It seems with each passing college football season, the importance of having an great passing attack with elite receivers grows. We all know Ohio State owns the best receiver room in college football – that shouldn’t be a surprise. But the pecking order behind the Buckeyes is up for anyone’s interpretation.
Penn State and Maryland have quietly produced receivers as good as anyone in the Big Ten not named Ohio State. That shouldn’t change in 2023, as they both return key players and brought in big additions via the transfer portal.
The Big Ten West was known for ugly offensive football in 2022. But that could change this season, as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois all boast formidable receiving cores.
This is shaping up to be the most talented team Him Harbaugh has had at Michigan. But if there is one question mark on the offensive side of the ball, it’s the production and depth of the wide receivers.
Nebraska and Indiana both have sneaky-good talent at receiver and tight end. Iowa and Purdue both have good depth and few new pieces that offer optimism. But they both seem to be lacking a true WR1.
It’s not all good news though, as question marks are abound for the pass-catchers at Michigan State, Rutgers, and Northwestern.
Read along to get the inside scoop on the wide receivers and tight ends for all 14 Big Ten teams:
1) Ohio State
Top Wide Receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr, Emeka Egbuka, Julian Flemming, Carnell Tate, Jayden Ballard, Xavier Johnson
Top Tight Ends: Cade Stover, Joe Royer, Gee Scott Jr
It’s no secret that Ohio State has had college football’s best receiver room for some time. Marvin Harrison Jr is perhaps the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson and a lock to be picked in the top-5 of the upcoming NFL Draft. Emeka Egbuka will be another 1st-rounder and is regarded the 2nd-best wide receiver in the country. Although Julian Flemming hasn’t quite lived up to the hype he drew as the #1 wide receiver in the 2020 class, his combination of strength and speed makes him a great WR3 for the Buckeyes.
Carnell Tate wasn’t even highest-ranked receiver that Ohio State got in the 2022 class, but his performance in the spring raised lots of eyebrows and drew rave reviews from coaches. He figures to see the field in 2023. Jayden Ballard was a top-5 receiver prospect in the 2021 class. Although he hasn’t seen the field much so far, there is room for his game-breaking speed in this offense.
5th-year senior Xavier Johnson emerged as a swiss army knife for the Buckeyes last year, making an impact at wide receiver, out of the backfield, and on special teams. He should see an expanded role this season.
There are plenty of other talented receivers from the past two classes that might carve out an offensive role this upcoming season. But the 6 guys mentioned above should account for the vast majority of the targets.
Cade Stover – a legitimate receiving threat and powerful blocker – is one of the most versatile tight ends in college football. He has to work on his contested catch ability but is lethal in the open field.
Joe Royer was a 4-star prospect and top-10 TE in the 2020 class. He has only 3 career catches, but figures to mainly be a blocking tight end/fullback for the Buckeye offense. At 6’5″ 250lbs, he can pack a punch.
Gee Scott is a name to watch out for in 2023. He was a top-5 wide receiver and top-50 prospect in the 2020 class. Scott has hauled in only 10 catches since moving to tight end in 2021, but has all the physical tools to make a big jump in his senior season.
Whoever ends up being Ohio State’s next starting quarterback will have weapons galore at his disposal. The Buckeyes boast not only some of the most elite receiving weapons in the nation, but also have ample depth to rely on in the case of injury. This is probably the strongest position unit in all of college football.
Grade: A+
2) Penn State
Top Wide Receivers: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Harrison Wallace III, Dante Sephas, Malik McClain, Omari Evans, Liam Clifford
Top Tight Ends: Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren, Khalil Dinkins
Penn State loses it’s top 2 receivers from last season but return one of college football’s best deep threats in KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He ended the 2022 season with a bang, racking up 124 yards and a TD in the Rose Bowl.
Harrison Wallace III is the most experienced returning receiver behind Smith. The 4-star and top-300 prospect redshirted in 2021 and took a big step forward in 2022 with 19 receptions for 273 yards and a TD. Omari Evans should also push for a starting position in 2023. Although he was just a 3-star in the 2022 class, Evans appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman last season and hauled in 5 catches. He’s another speedster that can take the top off of a defense, while Wallace is a more aggressive receiver with strong hands and good RAC ability.
Although they don’t boast tons of experience, the trio of Lambert-Smith, Wallace, and Evans offer reliable receiving options for Drew Allar. But the real reason there is so much optimism around the Penn State receiving room in 2023 is because of their transfer portal additions: Kent State’s Dante Sephas and FSU’s Malik McClain.
Sephas has averaged 94 yards per game at over 15 yards per catch over the past 2 seasons for the Golden Flashes. He offers great versatility for the Nittany Lion offense with the speed to be a legitimate deep threat and the elusiveness to be effective in the slot. McClain was a 4-star receiver in 2021 but failed to become a consistent starter for the Seminoles, hauling in 33 catches over his first 2 seasons. But at 6’4″, McClain could be Penn State’s go-to red zone option.
Liam Clifford – the younger brother of Sean Clifford – was shouted-out by James Franklin after the spring game and could carve out a role in the slot. He’s a good depth piece behind a strong group of receivers that offer tons of potential.
Penn State loses stud tight end Brenton Strange but return a solid duo in Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren who combined for 452 yards and 7 TDs last season. The Nittany Lions tend to use a lot of tight ends, so 2021 4-star Khalil Dinkins could also see the field. He’s grown an inch and put on nearly 30 pounds since joining the program, so a big jump forward could be in store this season.
Penn State has quietly been recruiting and developing receivers as well as any Big Ten team not named Ohio State for the past 10 years. There is no reason to believe Penn State won’t once again have one of the stronger rooms in the country once again in 2023.
Grade: A
3) Maryland
Top Wide Receivers: Jehsaun Jones, Kaden Prather, Tyrese Chambers, Tai Felton, Octavion Smith Jr, Shaleak Knotts
Top Tight Ends: Corey Dyches, Preston Howard, Rico Walker
Despite the losses of Rakim Jarrett, Jacob Copeland, and Dontay Demus at wide receiver, Maryland reloaded and boasts another strong receiver room. The Terps should once again distribute the ball fairly evenly amongst a litany of different receivers rather than lean on a few stars.
Even so, Jeshaun Jones should be as close as Maryland has to a true #1 receiver in 2023. The 6th-year accumulated 51 receptions over his first 3 seasons and broke out last year, leading Maryland with 44 catches for 557 yards and 4 TDs. What Jones lacks in flash he makes up for in leadership and reliability.
Maryland also returns receivers Tai Felton, Octavion Smith Jr, and Shaleak Knotts. Felton stepped up in his sophomore season with over 300 receiving yards. He also made a couple impressive grabs when his role expanded in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Smith hauled in 12 passes as a true freshman last season after earning a 4-star grade as a prospect. He has a different level of speed than anyone else in this group. Knotts is another 4-star receiver from the 2022 class.
But Felton, Smith, and Knotts will all need to fend off a couple new additions for play time. Kaden Prather was a 4-star receiver who had received 34 scholarships in the 2021 class. The 6’4″ Prather ended up at West Virginia where he had an impressive sophomore season considering how much the Mountaineer offense struggled, catching 52 passes for 501 yards.
Tyrese Chambers transfers from FIU after 3 seasons. He’s averaged 75 yards receiving in his time with the Panthers and scored 21 TDs. Although not quite as physically gifted as some of the other receivers on this team, Chambers has incredible ball skills and could be a dangerous jump-ball threat for Taulia, who likes to improvise.
Maryland also boasts one of the best receiving tight ends in all of college football. Cory Dyches earned Big Ten Honorable Mention last season with nearly 500 yards receiving on 39 catches, good for 2nd on the team. Preston Howard, a 6’5″ converted QB, redshirted his freshman year last season but impressed coaches in the spring and showed off some impressive hands in the spring game. True freshman Rico Walker might see the field too after being the Terps’ top-ranked recruit in the 2022 class.
Maryland doesn’t have a single receiver that enters the season as an easy All-Big Ten choice. But they have as deep of a group as anyone in the country which fits their spread-it-around style of play. This receiving unit should help Taulia Tagovailoa put up the best numbers of his career.
Grade: A-
4) Minnesota
Top Wide Receivers: Chris Autman-Bell, Daniel Jackson, Corey Crooms, Elijah Spencer, Le’Meke Brockington
Top Tight Ends: Brevyn Spann-Ford, Nick Kallerup, Jameson Geers
The Gophers’ wide receiver depth took a bit of a hit after the spring transfer portal window, but Minnesota’s top 3 receiving options all return in 2023, led by Chris Autman-Bell and Daniel Jackson.
Autman-Bell has been a mainstay at receiver since 2018 with nearly 2,000 career yards. He looked to be on his way to a career year with 170 yards in his first 2 games, but an injury in week 3 took him out for the season. Now entering his seventh season, Autman-Bell could be in for an All-Big Ten season.
Daniel Jackson has carved out a role in the Minnesota offense as a freshman in 2020 and has improved each year. Jackson is a true do-it-all receiver with great feet, ball skills, and RAC ability. Autman-Bell and Jackson are one of the top returning receiver duos in the conference.
But both will have to fend off new arrivals Corey Crooms and Elijah Spencer for play time. Crooms has been All-MAC at Western Michigan each of the past 2 seasons, averaging 69 yards per game at nearly 16 yards per catch. Spencer had a huge season for Charlotte last year, hauling in 57 passes for 943 yards and 9 TDs. Crooms is a shiftier receiver who can shake off defenders to gain separation, while Spencer relies more on his speed and jump-ball ability.
Autman-Bell, Jackson, Crooms, and Spencer make up a fearsome foursome at wide receiver. They should earn the lion’s share of the snaps, but Le’Meke Brockington could also see the field a lot in 2023. After redshirting his freshman season, Brockington appeared in all 13 games last year and finished with 11 catches for 203 yards and a TD.
The 6’7″ 270lb TE Brevyn Spann-Ford made a surprising decision to spurn the NFL and return for a 6th year at Minnesota. He finally met his potential as a truly versatile tight end last year, catching 42 balls for 497 yards and a couple TDs. Spann-Ford will be on a lot of pre-season award watch lists and is a great security blanket for a new quarterback.
With just 4 catches combined last season, backups Nick Kallerup and Jameson Geers don’t figure to have a huge role in the passing game. But both are massive individuals and willing, capable blockers.
Minnesota has a massive question mark with new quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who still has a lot to prove. But luckily for him, Minnesota returns a wealth of talent for him to distribute the ball to. The only knock on this group is the lack of a proven #1 receiver who can produce with 10 targets per game. But given Minnesota’s offensive identity, they should be fine without one.
Grade: A-
5) Wisconsin
Top Wide Receivers: Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell, Keontez Lewis, CJ Williams, Bryson Green, Will Pauling
Top Tight Ends: Clay Cundiff, Jack Pugh, Jack Eschenbach, Hayden Rucci
After finishing last season 11th in the Big Ten in pass yards and completion percentage, the Wisconsin pass attack is poised to take a big step forward thanks to a deep, experienced crop of receivers.
Last year’s top 3 receivers return in Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell, and Keontez Lewis. Entering his senior season with over 1,000 yards over the past 3 seasons, Dike is the clear alpha in the group. He is a sharp route-runner, has a strong set of hands, and can be a good deep threat with his speed. After averaging 57 yards per game in 2022, Chimere Dike is primed for the best season yet in 2023.
Skyler Bell and Keontez Lewis were both 3-star receivers in the 2021 class and made their first real impact as redshirt freshmen last season, combining for 757 yards and 8 TDs. The reliable Bell will resume his role in the slot this season. Lewis stands at 6’2″ and gained a lot of praise from Luke Fickell in the spring. The returning receiving trio of Dike, Bell, and Lewis offers great reliability and experience for the Badgers.
Wisconsin also adds a trio of receivers from the transfer portal. CJ Williams transfers from USC after 1 season. He was a top-10 WR prospect in the 2022 class and stands at 6’2″, but didn’t make much of an impact as a true freshman with only 4 receptions. But Williams showed off some advanced route-running and jump ball skills in high school which offers great reason for optimism for his 2023 campaign.
Bryson Green transfers from Oklahoma State after catching 36 balls for 584 yards and 5 TDs last season. He is another outside receiver with good size and ball skills, so it will likely be a competition between he and CJ Williams for major play time. Will Pauling also transfers from Cincinnati after catching 12 passes as a sophomore last season. He will likely back up Skyler Bell in the slot.
On top of the wealth of options at wide receiver, Wisconsin once again boasts a deep and experienced tight end room. Clay Cundiff started the first 3 games of the season in 2022 and hauled in 8 catches for 139 yards. However, a leg injury against Ohio State in week 4 cost him the rest of the season. Now 100% healthy, Cundiff is back for a 5th year and should be the undisputed leader among the tight ends.
Jake Eschenbach’s role expanded after Cundiff went down last season, appearing in all 13 games and catching 14 passes. He should compete with redshirt sophomore Jack Pugh for the primary backup job. Pugh was a 4-star prospect in the 2021 class but has appeared in only 1 game so far in his career. Hayden Rucci has primarily been a blocking tight end so far but also offers great experience with 8 starts last season.
Wisconsin still has yet to name a starter between Braelon Allen and transfer Tanner Mordecai. No matter who wins the job will enjoy an abundance of talent and experience at both wide receiver and tight end. This is a very solid position group for Wisconsin.
Grade: A-
6) Michigan
Top Wide Receivers: Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson, Darius Clemons, Tyler Morris, Peyton O’Leary
Top Tight Ends: Colston Loveland, AJ Barner, Matthew Hibner, Max Bredeson
Michigan sustained some tough losses in their top wide receiver Ronnie Bell and top tight end Luke Schoonmaker. But Cornelius Johnson and Woman Wilson had a strong end to 2022 and look to shoulder the load as far as the wide receivers go.
Johnson was a 4-star receiver in the 2019 class but hasn’t quite lived up to that potential, averaging 43 yards per game over the past 3 seasons. Wilson was a 4-star in the 2020 class and has averaged 28 yards per game over the past 2 seasons. He did show his big-play potential against TCU with 124 total yards and 2 total TDs. Both Johnson and Wilson have tremendous speed and are incredibly electric with the ball in their hands. They can do what will be asked of them to run this offense effectively, but lack the elite separation and ball skills to be great high-volume targets.
With the unexpected loss of AJ Henning, Michigan will have to hope one of their redshirt freshen will step up. Darius Clemons and Tyler Morris are the most likely candidates after both earning 4-star grades in the 2022 class. But the duo combined for only 4 catches last season, so expectations should be tempered.
Peyton O’Leary is a name for Big Ten fans to remember. Wolverine fans already adore the former preferred walk-on. O’Leary earned the praise of coaches after a strong spring game performance. With a pretty thin receiver room ahead of him, the path for O’Leary to carve out a role in this offense is there.
What Michigan lacks in experience and production at receiver is made up for at tight end. Colston Loveland returns after appearing in all 14 games as a true freshman and catching 16 passes for 235 yards and a couple TDs. Matthew Hibner is a senior who appeared in 8 games at tight end last season. Max Bredeson is another preferred walk-on who earned a scholarship after 2021 and appeared in all 14 games at tight end last season. Both Bredeson and Hibner have proven themselves as effective blockers.
The addition of Indiana transfer AJ Barner makes Michigan’s tight end rooms one of the best in the country. Barner was a 3-star in the 2020 class but has grown an inch and gained 30lbs after enrolling at IU. He has 42 catches for 361 yards and 4 TDs in his career. He was also named captain last season as a junior.
Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson are 2 very capable receivers and extraordinary athletes. Although Tyler Morris and Darius Clemons offer some exciting potential, there is some definite concern about the depth behind the returning starters. I simply don’t see how the Wolverines replace the experience and production of Ronnie Bell. However, Michigan does not run very many 3 or 4 receiver sets. The Wolverines can lean on a deep group of versatile tight ends as the catalyst in the pass game.
Grade: B+
7) Illinois
Top Wide Receivers: Isaiah Williams, Pat Bryant, Casey Washington, Kenari Wilcher, Hank Beatty
Top Tight Ends: Tip Reiman, Griffin Moore, Tanner Arkin
The Illini return 3 of it’s top 4 receivers from 2022 in Isaiah Williams, Pay Bryant, and Casey Washington. Williams is a converted quarterback who morphed into one of the most reliable slot receivers in the country last season, catching 82 passes for 715 yards and 5 TDs. He’s not to test the back-end of defenses, but he possesses a solid set of hands and incredible burst.
Pat Bryant are Casey Washington are both outside receivers with good size and speed. Bryant was a 3-star prospect in 2021 and burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman last year, finishing with 34 catches for 453 yards and a couple TDs. Casey Washington is the veteran of the group, hauling in 73 passes over the past 4 seasons for the Illini.
Illinois should once again operate with a run-heavy approach on offense, so Williams, Bryant, and Washington should see the vast majority of snaps at wide receiver. That’s good news for the Illini, as the position gets thin real quick behind them.
Hank Beatty is the most experienced receiver with 7 catches as a true freshman last season. He looks to be the primary backup in the slot. Kenari Wilcher was a top-50 ATH from the 2023 class and is Illinois’ top-ranked receiver in the class. He will have an opportunity to see the field as a true freshman.
Tip Reiman returns as the starting tight end after catching 19 passes for 174 yards and a TD in 2022. His role as a pass-catcher should expand this season with the departure of Luke Ford. Griffin Moore should also see an expanded role in 2023 after only playing in 5 games last season. At 6’5″ 250lbs, Moore looks to finally make a major impact in his 5th season with the Illini. Illinois also added Tanner Arkin from Colorado State who had 14 catches as a redshirt freshman last season.
With the loss of star running back Chase Brown, Illinois may need to lean a little more heavily on the pass attack in 2023 given the experience and talent they boast at receiver. The trio of Isaiah Williams, Pat Bryant, and Casey Washington would normally have Illinois right up there with Wisconsin and Minnesota for the best receivers in the West. But the depth behind them is definitely a concern. It also remains to be seen if Tip Reiman can be a true game-changer at tight end.
Grade: B+
8) Nebraska
Top Wide Receivers: Marcus Washington, Billy Kemp IV, Zavier Betts, Isaiah Garcia-Castenada, Joshua Fleeks, Malachi Coleman
Top Tight Ends: Thomas Fidone II, Arik Gilbert, Janiran Bonner, Nate Boerkircher
With Tre Palmer gone after a 1,000 yard season, Marcus Washington seems primed to step up and have a big 2023. Washington was a 4-star and top-25 wide receiver in the 2019 class but caught only 27 passes over 3 seasons with the Longhorns. He transferred to Nebraska along with Casey Washington last season and was second on the team with 31 catches for 471 yards. Although he could become a more precise route-runner and a bigger red-zone presence, Washington has all the physical receivers to be a true WR1 for the Huskers next season.
Matt Rhule brought in a couple transfers to add some experiene. Billy Kemp IV spent the past 5 seasons at Virginia where he finished top-10 in school history with 192 receptions for nearly 1,800 yards. Also an elite returner, Kemp could be dangerous in he slot with what he can do in the open field.
Joshua Fleeks transfers from Baylor where he played both running back and receiver, totaling 29 carries and 69 catches in his career. Luke Kemp, Fleeks is entering his 6th collegiate season and will bring ample experience with him.
Xavier Betts also returns after spending the 2022 season away from the team for disciplinary reasons. He was a 4-star receiver in the 2020 class and had 32 catches for over 400 yards in his first 2 seasons. Isaiah Garcia-Castenada could also see an expanded role this season. He transferred from New Mexico State last season after putting up nearly 600 yards in 2021, but caught only 5 passes last year.
Malachi Coleman could see the field as a true freshman this season. He stands at 6’4″ and was a consensus top-12 WR in the 2023 class. Coleman might be the best athlete out of the whole group – many schools wanted him as an edge rusher.
The tight end room looks to be a major part of the Husker offense under Matt Rhule and offers a ton of reasons for optimism in 2023. Thomas Fidone was the consensus #2 TE in the 2021 class behind Brock Bowers but hasn’t seen the field much yet. The Huskers also added Arik Gilbert from Georgia. He was the #1 TE and a top-5 player in the 2020 class and now stands at 6’6″ 275lbs. This looks to be the year these two elite high school prospects finally meet their potential and make become difference-makers.
Nebraska has about 10 other guys competing to see the field at tight end this season. Janiran Bonner and Nate Boerkicher seem like the early favorites to see substantial play time. Bonner was a 4-star receiver but redshirted as a true freshman last season and switched to tight end. Boerkicher is a former walk-on who was thrust into the starting lineup last season due to a litany of injuries.
No matter who emerges the key playmakers at tight end, they have even more options than the guys I just talked about. Their biggest concern is likely finding continuity and sticking to a rotation.
There is a lot of player turnover happening at nearly position group for Nebraska in 2023. The Husker receivers have an exciting mix of senior leadership and young, untapped potential. Depth shouldn’t be an issue, but finding a consistent option behind Marcus Washington might take some time to do.
Grade: B
9) Indiana
Top Wide Receivers: Cam Camper, Dequece Carter, EJ Williams, Andison Coby, Donaven McCulley
Top Tight Ends: James Bomba, Aaron Stenfeldt, Bradley Archer
An Indiana program that is entering a pivotal 2023 will at least be able to rely on what I think is college football’s most underrated and least talked about receiving duo: Cam Camper and Dequece Carter. Camper is a known commodity amongst Hoosier fans, leading the team with 46 catches for 569 yards despite playing in only 7 games. He was in his 1st season with the Hoosiers after playing at Trinity Valley Community College.
Dequece Carter is an unknown name among college football games, but is a name to know. Carter has averaged 78 yards per game at over 19.5 yards per catch over the past 2 seasons at Fordham and has over 3,000 yards and 30 TDs in his career. Carter has good size at 6’0″ 200lbs but also has the speed to take the top off the defense and pick up yards after the catch. Dequece Carter and Cam Camper could be an exciting duo for Indiana and 2023.
The Hoosiers also brought in 6’3″ EJ Williams from Clemson. He was a 4-star and top-15 WR in the 2020 class and had 24 catches for 306 yards and a couple TDs as a true freshman. But he’s caught only 18 passes since then.
EJ Williams will battle Andison Coby and Donaven McCulley for the WR3 spot. Coby transferred to Indiana last season after spending a year at Tennessee and finished 2022 with 18 catches for 237 yards and a TD. McCulley was a 4-star QB in the 2021 class who switched to running back in 2021, then wide receiver last year. He could be a good red-zone threat at 6’5″ 210lbs.
Indiana has a deep, exciting group of receivers that could cause a lot of mismatches for defenses if the quarterback position pans out. The tight end position also possesses some compelling talent despite the transfer of AJ Barner.
Aaron Steinfeldt and James Bomba figure to share the majority of the duties after combining for 11 receptions for 74 yards last season. Both are 6’5″ 250lb Indiana natives who were 3-star prospects in the 2021 class. Indiana also brought in Bradley Archer from Stanford where he spent 4 seasons but caught only 4 passes.
Despite the hope I have in this group, a lot of the excitement is based on potential, not production. There’s a good chance this could be one of the more talented receiving cores in the Big Ten but they may not meet their potential due to inexperience at quarterback.
Grade: B
10) Iowa
Top Wide Receivers: Nico Ragaini, Diante Vines, Kaleb Brown, Seth Anderson, Alec Wick
Top Tight Ends: Luke Lachey, Erick All, Addison Ostrenga
Iowa’s pass game has a lot of room to grow in 2023 after finishing last year in the bottom 3 of the conference in pass yards, completion percentage, and pass touchdowns. The Hawkeyes lose their leading receiver and one of the best tight ends in the country in Sam LaPorta. But Luke Lachey should have no problem stepping up into an expanded role at tight end. He finished 2022 with 28 receptions for 398 yards and a team-best 4 TDs. The 2020 4-star could have an All-Big Ten season ahead of him.
Iowa also bolstered it’s tight end room with the addition of former Michigan tight end Erick All. He earned Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2021 with 38 catches for 437 yards and 2 TDs but was limited to only 3 games last season due to injury. All and Lachey might be the best tight end duo in the Big Ten. Addison Ostrenga, who appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman last year, looks solidified as the team’s TE3.
The Hawkeyes face a bigger question mark at wide receiver despite returning two of it’s top three players at the position. Nico Raigini enters his 6th year and has been an effective slot receiver throughout his career, accumulating 124 receptions for 1,347 yards and 4 TDs over the past 4 seasons. Although not immensely explosive, Raigini should be a reliable security blanket for Cade McNamara and offers experience for younger receivers.
Diante Vines also returns for a 4th season at Iowa. He missed the first half of 2022 but hauled in 10 catches for 94 yards in the second half of the season. With a similar build and playstyle to Raigini, there’s a chance only one of these upperclassmen will end up with a starting job – mainly because of a key addition via the transfer portal.
Kaleb Brown transferred to Iowa this spring after spending one season at Ohio State. Although he didn’t see the field as a true freshman for the Buckeyes, Brown was a 4-star and top-100 prospect in the 2022 class thanks to his speed and elite quickness. Although inexperienced, Brown gives the Iowa offense another level of athleticism that was severely lacking in 2022. It might take a few games, but Kaleb Brown could earn a big role in Iowa’s offense.
But wide receiver gets murky real fast behind Raigini, Vines, and Brown. Seth Anderson transferred from Charleston Southern after catching 42 passes for 612 yards and 7 TDs as a redshirt freshman. However, he was unranked as both a prospect & a transfer and possesses a very similar skillset to Raigini and Vines. There’s also Alec Wick – a former walk-on that earned a few starts last season and caught 2 passes.
Luke Lachey and Erick All make up a formidable duo at tight end and the arrival of Kaleb Brown offers some real excitement. But the Hawkeye receiver room is made up almost entirely of slot-types. Without a legitimate deep threat or outside receiver that can make contested catches, this receiver room seems incomplete. That being said, Iowa is not a team to push the ball downfield a lot. Although not flashy, this group should be improved from last year.
Grade: B-
11) Purdue
Top Wide Receivers: TJ Sheffield, Mershawn Rice, Jahmal Edrine, Deion Burks, Elijah Canion
Top Tight Ends: Garrett Miller, Paul Piferi, Ben Furtney
Purdue has a big task ahead of them in replacing WR Charlie Jones and TE Payne Durham. They also lost out on Corey Gammage – an experienced 6’4″ receiver from Marshall that just flipped his commitment to UCF last week. But Purdue does return last year’s #3 and #4 receivers in TJ Sheffield and Mershawn Rice.
Sheffield has been a reliable slot receiver over the past couple seasons for the Boilermakers, catching 82 passes for 805 yards and 5 TDs. He’s a shifty receiver with good straight-line speed and is a good bet to lead Purdue in receptions in 2023. However, Sheffield simply isn’t the playmaker that Charlie Jones, David Bell, and Rondale Moore were as the WR1 over the past few seasons.
Mershawn Rice enters his 5th year after battling injuries for the early part of his career. Finally healthy in 2022, Rice caught 23 passes for 283 yards and a TD. A more physical, outside receiver, Rice is a good contrast to Sheffield. He stands at 6’2″ and 205lbs – up 40lbs since arriving at Purdue back in 2019.
Rice will have to fend off transfer Jahmal Edrine for targets, though. The 6’3″ receiver had 39 catches for 570 yards and 6 TDs in 11 games as a redshirt freshman for FAU last season. A redzone threat with good speed and RAC ability, it wouldn’t shock me to see Edrine emerge as Purdue’s best big-play threat in 2023.
Deion Burks and Elijah Canion look to the primary backups to what appears to be a solidified top-three of TJ Sheffield, Mershawn Rice, and Jahmal Edrine. Burks, a former track star in high school, is entering his 5th season and will likely back Sheffield up in the slot. Canion stands at 6’4″ and transferred from Auburn before the 2022 seasons. But knee injuries led to him appearing in only one game. He has only seven career receptions, but has a lot of potential if he can stay healthy.
Payne Durham dominated snaps at tight end last year, so the position is a little more inexperienced than receiver. Garrett Miller looks to step into the starting role after missing the entirety of 2022 due to injury. The 5th-year senior stands at 6’5″ 250lbs and caught 19 passes for 165 yards in 2021.
It remains to be seen if Miller will separate himself from the rest of the tight ends or if the position will see a steady rotation of players. Paul Piferi and Ben Furtney could also get a lot of play time. Piferi has similar size to Miller and appeared in all 14 games last season, catching 10 passes for 143 yards and a TD. Furtney is a converted linebacker and figures to mainly be a blocking TE/FB for the Boilers.
Sheffield is a very solid slot receiver and the size/athleticism of Mershawn Rice, Jahmal Edrine, and Elijah Canion is reason for optimism in 2023. But I don’t think there is a dominant WR1 on the team this year – something Purdue has become accustomed to over the past 5 or so seasons. And even though Garrett Miller & Paul Piferi could make a dangerous duo at tight end, I’m not sure they’ll be able to replace the production and consistency of Payne Durham. There is certainly talent and depth in Purdue’s receiving room, but lack of experience and proven production keeps them amongst the Big Ten’s weaker receiver units.
Grade: B-
12) Michigan State
Top Wide Receivers: Tre Mosley, Montorie Foster, Christian Fitzpatrick, Antonio Gates Jr, Alante Brown
Top Tight Ends: Maliq Carr, Tyneil Hooper, Jaylan Franklin
Michigan State endured a devastating blow when Keon Coleman announced his departure from the school this past spring. Without any big transfer additions, the Spartans face massive question marks at wide receiver entering 2023.
Tre Mosley appears to be the clear WR1. The 5th-year receiver has 98 catches, 1,176 yards, and 8 TDs over the past 4 seasons. At 6’2″ with decent speed & athleticism, Mosley is a versatile receiver and has been very reliable over his career. But he is not a very threatening WR1 when compared to other receivers in the Big Ten.
The pecking order behind Mosley looks to be completely up in the air. Senior Montorie Foster looks to be the favorite to grab one of the starting positions after an impressive spring. A foot injury limited him in 2022 but is now back to 100%. Christian Fitzpatrick stands at 6’4″ 205lbs and is also a senior. He could be in for a big 2023 after accounting for only 4 receptions since transferring from Louisville in 2021.
Antonio Gates Jr – some of the Hall of Fame tight end – is a name to keep an eye on. He redshirted last season but was a 4-star prospect in the 2022 class and the top-ranked receiver out of Michigan. Gates put his athleticism on display with an impressive spring game and could finish this season as the Spartans’ top receiver.
Michigan State did make a transfer portal addition in Nebraska receiver Alante Brown who will likely battle second-year receivers Tyrell Henry and Jaron Glover for a spot in the receiver rotation. Brown was a 3-star receiver in the 2020 class and hauled in 16 catches for the Huskers last season as a redshirt sophomore.
Last year, the tight end position was split relatively evenly between Daniel Barker and Maliq Carr. With Barker gone, Carr should take over as the sole TE1. He originally enrolled at Purdue as a 4-star prospect and top-5 TE in the 2020 class but transferred to Michigan State after one season. At 6’5″ 250lbs with long arms and a sub-4.7 40, Carr has elite athleticism and could be a game-changer for the Spartan offense. But there is uncertainty behind Carr should he go down with an injury.
Michigan State hit the transfer portal hard at tight end, highlighted by Tyneil Hopper from Boise State and Jaylan Franklin from Wisconsin. Both are 6th-year seniors, but they have only 24 career receptions combined.
Maliq Carr is one of the more underrated tight ends in college football and Montorie Foster & Christian Fitzpatrick both have untapped potential that could come to fruition in 2023. But relying on Tre Mosley as your top receiving option doesn’t seem like a recipe for success. Antonio Gates Jr could end up being a great collegiate receiver and future NFL player, but I think he’s a year away from being a top receiver. The overall lack of experience and proven talent of these receivers is a legitimate concern for Michigan State in 2023.
Grade: C
13) Rutgers
Top Wide Receivers: Naseim Brantley, Chris Long, Isaiah Washington, Rashad Rochelle, Christian Dremel, Davoun Fuse
Top Tight Ends: Johnny Langan, Victor Konopka, Logan Blake
Rutgers offensive woes in 2022 – particularly in the pass game – are well-documented. TE Johnny Langan is the Scarlet Knights’ top returning receiving option after finishing 3rd on the team with 31 catches for nearly 300 yards last season. A converted QB, the 6th-year senior is an underrated athlete and very well could end up leading Rutgers in receiving in 2023.’
There are question marks behind Langan, with Victor Konopka the most experienced option. The senior stands at 6’7″ 250lbs but has only 5 career receptions. True freshman Logan Blake is a candidate to carve out a role. He also stands at 6’7″, but at 215lbs he needs to fill out his frame a bit. I don’t expect a tone of receiving production out of the tight ends behind Johnny Langan.
The Rutgers WR room might be one of the weakest position groups in all of college football if it weren’t for the addition of Naseim Brantley. After putting up over 1,200 yards at Sacred Heart from 2018-21, the 6’2″ 6th-year senior had 53 catches for 903 yards and 9 TDs for Western lllinois last season. Despite not playing D1 football yet, Brantley looks like a plug-and-play WR1 for the Scarlet Knights.
Chris Long looks like the WR2 after finishing 5th on the team last year with 15 catches for 200 yards. A 4-star ATH in the 2020 class, Long is a fast, shifty receiver that can be dangerous in the open field.
The last starting spot will likely be a competition between Isaiah Washington, Rashad Rochelle, and Christian Dremel. Washington is a 6’3″ 205lb 5th-year senior with 49 receptions over the past 4 seasons. Rochelle had 27 carries for 109 yards as a true freshman last year but made the move to WR this off-season. Christian Dremel is another 5th-year senior only has 10 career receptions but reportedly made some big strides this spring. He’s an under-the-radar name to watch to emerge in the slot.
Davoun Fuse is a 6’4″ true freshman that was one of the highest-ranked recruits in Rutgers’ 2023 class. Considering how inexperienced the Scarlet Knight wide receiver room is, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fuse found a role in this offense. As the biggest receiver on the roster, he could be a good red-zone threat.
The good news: Naseim Brantley is a better receiving option than anything Rutgers had in 2022 and Johnny Langan is solid, seasoned tight end that can be a source of leadership for a largely inexperienced room. The bad news: I have no idea who else other than those two players can be a consistent threat in the pass game. The athleticism of Chris Long gives Rutgers a passing grade, but there isn’t a ton of receiving talent for a shaky quarterback room to lean on in 2023.
Grade: C-
14) Northwestern
Top Wide Receivers: AJ Henning, Cam Johnson, Bryce Kirtz, Jacob Gill, Raymond Niro III
Top Tight Ends: Marshall Lang, Thomas Gordon, Duke Olges
Let’s keep this simple: Northwestern is in a dire position as far as the offensive skill positions go. Michigan transfer AJ Henning was a huge addition from this spring. A 4-star prospect from the 2020 class, Henning is an explosive athlete with elite speed. He’s the kind of player you want to find any way to get him the ball in the open field. But with only 25 career receptions, Henning has made most of his impact through end-arounds and in the return game. His arrival certainly elevates the wide receiver room, but Northwestern will likely have to rely on him for the majority of their production and big plays which is a dangerous proposition.
Northwestern also brought in Cam Johnson from Arizona State. He was a 4-star receiver in the 2018 class and originally enrolled at Vanderbilt where he racked up 124 receptions for over 1,200 yards and 3 TDs. But he transferred to Arizona State last year and struggled to see regular playing time, finishing the season with only 10 receptions. Though not a crazy athlete, Johnson is a physical outside receiver with good ball skills that compliments Henning’s speed nicely.
Behind Henning and Johnson, Bryce Kirtz is the most experienced returning receiver. A 4-star prospect in the 2019 class, Kirtz has 36 receptions for just over 400 yards over the past 2 seasons. Though he doesn’t possess the speed of Henning, Kirtz has a very similar game and will also operate close to the line of scrimmage.
The only other receivers with any experience are Jacob Gill and Raymond Niro III. Gill was a 3-star prospect in the 2021 class and has 15 catches over his first two seasons. Niro was an unranked prospect back in 2018 and has played at both receiver and running back in his five years with the program.
Marshall Lang and Thomas Gordon figure to split tight end duties again after they combined for 27 receptions last season. Duke Olges provides some depth after switching over from the defensive line last season and appearing in 10 games.
There is actually some really solid depth at both wide receiver and tight end for Northwestern in 2023. But AJ Henning is more of an elite open-field athlete than polished wide receiver. And everyone behind him looks more like a role player – not someone who can elevate their game and be a true #1 receiving option. Who knows – there may be good talent in this unit that was just overshadowed by poor QB play last season. But there aren’t any players here that really excite me with their potential. I think it’s fair to say Ben Bryant has the weakest group of receivers to throw to out of anyone in the Big Ten.
Grade: D+