Spotlight on NCAA’s Elite
It seems an eternity, but the season is only 30 days away. Many unanswered questions are ahead of the 2023 season, including the top returning collegiate receivers. NFL teams have placed a heightened emphasis on the position, evidenced by the number of players selected in the early rounds of the NFL Draft.
On3 Sports recently posted a list of returning receivers who had the top-10 most yards in the NCAA last season.
Ohio State’s Dominant Duo
Two of the top four players are from Ohio State, which has churned out some elite NFL talent at the position over the last several years. Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. posted over 1,100 yards last season and are poised to do so again. However, now that C.J. Stroud is out of the picture, Ohio State will turn to Kyle McCord or Devin Brown as their starter. While it remains to be seen how Harrison and Egbuka’s roles will shape up in a new style of offense, we’re confident they will be dominant pair of collegiate receivers.
Malachi Corley: WKU’s Shining Star
Malachi Corley led the nation in receiving yards in 2022, posting nearly 1,300. While WKU isn’t necessarily the powerhouse of OSU, he’s proven as a talented collegiate receiver. Unlike OSU, Corley’s QB is returning to the team for another season. Last season, Austin Reed threw for 4,744 yards in this offense. If he stays on that trajectory, there’s no reason not to replicate success.
Keylon Stokes: A Veteran’s Journey
We highlight Keylon Stokes, who is heading into his seventh collegiate season. Stokes, one of the best collegiate receivers, finished third in the NCAA in 2022. We’re projecting him to meet his numbers from last season and fly past them. Tulsa’s starting QB is Braylon Braxton, who looked good when he took over as the starter last year. We’re confident that Braxton’s dominance will continue, leading to career numbers for him and Stokes.