anyone, including this guy, can use his "own" system for ranking), maybe stats can help, maybe not.

I think after you get past the Top 3....you could throw the rest in a blender...and it wouldn't really matter very much.

KL

[Bullpride08]

a positive for USF is the major culprit of the dropsie's last year was Bain who sadly retired early due to nagging injuries- and maybe a shade of humility- as many of the younger players blew past him.

The dropped passes for USF were overblown, there were not much more than any normal team has in a given game.  However, since our QB had trouble getting them the ball those drops became more amplified, and significant.

[DawgPound]

The main key is getting a QB on the field who can make those passes.  Hall can't carry the whole offense on his shoulders and if Peyton is going to shine, he needs the ball.