College football's top 10 wide receivers
An elite wide receiver can change the dynamic of an entire season with a single catch. The truly great ones provide a steady hand during pivotal drives downfield and bail out their quarterbacks by catching seemingly lost throws.
The following wideouts will be counted on to do just that this season.
Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
Despite playing for an under-performing South Carolina team, Cooper cobbled together an impressive 2014, making 69 catches for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns. That haul was good enough to secure the 5-foot-11, 208-pound wideout second place in the SEC in receiving yards.
William Fuller, Notre Dame
It'll be interesting to see how Notre Dame's Fuller adjusts to playing with new Irish quarterback Malik Zaire. If the duo can find a rhythm, the 6-foot, 180-pound Fuller could do some real damage. In 2014, he pulled down 76 catches for 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Rashard Higgins, Colorado State
Colorado State's Higgins dominated national stat sheets last season, finishing first in the nation in receiving yards, yards per game, and touchdowns. He also finished eighth in receptions per game and 10th in total receptions. He finished the year with 96 catches for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2014.
D'haquille Williams, Auburn
Williams put up some decent numbers in his first season with Auburn in 2014, picking up 45 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns - good enough to put the former JUCO standout third in receiving yards per game in the SEC. With Auburn poised to become more offensively minded as it targets a national championship and with a quarterback more apt to throw the ball, Williams could become an even more dangerous threat for the Tigers.
Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Shepard started his junior campaign in 2014 on pace to match the national receiving leaders, but a midseason groin injury caused him to miss three games and see only limited action in another two. If he can stay healthy, Shepard will most certainly improve on last year's totals of 51 receptions for 970 yards and five touchdowns.
KD Cannon, Baylor
Cannon's freshman year showed he doesn't need plenty of touches to do significant damage for Baylor. The wideout totaled 1,030 yards and eight touchdowns on only 58 catches. Despite some strong early play - he accrued 223 yards against Northwestern State - Cannon's numbers dipped as the top-ranked Bears offense turned to more established weapons later in the season.
Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's Boyd spent the offseason attracting attention for all the wrong reasons. He's staring down a suspension for the season opener from the team after being charged with driving while impaired in July. But make no mistake, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior remains a force. In 2014, he made 78 catches for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns. More will be expected of him this season.
Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Coming off a gruesome season-shortening leg injury last November, Treadwell remains one of this year's biggest question marks. But if the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior can return to form, he'll provide the Rebels with some impressive firepower. Despite missing four games, he caught 48 passes for 632 yards and five touchdowns in 2014.
JuJu Smith, USC
Smith appears poised for an explosive sophomore season after an impressive debut performance in 2014, when he made 54 catches for 724 yards and five touchdowns. The Long Beach, Calif., native will be counted on to make a major impact for the Trojans, who are seeking a return to form as a college football power.
Mike Dudek, Illinois
Dudek is expected to miss at least the first month of the season after suffering a torn ACL during spring practices. But if the All-American wideout returns this season, look for him to improve on a stellar 2014 freshman campaign. He nabbed 76 catches for 1,038 yards and six touchdowns.