Which SEC wide receiver is the superior player: Auburn’s D’haquille Williams or Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell?

NFL scouts and coaches will be tuning into 2015 to watch these guys put on shows during the season to hopefully get a glimpse of their play-making ability and enormously high ceilings.

Both are big, physical pass catchers and nearly the same size. Treadwell is listed at 6-2, 210 pounds, while Williams is listed at 6-2, 220 pounds. Williams’ frame reminds me a lot of former South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery, who’s listed at 6-3, 215 pounds.

Treadwell and Williams are the top two pass catchers in the SEC — and maybe the country. The world will be watching to see these guys’ games in their high-flying offenses. And regardless of which team you like, either receiver would be perfect for your team’s style of play, because they can do it all.

But only one receiver can reign supreme heading into the 2015 season. Let’s get down to business:

Ball skills

Catching the football is essential for wide receivers. After all, that’s why they are receivers, right?

Both players are tall, rangy and physical pass catchers. You have to love that as a quarterback. Give me a guy who can go get it at any time. Treadwell or Williams can do just that.

However, last year, Williams dropped a few passes he shouldn’t have, along with his former teammate Sammie Coates. Williams recorded 45 receptions last season. Treadwell has produced better numbers in two straight seasons. (Williams did miss some games in 2014 due to injury).

Treadwell’s first season was eye opening. He caught a team-high 72 passes in 2013, the third most in the SEC behind Jordan Matthews and Jarvis Landry, and while he didn’t prove he was a run-after-the-catch threat, he proved he can catch it as well as any player in the country. He just catches everything thrown his direction. Give me that guy.

Advantage: Treadwell

Big-play ability

While Treadwell has proven he’s the most reliable receiver on the team, he hasn’t shown his enormous big-play potential yet. He has it somewhere deep inside, and improving the quarterback play will help that ability come out of its shell. In two seasons, Treadwell has averaged 10.3 yards per reception.

Treadwell has much more in the tank from a catch-and-run standpoint. I don’t think we’ve quite seen the diamond yet, although we’re scratching the surface.

Williams hasn’t been in the league quite as long as Treadwell, but he’s a big-play threat on every possession. Williams averaged 16.5 yards per reception in 2014, and there’s more to come with the offense taking a new identity under quarterback Jeremy Johnson.

Williams is the just the bigger-play receiver at this stage in his career. That’s not to say Treadwell won’t pass him; Treadwell could have the higher ceiling of the two at the next level.

One-handed touchdown catch

Great diving catch

Advantage: Williams

Outlook for 2015

Ole Miss has quarterback questions. Whether it’s Chad Kelly or Ryan Buchanan, the Rebels’ offense will need to feed Laquon Treadwell the football.

Treadwell’s production, when healthy, has been off the charts his first two seasons under average quarterback play from Bo Wallace. He’s caught 120 passes for 1,240 yards and 10 touchdowns. Obviously, Treadwell’s season ended early due to his broken leg. Freeze’s offense features a typical spread-‘em-out attack, but the quarterback play has to improve as the offensive identity evolves.

Williams, too, will get a new quarterback in 2015. Jeremy Johnson will be handed the reins of Gus Malzahn’s electric offense, and under Johnson, the offense is expected to attack downfield more. That bodes well for Williams’ production to improve. He caught 45 passes for 730 yards and five touchdowns during his first season. And we’ve seen glimpses of Johnson’s game under center. It will be an improvement, certainly in the passing game, from what AU showed with Nick Marshall.

Not only would I project Auburn’s offense to lead the SEC, but it should be one of the tops in college football, balanced with a better overall passing game. The biggest thing Treadwell has going for him this season is the players around him. He’ll have more talent and depth at the position than Williams will at Auburn, meaning defenses can’t just key in on him as much.

Advantage: Williams

Conclusion

You truly can’t go wrong with either player, but give me one receiver for 2015, and I’m going with Duke Williams. If you decide both players are just about even in athletic and catching ability, give me the better downfield passing attack.

This season, that could belong to Auburn. Williams showed in 2014 he’s more than capable and comfortable being the star who makes big catches in big situations.

That’s not to say Treadwell won’t prove me wrong. Believe me, I’m in sports media, being wrong about projecting players is part of the job description. He can certainly make a statement and go on to become the SEC’s top drafted receiver in 2016.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper agrees with me, however. Kiper had this to say about Williams in Auburn’s offense:

“When you look at Duke Williams, he’ll be the No. 1 guy,” Kiper said. “Next year, he’ll go into the season right there at the top.

“Obviously, you’re in an offense where they’re going to run the ball, and Nick Marshall’s moving on,” Kiper said. “But you’ve got the quarterback, (Jeremy) Johnson, who played well and showed promise.”