Top 5 wide receivers in college football for 2018

Continuing my series on the top five players at each position in college football for 2018, we move on to the wide receivers. Once again, this is not a look ahead at these players as draft prospects for 2019, but simply a ranking of them at this level. I look who they were last season and how I expect them to improve this upcoming season.

1. A.J. Brown, Ole Miss

This guy is a dynamic target in the passing game at 6’2” with tremendous talent. Brown came out of the gates on fire as a sophomore, putting up a 233-yard performance through the air in the season-opener and he recorded a total of five games with 150+ yards.

He is not only someone who will punk people in contested-catch situations, but he also is second among returning receivers with 674 yards after the catch, as he forced 23 missed tackles and averaged 16.7 yards per reception. My only problem is that he was held to just one catch against Alabama and two versus LSU, which are the top secondaries he faced all year. However, I love the attitude he plays with and how violent he runs with the ball in his hands.

2. N’Keal Harry, Arizona State

Harry already contributed heavily as a freshman with 728 yards and seven touchdowns, but he improved on those numbers in his second year with 1207 yards and eight scores. Standing at 6’4” with a strong frame, the Sundevil receiver is a nightmare for cornerbacks in the Pac-12 on those back-shoulder passes and any type of 50-50 balls.

He also made some circus one-handed catches last season and has put together a ridiculous highlight reel. Harry might only have average speed and he relies too heavily on his physical advantages rather than technique, but he can grab his defender and swipe by him to create some separation and he invites contact once he secures the catch and rumbles downfield.

3. Deebo Samuels, South Carolina

This is my guy. I’ve been on the Deebo bandwagon since I first saw what he is capable off in the final game of the 2015 season versus Clemson and I just want him to finally dominate for a full season. He had a monster start to last year, when he was used every way possible for 280 yards from scrimmage and took two kicks to the house in the first three games.

Unfortunately, injuries changed his plans once again, as the Gamecock playmaker missed the rest of the season. When he is on the field, however, I don’t think there’s a more electric skill-player in the country. He catches quick throws or screens and takes it the distance, beats defenses over the top, threatens to contain on sweeps and don’t you try kicking it to him.

4. Marquise Brown, Oklahoma

When Dede Westbrook went pro a year ago, Baker Mayfield needed another go-to target at Oklahoma and it didn’t take him very long to find one – Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. That nickname isn’t just about his hometown, but also his style of play.

The former juco transfer just makes one big play after another. At 170 pounds soaking wet he doesn’t really let defenders touch him and usually creates instant separation out of his breaks, with the speed to take the top of the coverage. Once he has the ball in his hands he can switch to another gear and shake just about anybody in the open field.

Obviously, there are some size limitations and he will have to prove what he can do without Mayfield throwing him the ball and former Sooner tight-end Mark Andrew drawing attention across the middle.

5. David Sills V, West Virginia

Recruited by the Mountaineers as a quarterback originally, Sills played receiver sparingly as a freshman, but in the end, wanted to line up under center. With the competition ahead of him, he decided to transfer to El Camino community college.

However, he decided to return to WVU as a full-time receiver and built a strong connection with QB Will Grier right away. That led to 60 catches for 980 yards and a nation-best 18 receiving touchdowns.

Sills lines up the majority of his snaps in the slot and is that big-bodied pass-catcher over the middle and in the red zone, who can shield defenders from the ball and make those tough catches in traffic. What concerns me a little is the fact he didn’t reach 80 yards in any of the final five games.

Honorable mentions: Anthony Johnson (Buffalo), Kelvin Harmon (N.C. State)