2008 CFN Preview - Unit Rankings ... WRs

CFN 2008 Preview Unit Rankings - Receivers Ranked 1 to 119

2008 CFN Unit Rankings

Wide Receivers

CFN 2008 Unit Rankings
2008 Preview | Offenses | Quarterbacks | Running Backs
Offensive Lines | Defenses | Defensive Lines
Linebackers | Secondaries | Special Teams

1. Florida
From the speed and quickness of Percy Harvin and Deonte Thompson, to the potential of Carl Moore and Riley Cooper, to the steady production of Louis Murphy, to the talented Aaron Hernandez, this group has it all. If everyone can stay healthy, which isn't a given after already losing top tight end Cornelius Ingram, this will be a devastating corps of playmakers. There are too many weapons to cover.

2. Missouri
If Jeremy Maclin does what he did last year and Chase Coffman is 100% healthy again, this will be an unstoppable group with too many weapons for most defenses to deal with. The coaching staff will have its choice of formations with so many options and so many decent targets to get involved. Maclin will be moved around to several spots to get the ball as much as possible, while Coffman should be an 80-catch playmaker.

3. New Mexico State
Yes, the offense makes the receivers, but the Aggie corps is built to fit the attack. You won't find any Terrell Owens-type big guys who'll fight for the ball. Instead, there's a slew of jitterbugs and a ton of speed that drives opposing secondaries nuts. Chris Williams will be an All-American based on his production, but there's plenty of experience returning to spread the ball around.

4. LSU
If the quarterback play is steady, this should be the SEC's best receiving corps. Brandon LaFell is a big, fast NFL receiver playing another year of college ball, and Demetrius Byrd is a big, faster NFL receiver playing another year of college ball. Tight end Richard Dickson is an average blocker, but he'll be the new starting QB's best friend in a big hurry.

5. Texas Tech
Led by Bilitnikoff winner Michael Crabtree, the receiving corps will once again be explosive, productive, and very, very good. Eric Morris is a nice target who's ready for a bigger role and Detron Lewis should fill in for Crabtree’s running mate, Danny Amendola, without a problem, but the real key will be Edward Britton. While he's not Crabtree, he's expected to use his speed to be more of a gamebreaker.

6. Rutgers
The receivers have come a long way in one year to become the most explosive unit on the Rutgers roster. Led by a pair of 1,000-yard targets, senior Tiquan Underwood and junior Kenny Britt, Rutgers brings back its top four pass-catchers. These two form a virtually unstoppable pair of sluggers who eliminate the possibility of double teams. Both are poised for monster statistical seasons as Teel’s favorite targets, while TE Kevin Brock will surprise with 40 receptions of his own. Dennis Campbell has been a disappointment and none of the other receivers on the roster have caught a pass.

7. Ohio State
The receiving corps came through as well as could be hoped for after losing Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez with Robiskie and Hartline growing into a nice combination. There's plenty of experience returning with promising backups who got their feet wet last year, and two excellent tight ends in Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard an unappreciated twosome who should be used more in the passing game. This group will be held in check by the top secondaries, but there aren't a lot of them in the Big Ten. It's nitpicking, but there will be a problem is there's a rash of injuries. There's plenty of promise behind Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, but Dane Sanzenbacher and Taurian Washington haven't had to do it yet in a full-time role, while Small can't seem to put it all together.

8. Penn State
By now, everyone knows what Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood can do. They're all solid, they can all step up and be the main man when needed, and they'll all produce. They're not going to blow anyone away, but they're good, reliable receivers who'll be a major plus for the new starting quarterback. They have been around forever, and they've done a good job of growing into their roles. However, they didn't make a big jump up in overall production last year and they didn't make Anthony Morelli better, and vice versa. Now they'll need to be bigger stars. The tight end situation is excellent with or without Andrew Quarless, the star who was suspended this off-season.

9. Clemson
Of the 15 players who caught a pass last season, 14 are back on campus forming one of the deepest corps in the country. The headliner is 6-5, 190-pound senior Aaron Kelly, another Tiger who seriously considered going pro before deciding to return to school. In his first season as the go-to receiver, he responded with 88 catches for 1,081 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning First Team All-ACC honors and pulling within 52 receptions of the league’s all-time mark. More than just talented, the Clemson receivers also complement each other very well. Kelly and Xavier Dye are the skyscrapers, Jacoby Ford is the gamebreaker, and Tyler Grisham is the possession guy and the most polished receiver of the group. It’s a minor detail, but after Dye, the receivers become pedestrian in a hurry. Although the redshirt and incoming freshmen have high ceilings, it’s unreasonable to expect too much from them at this early stage.

10. Tennessee
A potential weakness of last year should now be a strength. Lucas Taylor is a true No. 1 target with at least five good players around him to take the attention away. That doesn't count the tight ends who should be fantastic. The key will be to see how this group produces with a new quarterback. Erik Ainge made everyone look great, and now the corps has to return the favor to Jonathan Crompton. Taylor stepped up and Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe were excellent. Now there's depth to rely on with players like Denarius Moore, Gerald Jones and Quintin Hancock ready to push for starting roles.

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