2007 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... WRs

CFN 2007 Preview Unit Rankings - Receivers Ranked 1 to 119

2007 CFN All-Americans

Wide Receivers

CFN 2007 Unit Rankings
2007 Preview | Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs
Offensive Lines| Defenses | Defensive Lines
Linebackers | Secondaries | Special Teams  

1. Purdue
The receiving corps will be unstoppable. Dorien Bryant is an All-America talent who'll be good for 70+ catches, Selwyn Lymon, when he returns, and Greg Orton will be used even more to stretch the field. If you can handle the receivers, there's tight end Dustin Keller to deal with underneath. It's a talented, veteran group that should pave the way for another top ten season for the passing game.

2. Hawaii
Defenses will be able to take away one or two of the receivers, but not all of them. Colt Brennan does such a great job of taking what opposing defenses give him that he'll pick apart the weak link in the secondary over and over again. The Warrior receivers will do its part in exploiting the openings. The top three returning wide receivers combined for 214 catches for 3,168 yards and 36 touchdowns. Everyone will get their turn to blow up with huge stats.

3. Texas
The receiving corps is loaded with veterans, and several, like Quan Cosby, Jermichael Finley and Jordan Shipley, will be back next year. The coaching staff is understandably excited about this group that should make the offense fly. Now everyone has to play up to potential and talent level and take the overall production to another level. With the return of the top seven wide receivers/tight ends, led by Limas Sweed, Texas returns 186 catches for 2,536 yards and 28 touchdowns.

4. Louisville
As if Brian Brohm needs an extra advantage, he’ll be surrounded by one of the most lethal group of receivers in the country in 2007.  While Harry Douglas, Mario Urrutia and Gary Barnidge will all finish the season on the All-Big East team, at least one of the young backups will enjoy a 30-catch breakout year in a complimentary role. The trio each averaged more than 16 yards a reception in 2006, a testament to not just their speed, but also their ability to pick up huge chunks of real estate after the catch.  Even the backups have big-play potential which spells big trouble for opposing defenses that won’t be able to contain this group and pay attention to the running game at the same time.

5. Oklahoma
The top six receivers (not counting Adrian Peterson) are back. Malcolm Kelly might be the best OU receiver ever (with 95 catches for 1,484 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years, he's already among the greats) and Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson have the speed and potential to blow up on every play. Throw in the great trio of tight ends, and OU is loaded.

6. California
Pick your poison, defensive coordinators.  If Jackson gets too much attention, Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins will feast on single coverage.   If the secondary plays too far back, Craig Stevens will nickel-and-dime it to death.  Other than trying to physically manhandle them, there’ll be no easy way to contain the Cal receivers in 2007. The headliner will once again be junior DeSean Jackson, arguably the single most flammable offensive player in the country. 

7. Michigan
It's all about Mario Manningham. Adrian Arrington, Greg Mathews and LaTerryal Savoy are big-time prospects who can all produce from time to time, but Manningham has to stay healthy and has to build on what he started to do at the beginning of last year. The loss of leading receiver Steve Breaston means someone has to step up and become a go-to target for short to midrange passes. At the moment, the corps is full of deep threats. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it would be nice if there was some steadiness to go along with the spectacular.

8. Florida
Percy Harvin makes a good corps great, and if Deonte Thompson is ready, this will be a phenomenal group. Andre Caldwell is good, but he's not necessarily a superstar who demands a ton of attention (that's Harvin). However, there are so many weapons to work utilize, there will be plenty of chances for the senior to make some big plays; he has to take advantage. The tight ends have to play up to the advance billing.

9. New Mexico State
The Aggie receivers should explode again. With all the experience, all the quickness, and all the great role players, if one is having a bad day, someone else will step up and produce. There's always going to be single coverage on a few players, and there's always going to be chances to make big plays. Chase Holbrook will find the right receivers if they're open. This group will get open. This ranking is based on expected production over talent. There might not be any NFL talent here, but they all work well in the system.

10. Missouri
It all starts with tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, who'll combine for at least 120 catches and pose a variety of nightmares. It'll be a shock if Will Franklin doesn't average close to 20 yards per catch, while Tommy Saunders, Danario Alexander and Jared Perry would make for a solid starting threesome even without the top Tiger stars. Basically, Mizzou is loaded.

11	Oregon State
12	LSU
13	Maryland
14	USC
15	Texas Tech
16	Kentucky
17	Colorado State
18	Washington State
19	Florida State
20	Alabama
21	Pitt
22	Syracuse
23	Utah
24	Penn State
25	Stanford
26	Ohio State
27	Virginia Tech
28	NC State
29	Nebraska
30	Colorado
31	Vanderbilt
32	Arkansas
33	Oklahoma State
34	Wisconsin
35	Oregon
36	Miami
37	Rutgers
38	Arizona State
39	Tennessee
40	Georgia
41	Iowa
42	UCLA
43	Washington
44	New Mexico
45	Central Michigan
46	Notre Dame
47	South Florida
48	Iowa State
49	Illinois
50	Kansas
51	Clemson
52	Texas A&M
53	Northwestern
54	South Carolina
55	Boston College
56	BYU
57	Mississippi State
58	Nevada
59	Arizona
60	Indiana
61	North Carolina
62	Cincinnati
63	Duke
64	Wyoming
65	Memphis
66	Houston
67	Baylor
68	UNLV
69	Marshall
70	Rice
71	West Virginia
72	Georgia Tech
73	Auburn
74	Boise State
75	Michigan State
76	TCU
77	Minnesota
78	Mississippi
79	Wake Forest
80	Kansas State
81	San Diego State
82	UTEP
83	Western Michigan
84	Fresno State
85	Northern Illinois
86	Tulane
87	Akron
88	Ball State
89	Southern Miss
90	Toledo
91	UCF
92	Bowling Green
93	Virginia
94	East Carolina
95	Louisiana Tech
96	Connecticut
97	Tulsa
98	San Jose State
99	Arkansas State
100	SMU
101	Miami Univ.
102	UL Monroe
103	Troy
104	UAB
105	Temple
106	Florida Atlantic
107	Utah State
108	Air Force
109	Kent State
110	Idaho
111	Middle Tennessee
112	FIU
113	Ohio
114	North Texas
115	UL Lafayette
116	Army
117	Buffalo
118	Eastern Michigan
119	Navy