2023 Big Ten wide receiver room power rankings
It is less than 50 days from week one of the 2023 college football season and Boiler Upload continues our Big Ten position power rankings, this week with the wide receiver rooms in the conference.
A number of touted transfer pass catchers have come to one of the premiere conferences in the country and will look to help their respective teams' aerial attacks. Where does your favorite team land on the wide receiver room rankings?
1. Ohio State:
Was there ever any doubt where the Buckeye's receiving corps would be on this list? Not particularly. You'd be hard-pressed to find any groups with as much talent in the nation as the one in Columbus.
Potential top-five NFL Draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr. leads the charge for Ryan Day, looking to repeat as an All-American and Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year in 2023. Redshirt sophomore Emeka Egbuka is also viewed as a first round talent after racking up 1,151 yards and ten touchdowns in 2022 while being an All-Big Ten selection. Julian Fleming, the veteran of the room, also had a productive campaign last season.
Five-star true freshman Carnell Tate, along with Jayden Ballard and Xavier Johnson, will all see reserve snaps this fall.
As expected, Ohio State will own the top receiving corps in the conference and is a step above the rest this season.
2. Minnesota
PJ Fleck and Minnesota quietly put together one of the Big Ten's best-receiving corps this off-season. The new weaponry will be the supporting cast around quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who will be the Gophers' full-time starter this fall.
A pair of veteran pass catchers return for Minnesota in 2023, Chris Autman-Bell and Daniel Jackson. Autman-Bell was on pace for a breakout campaign last season with over 200 yards before his year was cut short in the third game of the season. Jackson returns as 2022's leading receiver with 557 yards and five touchdowns.
The two incoming transfers coming to town elevated this group to the top of the conference. Corey Crooms Jr. had over 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last two years at Western Michigan. Charlotte transfer Elijah Spencer racked up 943 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.
3. Wisconsin
For years, Wisconsin was known as one of the top producers of NFL talent at the running back position, employing a run-heavy attack. However, the tides could be turning in Madison under new head coach Luke Fickell. Phil Longo joins his staff after a successful run at North Carolina, bringing a more aerial-centric attack with him.
Longo's top receiver will be Chimere Dike, one of the top returning pass catchers in the conference heading into 2023. He emerged last season, posting 689 yards and nine touchdowns for the Badgers.
Keontez Lewis and Skyler Bell also return for another campaign in Madison. Bell had 444 yards and five touchdowns last season, while Lewis accounted for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Oklahoma State import Bryson Green will join them, who racked up 36 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns in the Big 12 last season.
Two other transfers, C.J. Williams (USC) and Will Pauling (Cincinnati), also entered the fold after limited playing time at their previous schools. Williams was the 47th-ranked player in the 2022 recruiting class, bringing a high upside to Madison. Pauling follows Luke Fickell to Wisconsin.
4. Maryland
Similar to Minnesota, Mike Locksley and Maryland also formed a formidable group of pass catchers via the transfer portal this off-season. The Terrapins have redshirt senior Taulia Tagovailoa returning for his third year as starting quarterback and put a solid core around him.
Last season's leading receiver Jeshaun Jones returns to Maryland in 2023 after having a career-high 44 catches and 557 yards. Injury troubles have limited him during his college career, but the potential is there for Jones.
Transfers Tyrese Chambers (FIU) and Kaden Prather (West Virginia) also enter the fold. Chambers is just a year removed from recording 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns in an abysmal FIU offense; the Conference USA import has number-one receiver potential. Prather had 52 catches for 501 yards in his first year of consistent playing time in 2022.
5. Penn State
Penn State added some firepower to its receiving corps this off-season in the form of Dante Cephus, one of the top transfer pass catchers on the market. Cephus is coming off an injury-shortened season in 2022, where he had 48 catches for 744 yards. He exploded for 82 receptions, 1,240 yards, and nine touchdowns the year prior. The Kent State transfer gives Drew Allar a go-to option on the outside.
Beyond Cephus, the Nittany Lions have a few question marks but potential at the position. KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the second most established receiver on the roster, having 58 catches for 910 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two years.
The rest of the group is filled with additional breakout candidates. Redshirt freshman and former top 100 recruit Kaden Saunders is another breakout candidate for the Nittany Lions in 2023. Florida State transfer Malik McClain will also have an opportunity to work his way into the starting lineup. Harrison Wallace III had an encouraging redshirt freshman campaign in 2022 as well.
6. Michigan
Coming off its second straight Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance, Michigan has reloaded for yet another run at a National Championship in 2023. Regarding the receiving corps, it will be a slightly different-looking group aiming to make an impact for Jim Harbaugh, with leading receiver Ronnie Bell off to the NFL.
Seniors Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson will be expected to pick up the production left behind by Bell's departure. Johnson is the most likely to fill the void of Bell's departure, having 32 catches for 499 yards and a team-high six touchdowns last season. He also led the team in receptions and yards in 2021. Wilson also has an opportunity to have a breakthrough campaign in 2023. The Wolverines' senior receiver has 50 receptions and 796 yards over the last two years.
Former top 100 recruit Darrius Clemons will have an opportunity to emerge for the Wolverines after spending most of his true freshman season on the sidelines. This spring, Roman Wilson shared that he believed Clemons could be a difference-maker in 2023.
7. Rutgers
Another program that picked up reinforcements this off-season was Rutgers. Greg Schiano added a pair of touted transfers to the wide receiver corps that could help elevate the Scarlet Knights' offense this fall.
Naseim Brantley entered the transfer portal coming off a 903-yard nine touchdowns performance in 2022 and landed with Rutgers. The 6'2" receiver has the potential to be a go-to option this fall. Joining him was California University of Pennsylvania (D-II) transfer JaQuae Jackson, who had 77 catches for 1,178 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The two transfer additions should form a formidable 1-2 punch for the Scarlet Knights. Junior Chris Long is the only other receiver on the roster with notable playing time during their career.
It will be up to quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to make the most out of his new weapons after struggling in 2022.
8. Purdue
Purdue lost last season's two most productive pass catchers, including breakout All-American Charlie Jones. In recent memory, the Boilermakers had one receiver scoop up the lion's share of targets at receiver, but that could change this fall.
Jahmal Edrine is a breakout candidate after transferring from FAU. He had 39 catches for 570 yards and six touchdowns in an offense that wasn't particularly successful through the air. TJ Sheffield has sat behind David Bell and Charlie Jones for two years and now gets his chance to emerge as a number one target in West Lafayette.
Deion Burks, Elijah Canion, and Mershawn Rice also provide intriguing options on the outside for new quarterback Hudson Card. Graham Harrell's Air Raid system boosts the Boilermakers' unit as an uptick in targets awaits the receiving corps in 2023.
9. Illinois
Unlike many other entries on this list, Illinois was quiet on the recruiting trail regarding incoming receivers from the transfer portal.
Last year's leading receiver, Isaiah Williams, returns for another season in Champaign and is set to be the Illini's number-one pass catcher. He has the most yards of any returning Big Ten player outside Ohio State's elite tandem.
Pat Bryant will begin the season in a starting role after having 34 catches for 453 yards last season. Fellow returners Casey Washington, Shawn Miller, and Hank Beatty will have to step up for new quarterback Luke Altmyer if Illinois wants to improve its aerial attack in 2023.
10. Indiana
Indiana has struggled offensively over the last two years, but 2023 provides the Hoosiers with some hope for the future. Former four-star quarterback Tayven Jackson transfers in from Tennessee and will have some intriguing options to throw to.
Cam Camper was Indiana's leading receiver in 2022, having 569 yards in just seven games last season. He could surpass that mark with an entire season under his belt in 2023.
Although, Fordham transfer Dequence Carter may be the one that emerges as the Hoosiers' go-to pass catcher after racking up 104 catches, 2,038 yards, and 24 touchdowns over the last two years.
Clemson transfer EJ Williams headed for the Big Ten in search of greener pastures this off-season, and the explosive Donaven McCulley will look to finally break through as a receiver after starting his career at quarterback.
11. Iowa
The narrative surrounding Iowa football last season was the massive struggles on the offensive side of the ball. However, The Hawkeyes brought in several transfers to help improve the offense in 2023, including two intriguing receivers.
Seth Anderson is the more established of the duo, racking up 42 catches for 612 yards and seven touchdowns last season for Charleston Southern. The other off-season import came from Big Ten rival Ohio State in the form of former four-star and top-100 recruit Kaleb Brown. Brown is a breakout candidate after departing from the Buckeyes" crowded receiver room and has big potential for the position.
Nico Ragaini gives the Hawkeyes another veteran presence in the room, along with fellow returner Diante Vines.
12. Nebraska
The start of the Matt Rhule era has been accompanied by additional changes to the offense for Nebraska this off-season. Casey Thompson and leading receiver Trey Palmer both exited the program, paving the way for new signal caller Jeff Sims and a supporting cast of receivers to make an impact.
Chief among them is Virginia transfer Billy Kemp IV. The former Cavalier had 141 catches for 1,369 yards and seven touchdowns across 2020 and 2021 before having a down year last season, along with the entire Virginia offense. He will look to rebound in Lincoln this fall.
Marcus Washingon is the top returning receiver, posting 31 catches and 471 yards in his first year after transferring in from Texas. The Huskers will need Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda to become the player they landed out of the transfer portal last off-season, coming off a 578-yard campaign with New Mexico State. Joshua Fleeks will also look to emerge after transferring from Baylor, where he saw limited playing time over five years.
13. Michigan State
Michigan State's offense took a big hit this off-season after losing quarterback Payton Thorne and wide receiver Keon Coleman to the transfer portal, along with Jayden Reed going to the NFL.
Tre Mosley is the de-factor number one option for Mel Tucker, having 70 catches for 889 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two years. Nebraska transfer Alante Brown also figures to slide into the starting lineup with the Spartans. Brown was not able to find a consistent role with the Huskers, but that could change in a wide-open receivers room.
Returners Montorie Foster and Christian Fitzpatrick will have to have breakout campaigns for Michigan State to form a serviceable receiving corps in 2023.
14. Northwestern
Evanston has been the talk of the college football world over the last few days with the firing of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Already coming off of a 1-11 season in 2022, Northwestern is likely headed for another down year this fall.
Arizona State transfer Cam Johnson is the most experienced player in the unit but has not been a number one option at any point of his career, totaling 1,317 yards and ten touchdowns over five college seasons.
Michigan transfer AJ Henning comes back to play in his hometown after 57 catches, 475 yards in three years with the Wolverines. Redshirt senior Bryce Kirtz is the only other receiver on the roster with a season of over 200 receiving yards.