ESPN names WRU, updates Top 5 for wide receiver producing schools

In the past three years, there have been 17 first-round draft picks at the wide receiver position. Many of these receivers went to the same school and we’re even teammates, further sparking the debate of which school produces the most talent out wide and should be deemed WRU. ESPN Stats & Information took it a step further, and calculated the top five schools for the each of the major positions since 1998 (the start of the BCS era), and weighing in factors like all-conference and All-America selections, being drafted (weighted by round) and for success at the next level (using Pro Football Reference’s weighted career value on the first four years of an NFL career). 

There may be more talent than ever at the college and professional level at the wide receiver position, let’s see who ESPN deemed as WRU.

The top 5

1. USC
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State

Best by conference

ACC: Florida State (No. 7)
Big 12: Oklahoma
Big Ten: Ohio State
Pac-12: USC
SEC: LSU
Non-Power 5: Western Michigan (No. 19)

ESPN gave the WRU title to USC, as they currently have seven receivers on NFL rosters heading into the 2022 season. Keyshawn Johnson was the first overall pick of the 1996 NFL draft, and he may have missed the cut off for the WRU criteria, but started a movement that would propel USC as a premier school in terms of wide receiver talent. Since Johnson was picked, 20 USC receivers have been drafted, including including familiar names like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Robert Woods and young, emerging stars in Drake London and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

As far as quantity goes, USC is tough to argue against. But in regards to quality, LSU and Alabama can definitely make a strong case for the WRU crown as well. In recent years LSU boasts big name NFL talent like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, as well as elite young talent in Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, who are regarded by many as top ten receivers in the NFL.

Alabama actually has more current NFL receivers than USC with ten, and are led by future hall of fame receiver Julio Jones, who has a resume that not many can compete with. The Tide also have also produced some of the leagues best route runners in Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, and Jerry Jeudy, as well young rising talent like Heisman trophy winner DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.

ESPN may have crowned USC as WRU, but it will definitely be interesting to see if that changes in the future based on how the abundance of young receiver talent continues to blossom.