So who had the best wide receiver recruiting class in 2010? This could be hotly contested. However, what is clear is the rich got richer with a half dozen teams hoarding the top recruits.
Instead of looking at individual players, like we usually do, we need to look at the teams themselves. With the talent they've stockpiled, someone is going to emerge from each of these teams to make an impact in 2010. We take a look a the schools that made out like bandits this recruiting season as well as a few other names to watch. And of course we rank them all at the end.
Average ranking in parenthesis, based on Rivals.com. Scout.com and ESPN.com. ATH = Athlete
The Hoarders
USC - Kyle Prater (4), Markeith Ambles (10) and Robert Woods (1 - ATH)
Prater is widely considered the crown jewel of the group. At 6-foot-5 he's long, lean, on campus early and ready to compete for playing time this spring. Ambles will also be in the mix; he's a gifted athlete in the mold of current Trojan Ronald Johnson. Woods is the third highly-rated prospect of the group, but there is a chance he could move to safety. Add this trio to rising sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley, and USC's passing game has a bright future.
Texas - Mike Davis (3), Daruis White (5), Chris Jones (13), John Harris (60) and Darius Terrell (60)
Recent attrition left the Longhorns in need of an infusion of good young receivers and Mack Brown brings in five highly-rated prospects. Davis, White and Jones are considered the best of the group and give future starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert a reason to smile. We could see Jones playing some wildcat quarterback this fall. Injuries also ravaged Longhorns' tight ends last season. Terrell could add weight and become a pass catching tight end.
Tennessee - Da'Rick Rogers (4), Justin Hunter (8), Matt Milton (22), Ted Meline (46)
Rogers' impact in 2010 will depend on the Vols ability to find a starting quarterback. At 6-foot-3 he has an excellent blend of size, speed and natural pass-catching ability. He's a riser that can go up and catch the ball in traffic. He is also equally adept at catching the bubble screen and turning it into positive yardage. I don't think there is any doubt he will see the field early, though it is difficult to predict how much he will be utilized with uncertainty at the quarterback spot.
Oklahoma - Sheldon McClain (68), Justin McCay (10 - ATH), Kenny Stills (22), Joe Powell (47 - ATH), and Julian Wilson (78 - ATH)
McCay's future may be at safety, linebacker or tight end, so look for him to redshirt while the Sooners figure out the best spot for him. Stills, Powell and Wilson could all end up in the defensive backfield, leaving McClain as the most likely prospect to emerge as a receiving threat for the Sooners in 2010. It helps that he is also on campus early.
Florida -Solomon Patton (29), Quinton Dunbar (40), Chris Dunkley (8), Adrian Coxson (23)
Florida brings in a host of receiver talent. The Gators are also waiting for a number of current players to reach their potential. Deonte Thompson's name has been mentioned as a sleeper since he first arrived on campus in 2007. Frankie Hammond Jr. was a kid we liked but thought needed some time to add weight and polish his game. He should be about ready by now. Top recruit from 2009, Andre Debose, also returns from hamstring surgery which muddies the water even more. Add in T.J. Lawerence and Carl Moore, who have yet to reach their potential due to various factors, and the Gators aren't short on talent out wide.
Will one of the above freshmen be able to crack the receiver rotation? With the talent mentioned above ahead of them, it could be difficult. Patton is on campus early, so you have to give him an edge out of the gate. If Debose's hamstring is not ready, Patton could fill his role in the wildcat, as could Dunkley. Dunbar and Coxson are more of your prototypical receivers, with the edge going to Dunbar in my opinion.
Alabama - DeAndrew White (15), Keiwone Malone (31), Blake Sims (46 - ATH) and Ronald Carwell (58)
My biggest question is what does Nick Saban do with all the receivers he's recruited? He's brought in four top end receivers each of the last three years. White is a gifted athlete who should see the field early, giving the Tide the type of gamebreaker they need alongside Julio Jones. The rest will likely have to wait their turn or find another position to play.
Six More to Watch
Tai-ler Jones (16), Notre Dame
You take away Golden Tate and Michael Floyd and the Irish were surprisingly thin at receiver last year. And with Brian Kelly in South Bend, there will be an even bigger premium on the wide receiver position in 2010. Jones is on campus and will push Duval Kamara and Shaquelle Evans for playing time.
James Green, Toledo
It is often difficult to pinpoint potential breakout recruits from the non-BCS conferences. They are often athletes that have been overlooked or were originally recruited at a different position. Case in point, Eric Page. Page was a 2-star defensive back recruit coming out of high school. Needless to say he wasn't on our radar at this time last year. As we all know now, the jitterbug turned into a weekly fantasy performer at wide receiver. Green, however, is a different story. Originally part of Tennessee's 2009 recruiting class, Green didn't cut it academically and winds up at Toledo a year later. He's a classic big fish in a small pond. At 6-foot-3 he is the complete opposite of Page and has more speed than Stephen Williams, who graduates.
Ross Apo, BYU
The 6-foot-3 Texan will give the Cougars another deep threat to go along side McKay Jacobson. If the Cougs can find a quarterback, Apo could be a nice catch.
Martavis Bryant (18), Clemson
Arguably one of the best athletes of this year's class, Bryant is sure to see the field early for the Tigers. And Kyle Parker could certainly use someone to throw the ball to in 2010.
Trovon Reed (5 - ATH), Auburn
Reed can play multiple positions, obviously our interest lies with him at wide receiver. He can run, catch and even play a little quarterback, so he can be utilized in a multitude of ways by offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Kevin Johnson (75), Oklahoma State
With the arrival of offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to Sillwater, the fantasy value of Cowboy wide receivers is on the rise. Besides Dez Bryant, no Pokes wideout has done much to make us giddy about their fantasy prospectus. So we'll be keeping an eye on newcomers Kevin Johnson, Chris Dinkins and Montra Nelson. On film Johnson is the most explosive, though Dinkins also looks like a good fit for Holgorsen's short passing game.
Cut to the chase...just gimme the rankings
Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee
Kyle Prater, USC
Mike Davis, Texas
Darius White, Texas
Markeith Ambles, USC
Tai-ler Jones, Notre Dame
James Green, Toledo
Ross Apo, Brigham Young
Martavis Bryant, Clemson
Trovon Reed, Auburn
Kevin Johnson, Oklahoma St
Sheldon McClain, Oklahoma
Dyjuan Lewis, Cincinnati
DeAndrew White, Alabama
O.J. Ross, Purdue
Solomon Patton, Florida
Joshua Reese, Central Florida
Darius Terrell, Texas
DeAndre Perry, Houston
Robert Woods, USC
Ivan McCartney, West Virginia
Christian Green, Florida State
Justin Hunter, Tennessee
Quinton Dunbar, Florida
Chris Dunkley, Florida
Chris Jones, Texas
Kadron Boone, LSU
Corey Brown, Ohio State
Kenny Shaw, Florida State
Matt Milton, Tennessee
Ace Sanders, South Carolina
Chris Dinkins, Oklahoma St
Kenny Stills, Oklahoma
Adrian Coxson, Florida
James Louis, Ohio State
Marcus Lucas, Missouri
Vincent Sanders, Ole Miss
Keiwone Malone, Alabama
Blake Sims, Alabama
Ted Meline, Tennessee
Justin McCay, Oklahoma
Joe Powell, Oklahoma
Jeremy Richardson, Auburn
Ronald Carswell, Alabama
John Harris, Texas
Kenneth Scott, Utah
Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame
Daniel Smith, Notre Dame
Terrell Reese, Utah
Julian Wilson, Oklahoma
Montra Nelson, Oklahoma St
Willis Wright, FLA Intl
Antonio Goodwin, Auburn