2012 College Football Top 5 Wide Receivers

2012 College Football Position Rankings – Top 5 Wide Receivers: At both the collegiate and the NFL level, offenses are moving toward a pass-first mentality. More and more teams are playing a spread system and throwing the ball on early downs and even in short-yardage situation, especially in college. As a result, wide receivers are carving out a much larger role for their teams, and better and better athletes are gravitating toward the position. In the last decade, athletic monsters such as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Michael Crabtree and Justin Blackmon are among those players to be named Biletnikoff Award winners as college football’s best receiver. Here is a look at a few players that will contend for the honors this season.

2012 College Football Top 5 Wide Receivers

1.      Robert Woods, USC Trojans

He had a 111 catches and 15 touchdowns last season, and with quarterback Matt Barkley deciding to return to school, Woods should be in for another big year. The numbers are even scarier when you consider he basically missed two games while dealing with an injury. He has excellent hands, and he is without question the best route runner in the country. Woods flat out knows how to get open against any coverage, and he is the most-polished and NFL-ready of any receiver. He is going to be giving opposing defenses fits all season long.

2.      Sammy Watkins, Clemson Tigers

Even though he will likely be suspended a game or two for some off-the-field issues, Watkins has more than enough talent to make up for the lost time. Last year, he was a First-Team All-American as a true freshman, finishing with more than 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He and quarterback Tajh Boyd showed immediate chemistry, and the duo will be back this year to try to lead the Tigers to another ACC title. Watkins freakish athleticism and physical tools alone make him a tough matchup for any secondary. Assuming he used the offseason to refine his route running and other nuances of the position, his sophomore campaign will be something special.

3.      Marqise Lee, USC Trojans

Playing across from Robert Woods, Lee amassed almost 1,200 yards and caught 11 touchdowns of his own. With Woods back drawing double coverage this year, Lee should again be able to exploit opposing defenses for plenty of big plays. In terms of speed and pure athleticism, Lee actually has the edge over his fellow Trojan. In fact, he is arguably the fastest player at the position in the country. His route running and understanding of various coverages isn’t on the same level, but another offseason working with Woods should help Lee improve in every facet of the position. USC QB Matt Barkley is going to be throwing a lot of touchdown passes this season, and Lee is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of them.

4.      Marquess Wilson, Washington State

The Cougars haven’t exactly been a powerhouse program lately, but Wilson has been a serious bright spot. He had nearly 1,400 receiving yards last season to go along with 12 touchdowns. Wilson is one of the most physically gifted receivers in the country, and even though he has been known to take plays off from time to time, his talent far outweighs his occasional mental lapses. Playing in Mike Leach’s pass-happy offensive system, Wilson should flourish. Leach helped make Michael Crabtree a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, and Wilson isn’t too far behind Crabtree in raw ability. A big season is on tap for the Washington State receiver.

5.      Tavon Austin, West Virginia

Austin ended last year with a bang, snagging four touchdowns in West Virginia’s Orange Bowl win. The Mountaineers move to the pass-friendly Big 12 conference this season, and with 4,000-yard passer Geno Smith and fellow 1,000-yard receiver Stedman Bailey returning, Austin should be in line for another monster season. Lining up mainly in the slot, he ranked seventh in the nation by catching 101 passes a year ago. His ability to find open spaces in almost any coverage should allow him to continue to be among the leaders in receptions this season. His teammate Bailey is the deep threat for West Virginia, but Austin is the more complete package.

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