CBS Sports ranks top wide receiver rooms in college football entering 2022 season
With the 2022 college football season now less than three months away, CBS Sports has released a list of the top receiver rooms in the country. There was plenty of shakeup this offseason with players departing for the NFL and teams boosting their talent through the transfer portal.
That should lead to some new programs emerging in the passing game, though many of the usual suspects such as Ohio State and Alabama remain as well. Below is a summary of the rankings from CBS Sports.
Top five college football receiver rooms 2022
The Buckeyes may have lost Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave to the NFL Draft, but there is no shortage at receiver in Columbus. They return Jaxon Smith-Njigba — the No. 1 receiver in college football according to On3’s Impact 300 who is coming off of a 1,606-yard season. Former five-star prospects Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming should also take on larger roles, as should Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. USC Trojans
Lincoln Riley has completely retooled the USC roster since arriving in Los Angeles. The receiver room added last year’s Biletnikoff winner in Pittsburgh transfer Jordan Addison as well as Oklahoma transfer Mario Williams. In all, the Trojans brought in four receivers via the portal. USC also returns Gary Bryant Jr., who finished with 579 yards and tied for a team-high seven touchdowns in 2022.
Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has to be happy with the weapons he has heading into 2022. Maryland brings back last year’s leading receiver Rakim Jarrett (829 yards, five touchdowns) and adds Florida transfer Jacob Copeland. After playing just five games due to injury in 2022, Dontay Demus is also back for his fifth season. He finished second on the team with 507 yards receiving despite playing in half the games as most other players.
The Crimson Tide went to a rival school in the transfer portal this offseason, taking away Jermaine Burton from Georgia. He joins Louisville‘s Tyler Harrell as the two transfers in the receiver room this season. Alabama also expects big things from JoJo Earle — an All-SEC Freshman Team selection last season as a return specialist — and Ja’Corey Brooks.
The Longhorns are coming off of a 5-7 finish in coach Steve Sarkisian’s inaugural season, but better results are expected in 2022. A big part of that is Xavier Worthy, who burst onto the scene last year as a true freshman with 981 yards and 12 touchdowns. They also adding Isaiah Neyor, the No. 3 receiver according to On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings. Throw in Alabama transfer tight end Jahleel Billingsley and a healthy Jordan Whittington, and this Longhorns passing game looks ready to make some noise.
Honorable mention receiving rooms
The following teams were listed as honorable mention according to CBS Sports: