By Mark Pszonak
Jeremiah Smith arrived at Ohio State with a great deal of hype, but not many expected him to finish his true freshman season with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and a FBS best 15 touchdowns. While it is unlikely that any true freshman will be able to equal Smith’s production, here are three receivers who have an opportunity to make a big impact in 2025:
1. Dakorien Moore (Oregon)
The skinny: While several true freshmen have created plenty of off-season buzz, none have been talked about more than Moore. And he enters a situation where he should immediately thrive. The Ducks lost most of their top receivers to the NFL/graduation and then suffered a huge setback this spring when Evan Stewart suffered a knee injury. Suddenly, Moore’s importance grew exponentially. While there are questions that need to be answered regarding Oregon’s quarterback situation, overall, Moore has all the ingredients to become a star in 2025.
2. Caleb Cunningham (Ole Miss)
The skinny: Cunningham’s buzz has been tempered a bit, mostly because he didn’t enroll at Ole Miss until the summer. However, the five-star signee arrives with plenty of expectations surrounding him and has the skillset to produce. At 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, he is physically ready for the SEC, but now he must quickly get on the same page with new starting quarterback Austin Simmons. Summer camp will be vital for their development, but the tools are there to figure it out quickly.
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3. Jayvan Boggs (Florida State)
The skinny: Boggs was a late addition to Florida State’s recruiting class, with a flip from UCF coming during December’s Signing Day, but he quickly established himself as a weapon. The 2024 season was a disaster for the Seminoles, which included a wide receiver group that only had one player finish with more than 25 receptions. So, there is plenty of room for improvement. Boggs is a strong, thick receiver at 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, who also excels in the open field. With new transfer dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos running the offense, the Seminoles have a few ingredients to spark an offense that desperately needs a jolt.
