2021 Wide Recievers

A lot of potential in the Class of '21 WR's. Always like to do this Early Summer Pre-view ahead of the CFB write up's.

Eligibility is confusing because of COVID. Think extra year is allowed

Alec Pierce (Sr.) 6'-3" 213 Cincinnati.....
NFL potential ; Finished strong in COVID shortened season(5 -146 & TD in AAC Conf. Championship! ; battled nagging knee injury ; with a legit QB is an easy NFL Draft choice.
Cant post this one hand catch gif.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1340472527135649798
Highlights of last season
*Check out TD catch @ 1:05 & 1:53



Gunner Romney (Jr.) 6'-3" 195 BYU ... nasty 1 - 2 punch w Dax Milne last season
39 receptions for 767 yards & 2 TD's in 2020....has to be on the NFL radar


Britian Covey (Jr.) 5'-8" 172 Utah
...one of the most electric players in CFB Freshman season in 2015! before his knee injury; went on mission 2 years; Elite lateral quickness & jump cuts .....was not the same in '19.....regained some of that form in a COVID season; All-Pac-12 first-team returner 2020 ..... 6 - 134 including a 91 yard TD vs. Washington State
Thought he was Senior now?



Kyle Phillips (Jr.) 5'-11" 184 UCLA
Over 100 career receptions ; 2019 his 60 catches were most as a Freshman (Redshirt or True) ever at UCLA
2nd Team All PAC 12 by PFF & Phil Steele; also returns Punts
Phillips (left) ; check out Chase Cota (right) an WR at UCLA (son of NFL DB Chad)



Jake Smith (Jr.) 6'-0 195 Texas
48 career catches for 568 receiving yards; 9 TD's; explosive speed and elusiveness in the open field. Needs to stay healthy; NFL potential
https://hookemheadlines.com/2021/05/17/texas-football-jake-smith-elite-potential-inside-numbers


Slade Bolden (Jr.) 5'-11" 191 Alabama
Swiss-Army-Knife set for larger role; caught TD pass in National Championship game vs Ohio State; Punt Returner; & wildcat QB


Tyler Snead (Jr.?) 5'-7" 169 East Carolina
Video game stats in some games; exciting pass catcher; "Pocket Rocket"' Slot Receiver / Return Specialist
134 career catches ; 1,519 yards 14 TD's



Caleb Chapman (Jr.) 6'-5" 195 Texas A&M
Season cut short w knee injury on long TD catch..started two games including a .9 reception for 151 yards & 2 TD performance vs. Florida. Has the makings of being a big time WR!




Feel free to add to the WR list.....Plenty of knowledgeable posters here thru the years!

 

Peter Leblanc (Jr.) 6'-2" 190 Ragin Cajuns
23 receptions for 334 yards and 1 TD started all 10 games last season. 82 yards and 1 Td vs Iowa St.

 

Yes indeed The Big Dawg! Remember that 81 yard TD vs Iowa State game well! One of the first early season match up's in a weird Covid season. LeBlanc is a vertical threat w Speed to burn!

Will start this post with another Louisiana boy!

Griffin Hebert (Jr.) 6'-3" 217 Louisiana Tech
49 receptions for 812 yards + 9 TD's in his career...he needs consistent QB play


Thayer Thomas (Jr.) 6'-0 197 N.C. State
EX WALK-ON....Nice "Caste" story .....12 career TD's ...three 100+ yard games receiving; 9-151 - 3 vs. Syracuse ; Punt returner ; plays Baseball



Austin Williams (Sr.) 6'-3" 200 Mississippi State
SEC Academic Honor Roll 4.0 GPA...14 career starts; 64 receptions 628 yards & 8 TD's in his career


Ricky Pearsall (Soph.) 6'-0 205 Arizona State
A potential " break out" player looking for larger role. 13 receptions 214 yards & TD + 4 carries for 34 yards & TD


Trent Whittemore (Soph.) 6'-4" 213 Florida
Big time athlete originally a DB. Another young talented WR looking for larger role. Played in only 7 games ; 10 receptions 128 yards & TD




Ben Ratzlaff (Sr.) 6'-2" 190 Western Kentucky (Houston Baptist Grad Transfer)
Put up Video Game stats in the FCS....126 receptions for 1,538 yards and 15 touchdowns in 16 games. His QB at Houston Baptist Bailey Zappe transferred too....you'd think he could win job @ starting QB ahead of vet who's a glorified RB


Brannon Spector (Soph.) 6'-1" 195 Clemson
Can young prospect follow in the footsteps of ex Walk on's Tyler Grisham ; Adam Humphries & Hunter Renfrow? Spector actually came on "scholarship
16 career catches for 152 yards & two rushes for 21 yards in 221 snaps over 14 games (one start).
Older brother Baylen plays LB @ Clemson


Jakob Herres (Jr? or Sr?) 6'- 4" 211 VMI
Dominant WR at FCS Level played Spring Football. Career 179 receptions!! 2,506 yards & 21 TD's! The NFL needs to give a "military" exemption if he chooses.

 

Bryce Nunnelly (Sr.) 6'-2" 190 Western Michigan (Grad Transfer from FCS Chattanooga)
Wanted a new challenge to get out of his comfort zone in the FBS ; ultimate goal is the NFL; NFL Draft Diamonds is impressed
149 career receptions for 2,214 yards & 12 TD's



Tanner Knue (Soph.) 5'-11" 171 Eastern Michigan
Former WALK -ON earned scholarship in the middle of the season; 2nd on team w 27 receptions for 413 yards & 4 TD's
Pardon the music; turn volume OFF
https://twitter.com/tannerknue/status/1370511912358797312


David Durden (Jr.) 6'-2" 200 West Florida (Transfer from FCS Mercer to D2 National Champion may be an upgrade)
Dynamic playmaker ...45 rec 647 yards & 4 TD's in 2019 w Mercer; 1st Team SoCon Kick Returner ; 2017 20th Round Draft Pick by Red Sox MLB Draft

 

Good looking list fellas! Really looking forward to what Nunnelly and Ratzlaff do after transferring up!

 

Thanks! Me too Bucky! Will be sure to keep up w Nunnelly's & Ratzlaff's Weekly Stat lines

Jack Sorenson (Sr.) 6'- 0 195 Miami (Ohio)
115 career receptions for 1,664 yards & 10 TD's ...had a 8 - 177 & 4 TD game vs Akron last year; was on ESPN Top 10 catches


Brad Rozner (Jr.) 6'-5" 204 Rice
Opted out of last year's Covid season ; led team in receptions in '19 ...55 rec 770 yards & 5 TD's ; made nice 1 - 2 punch w Austin Trammell


Taylor Morin (RS Fr.? or Soph?) 5'-10" 174 Wake Forest
Last season 32 receptions for 405 yards & 3 TD's ....Bowl game vs. Wisconsin 5 - 91 including 46 yard catch ; 9 - 93 & TD vs. Clemson in season opener


Beau Corrales (Sr.) 6'-3" 210 North Carolina
Missed over half last season due to injury; only started two games 13 rec for 238 yds & TD. Career 80 receptions 1,176 yards & 12 TD's ; from the state of Texas


Cole Tucker (Jr.) 6'-2" 206 Northern Illinois
69 career receptions for 832 yards & 3 TD's



Oliver Martin (Jr.) 6'-1 " 200 Nebraska
Transfer from Michigan & Iowa...Transfer Walk-on to Nebraska ; immediately eligible on waiver
Time for this once highly touted HS recruit to hopefully break out for the Cornhuskers!



Jake Bobo (Sr.) 6'-5" 215 Duke
52 Career receptions for 647 yards & 2 TD's ; Needs to take the next step to get a look in the NFL
BC DB Mike Palmer making the tackle


Chase Cota (Sr.) 6 - 3" 201 UCLA
49 career receptions for 597 yards & 5 TD's....needs to take the next step to get an NFL look
Dad (Chad) was an starting NFL DB for the Panthers

 

Thomas Hennigan (SR) 6’1” 210lbs App. State
Entering his 5th year as a starter he should be on the NFL radar. 182-2301-17 receiving in his career with over 700 punt/kick return yards too. Great size and plenty of experience, also a team captain.


Drake Stoops (JR) 5’9” 190lbs Oklahoma
Reliable slot receiver who emerged as a solid player in 2020. 25-330-2 receiving so far in his young career. Earned 7 starts in 2020, if he can earn a bigger role expect 500+ yards in 2021.


Brandon Bowling (SR) 5’9” 185lbs Utah State
Former Arkansas State starter followed his coach to Utah State this offseason (along with stud LB Justin Rice). Reliable slot target who offers kick return skills as well. 82 receptions for 878 yards and 9 TD’s in his first three seasons.


Dalton Rigdon (SR) 5’11” 170lbs Texas Tech
McLane Mannix (SR) 5’10” 190lbs Texas Tech
Two very talented receivers who both probably run about a 4.4 40. Both men have made great plays in their careers and have looked like stars but both have been derailed by injuries and competition at the slot positions. Rigdon has 2 years left if he wants and Mannix is on his last season. TTU’s starting slot receiver departed for Houston but they have a talented sophomore and a very experienced transfer from Troy coming in so it’ll be hard to tell what Rigdon and Mannix will do in 2021.
Career stats
Rigdon: 50-648-5
Mannix: 133-1901-16, 8-65 rushing, 9-115 punt returns

 

THANK YOU Red Raider for the quality additions! Always like to save the Texas Tech WR's for you!
Had high hopes for McLane Mannix his Freshman season at Nevada (declined offer at Vanderbilt at RB!)....Hopefully he can bounce back strong making a big impact! Ridgon has been a steady WR

Just saw too late last nigh to post ; App. State's Thomas Hennigan got an EXTRA Covid year of eligibility((listed as a "Super Senior" lol))! He has been one of my favorite WR's in CFB! Maybe new transfer QB Chase Brice can develop some chemistry with his skill set!

Will be interesting to see how Bowling does at his new school Utah State.

Bryce Miller (Sr.) 5'-10" 180 South Florida
Former Walk-on Ended season w big game vs. Central Florida 11 - 121 & 2 TD's...looking for a bigger Senior season

 

Luke Whittemore (JR) 6’2” 195lbs Troy
Brother of Florida WR Trent Whittemore, Luke started every game for Troy in 2019 before assuming a backup role in 2020. He should have a bigger role in 2021 and beyond. Troy has had a crowded receiver room but their best player transferred to Texas Tech so hopefully Whittemore can start again. 53-706-4 receiving so far in his 3 seasons.


Nico Ragaini (JR) 6’0” 193lbs Iowa
Plays slot and punt returner for Iowa, he has yet to breakout or make big plays but is a steady contributor. 65-637-2 receiving so far in his career, would like to see the YPC a little higher.


Barrett Banister (SR) 6’0” 192lbs Mizzou
An important SEC receiver who I’ve been waiting to become a full time starter for years. 62-586-1 so far in his career, he’s listed as a senior but has an extra year of eligibility if he wants to use it.


Jackson Anthrop (SR) 5’11” 190lbs Purdue
It seems like Anthrop has been in college forever, he comes from an extremely athletic family. With Rondale Moore in the NFL it should bode well for Anthrop in his sixth season. Career stats include 95-850-6 receiving, 23-64-2 rushing, and 383 return yards.

 

Potential sleeper WR in the SEC - RS Freshman Jack Jancek for Tennessee. He was a walk on of course. Had a big Spring Game - 2 Catches 137 yds and 1 TD.

 

Nolan Groulx (RS Freshman) 6'0" 194lbs Demon Deacons. Only has 9 games played with 8 receptions and 58 yards. Hoping he has a breakout season

 

Groulx entered the transfer portal this year since Taylor Morin has solidified the slot/punt return positions, here’s to hoping Groulx makes a smart decision where he can be a star!! He has great talent and is drawing interest from big schools.

 

IMO Bannister is playing strong on the field, when he first got to Mizzou and on the field he was just there, now he tears it up like a dog tears up its toys, because it can and wants to.

 

I posted this in the Texas thread but Jake Smith has entered the transfer portal.

 

Curious to see where Nolan Groulx transfers....Interest has come from Nebraska ; Texas Tech ; Coastal Carolina ; Western Kentucky ; Utah ; and others ; James Madison??

Posted Jake Smith article in Texas 2020 thread ....Tennessee ; Arkansas ; USC were top 3 mentioned ; being fro the state of AZ ...Arizona State & Arizona make plenty sense!

Reece Smith (Soph.) 5'-10" 186 West Virginia
Talented young WR ; 11 receptions 128 yards in 2020 COVID shortened True Freshman season;
still 2nd on Depth Chart; but before his college career is over expect him to make BIG impact!
Named Most Improved player this past Spring!

 

Wisconsin-Whitewater WR Ryan Wisniewski - 6-5 210 lbs - career stats: 52 rushes 455 yds 5 TDs / 93 Receptions 1391 yards 13 TDs. Came across his name on the Senior Bowl watch list (time for me to start the 2022 draft thread).

 

Another lower division WR to keep an eye out for - Idaho St (FCS) Tanner Conner - career stats - 94 receptions - 1649 yards 11 TDs. Played a 6 game spring league and is back for the fall season.

 

Starting to get worried he hasn't ended up anywhere yet!

Out of the schools TwentyTwo listed. Texas Tech, WKU, or Coastal Carolina wouldn't be bad! I'd throw Utah State out there as well. If he goes to JMU, at least he'll be at a Top FCS School and will likely be seen a lot come Playoffs.

 

Portland St WR Beau Kelly has had a nice start to the season - through three games he has 20 rec 344 yds and 4 TDs along with 1 pass completion for 25 yards.

 

i realize this thread is focused on playmakers in the passing game, but Iowa wideout Charlie Jones is a VERY good return man. he’s likely the best punt returner in the Big Ten (not sure about the nation?), and if he had more chances (the Iowa defense doesn’t give up enough touchdowns for him to return many kickoffs) would probably be the best kickoff returner, as well.

 

Jack Sorenson (Miami OH) entered Week #11 8th in the Nation in Receiving Yards Per Game 109.8....Jake Bobo has dropped off a bit now out of the Top 50; with more consistent QB play + slow start this season getting over a injury from last season Alec Pierce should be in Top 50. (Possible 3rd or 4th Round NFL Draft pick?)

Ladd McConkey (RS Freshman) 6'-0 185 Georgia ... teams 2nd Leading Receiver on the #1 team in the Nation!
Started 7 of 9 games so far this season 21 catches for 338 yards & 3 TDs...team high 5 receptions for 135 yards in win at #18 Auburn, including a 60-yard TD catch.
Also has 2 carries for 39 yards.....3 Star out of HS lightly recruited


Taylor Grimes (Jr) 5'-11" 190 Incarnate Word ..... FCS school in San Antonio TX; plays in Southland Conference
Almost video-game Stats this season...8th in FCS ....66 receptions 905 yards & 11 TD's so far; Two regular season games left ; last week vs SE La(QB Cole Kelly) had 12 - 193 & TD in 55 - 52 win!

 

Nice find with Grimes. Sorenson is going out in style! McConkey has been a surprise out of nowhere this season, gotta love it.

 

SEC WR’s through 10 games

Caleb Chapman (Texas A&M) 12-201 (missed 5 games due to injury)
Barrett Banister (Mizzou) 21-145-1
John Rhys Plumlee (Ole Miss) 17-197
Ladd McConkey (Georgia) 22-352-3, 2-39-1 rushing
Jack Bech (LSU) 37-432-3
Austin Williams (Mississippi State) 41-444-1
Slade Bolden (Alabama) 23-224-1
Trent Whittemore (Florida) 12-132-1, passing TD
Walker Merrill (Tennessee) 5-52

More than half of the teams in the SEC are fielding a white WR regularly. This is something I don’t think any of us saw coming, especially with how many are young guys. Slade Bolden has been severely ignored most of the season compared to what you’d expect for Alabama’s starting slot receiver.

 

is San Diego State’s Jesse Matthews a White athlete or a mestizo? either way, he’s a caste buster, and he’s having himself a day against Boise State: 9 catches for 133 yards and 1 touchdown, so far.

 

Thayer Thomas showing off his all around athletic ability tonight for NC State against rival UNC. so far, he’s returned a punt for 20 yards, run the ball once for 11 yards, thrown a pass (incomplete), and caught 3 balls for 45 yards and 1 touchdown (from 26 yards).