By Luke Brumm
With Quarterbacks and Running backs behind us, let’s head over to the receiver position and see who make my top five.
5. Tez Johnson – Oregon
Tez Johnson eclipsed 1,000 yards last season on 86 receptions while averaging nearly 14 yards per reception. He also added 10 touchdowns. Those were very good numbers and I expect more of the same. Johnson will have some help at wideout with Evan Stewart coming to Eugene from Texas A&M, but I still expect him to be WR1. Dillon Gabriel coming in from Oklahoma will help with his impact as well. Oregon is joining the Big Ten, so they need all the help they can get on the offensive side of the ball.
4. Isaiah Bond – Texas
Isaiah Bond heading to Texas from Alabama will help him tremendously and propel him into the category of one of the best in the country. He was already very good and had that historic catch vs Auburn, but now I believe he has the opportunity to be very consistent with Quinn Ewers as his QB. Bond will be their number one option, too, with both Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell being drafted last month. I will look for Bond to nearly double his yards, receptions, and touchdowns from 2022, where he put up 668 yards and four touchdowns on 48 receptions.
3. Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona
Tetairoa McMillan might be the most slept-on player in the country. Some analysts are talking about him, but he is nowhere near a household name… yet. I’ve seen some tape from this offseason that already has me excited to see him play. Noah Fifita being his quarterback also helps greatly. 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns is very impressive, but I think he can produce even more. His 15.6 yards per reception is also nothing to ignore. With their move to the move to the Big 12, Arizona will look to their star-studded offense to carry the load.
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2. Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
It seems like Emeka Egbuka has been at Ohio State forever, but he has only been there since 2021 and only made nine catches that season. Egbuka has had an impact in the last two seasons, however. 2022 was by far his best with 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. He dropped down to 515 yards and just four touchdowns in 2023, but he was out multiple games due to injury. I expect the numbers to skyrocket this season, as he will be WR1. Will Howard will hopefully be able to get him the ball, and if so, I expect 2022 numbers or better from Egbuka this upcoming season.
1. Luther Burden – Missouri
With Luther Burden coming in at number one, this means Missouri gets the best of Ohio State again. Burden is the best and one of my favorite wide receivers in the entire country. He’s very exciting and has brought some swagger back to Mizzou, something they had been desperately lacking. Burden accumulated 1,212 yards on 86 catches and added nine touchdowns to his tally.
Burden and Brady Cook have created a special connection and one that would go toe-to-toe with the best defenses in the country. I want to see Luther Burden crack 100 receptions and 1,500 yards in 2024, and have at least 12 touchdowns. I think he is more than capable of getting it done.
