Wide Receiver U: ESPN releases updated Top-10 for best WR producing schools

ESPN has released its new Position U rankings to see which schools should be named the best of the best at producing talent at each position, including at wide receiver.

The metrics used for the rankings include college accolades, NFL Draftees and NFL stats through the first five years of a players career. For schools like Notre Dame, they used projected all-conference honors since they would be at a disadvantage in tallying up scores. For players who attended multiple schools, the NFL Draft and NFL stats numbers used are for the team’s last school.

The wide receivers list has a few teams set away at the top with many teams having a claim at the title of Wide Receiver U. But one West Coast program still holds the title.

1. USC Trojans

USC has been a consistent home for wide receiver talent for years, and the hiring of Lincoln Riley would appear to continue that into the future. Just last year the Trojans added Jordan Addison in the transfer portal coming off his All-American and Biletnikoff Award-winning season.

It also helps that Riley is an excellent recruiter of quarterbacks. There’s few things that can interest a wide receiver recruit like playing with an elite QB.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

For the last few years, there has been no better school at producing wide receiver talent than Ohio State. Brian Hartline’s room has produced three first round picks over the last few seasons with another one — Marvin Harrison Jr. — coming this next year.

It could be Harrison that lifts the Buckeyes to the No. 1 spot in the rankings. The son of the former NFL star is the consensus best wideout in the country — On3 ranks him as the best non-quarterback in college football — and is receiving some dark horse Heisman buzz. A Heisman victory could put the crown on top of the Buckeyes head.

3. LSU Tigers

LSU has consistently produced dynamic wide receivers — and defensive backs to cover those players. From Odell Beckham Jr. to Justin Jefferson to Ja’Marr Chase, the elite talent at LSU has few equals. Surprisingly, only Chase and Josh Reed have won the Biletnikoff Award for the Tigers.

They’ve done this despite having multiple coaches with different styles during this time. Change is constant in football but the Tigers producing star talent.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

Nick Saban at Alabama will be remembered for his defense but there’s arguably no position group as good for him as wide receiver over the last few years. There’s no greater example than DeVonta Smith.

Smith was a great player for the Crimson Tide for three years but was never the star or focal point of the offense. Then he got his shot in 2020 and won the Heisman Trophy, the first receiver to win since Desmond Howard.

5. Oklahoma Sooners

Much like with USC now with Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma had the Riley boost helping it get wide receiver talent. The high moment came with Dede Westbrook winning the Biletnikoff Award in 2016.

But to give Riley much of the credit would be short sighted. The Sooners have been developing wideouts for years, especially during the Bob Stoops era that is incorporated into this list. In 2005, the team had three players drafted in the first three rounds of the draft.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State has not had a wide receiver drafted into the NFL since James Washington in 2018 but the program still knows how to produce talent at the position. In a three-year period, the school produced Dez Bryant and Justin Blackmon.

While they had two very different NFL careers, the two were both elite college players. Bryant was a unanimous All-American in 2008. Blackmon — one of the best wideouts in the modern college football era — was a two-time unanimous All-American and two-time Biletnikoff Award winner. That production will keep Oklahoma State on the list for a long time.

7. Florida State Seminoles

Florida State has not had many wide receivers drafted in recent memory but the team has had plenty of wide receiver talent. The most notable name is Peter Warrick, who was selected fourth overall in 2000.

Warrick is helping the Seminoles keep their place in this ranking due to his multiple All-American honors and three All-ACC honors. But as he graduates out of this list in the coming years, Florida State might fall off the list completely.

8. Florida Gators

While Florida has consistently been one of the most inconsistent teams the past two decades, they have been fairly consistent about producing wide receiver talent. Percy Harvin, all these years later, is the still the face of the program’s wideout talent but there are plenty of other players who have starred for the Gators.

Florida has had three wideouts drafted in the last four drafts, headlined by Kadarius Toney in 2021. Toney just won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, scoring a key touchdown and completing the longest punt return in the championship’s game history.

9. Pitt Panthers

Pitt is an interesting case study because it is still — all these years later — being headlined by Larry Fitzgerald. One of the best wideouts of this century, Fitzgerald finished second in the Heisman race in 2003. He then went No. 3 in the draft to the Arizona Cardinals, where he put together a Hall of Fame career.

In terms of these rankings, Addison’s NFL production will mot count towards the Panthers. That is a major loss for the team, as Addison’s potential in the NFL could have resulted in Pitt climbing up the ladder once again.

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame has had only one wide receiver drafted in the first round of the draft this century in Will Fuller. But the Fighting Irish have consistently produced competent wide receivers who can play at the next level.

Players like Golden Tate — who actually won the Biletnikoff Award in 2009 — and Chase Claypool exemplify that. The two second round picks, drafted about a decade apart, have each crafted a solid career in the NFL.

While these are the 10 schools right now, the list could look very different come next year. Ohio State, Alabama and LSU all have good shots to rise to No. 1. And there are schools like Clemson and Tennessee that have the potential to rise thanks to current talent and recent draftees.