Last year’s class of SEC receivers was particularly deep, meaning that there wasn’t much room for freshmen to shine. South Carolina’s Bryan Edwards led all SEC freshmen with 590 yards and four touchdowns. That yardage total is impressive on its own but was just 20th in the conference. 

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There were other bright spots, including Missouri’s Dimetrios Mason and Ole Miss’s Van Jefferson, who co-headlined the Freshman All-SEC Team with 587 and 543 yards respectively. Florida’s Tyrie Cleveland also came on late with a 98-yard touchdown against LSU that would be the biggest play in the Gator’s biggest win.

It was a far cry from 2015, when true freshmen Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk finished second and third in SEC receiving yards with 1,045 and 1,007, respectively.

What impact will the 2017 class make? With only five of the top 10 leaders in receiving yardage returning, it could pave the way for the new class of freshmen to make their mark.

Passing was generally down last year as a transitional year at quarterback led to only two 1,000-yard receivers after having four in 2015. Because the majority of programs have now found their quarterback of the future, this crop of receivers could see chemistry build with their current signal caller for two or even three more years.

We’ll start at the top, with Alabama, which signed four of the five best receivers entering the league. For brevity’s sake, and to spread the love to other corners of the league, we grouped them as one.

1. Alabama’s class, headlined by Jerry Jeudy – No. 3 WR, No. 23 overall

https://twitter.com/cometoBama/status/826971572040826880

Highlights:

This offseason should have been a rare occasion where SEC fans could make jokes at Alabama’s expense. They lost the national championship game at the hands of Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow, a former walk-on receiver who wouldn’t crack their depth chart. They lost two offensive coordinators in two months – one to lowly FAU, and one to an Atlanta Falcons team that just blew a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl.

The Tide responded by bringing in one of the nastiest recruiting classes to date, complete with four of the top five receivers to sign with an SEC school this year. Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith (No. 9 WR/No. 64 overall), Henry Ruggs III (No. 11/No. 77) and Tyrell Shavers (No. 12/No. 88) are the Tide’s version of a Fab Four, and the chances that at least one of them won’t pan out are slim to none.

Jeudy, the lone 5-star WR to join the SEC, is the brightest star of the bunch.

Jeudy is listed at 6-1 but plays bigger. His fast-twitch muscles are insane, and while he doesn’t exactly possess mind blowing straight-line speed, he makes up for it with veteran moves to get separation.

His double moves in space and off the line are crisp and explosive. His ability to track the ball and adjust to its speed will get him on any quarterback’s good side. That variance in speed also makes him deceptively hard to tackle, as getting the angle as a defender can be difficult.

Jeudy’s ability to catch at the high point is natural, and his highlight reel is full of Moss-style plays on the goal line. This is accentuated by his vertical leaping, which he also uses to hurdle defenders who go low.

Shavers, listed at 6-6, 196, enrolled early and no doubt has found the weight room.

2. Jhamon Ausbon, Texas A&M – No. 10 WR, No. 75 overall

Highlights:

Though Jeudy and Devonta Smith are rated ahead of Jhamon Ausbon, the Texas A&M commit might be the most dominant of the three. Maybe having 4-star talent of IMG Academy teammate Kellen Mond under center gave him the edge, but Ausbon looks like a real playmaker on tape.

The 6-2.5 Ausbon gets to balls that appear uncatchable with elite athleticism, long arms, and a built-in ball tracking radar. He genuinely jumps off the tape whenever he’s on the field, using his large frame to box out defenders as well as out-jumping those that have the better positioning.

Ausbon is a phenomenal goal-line pass catcher, snatching imperfect passes out from the hands of defenders and corralling them for catches that even the NFL would recognize.

A well-rounded player, he also excels at blocking for screens and making plays in space when it’s his turn to catch them.

With Texas A&M’s wide-open passing attack, as well as their penchant for developing receivers, Ausbon should be a threat right out of the gate. Add in existing chemistry with Mond, who he will be joining him in College Station, and this could be a deadly duo for at least three years.

3. James Robinson, Florida – No. 14 WR, No. 114 overall

Highlights:

James Robinson is probably the best pure football player on this list. He might be the best receiver, too. If football were played like rugby, without line changes for offense and defense, Robinson is a lock for a top-10 pick in the class. In his highlight reel, he does nearly everything but kick and pass. He forces fumbles, delivers hits, makes acrobatic catches, throws defenders down like small children and returns kicks.

The Lakeland, Fla., prospect is listed at 6-4, 205 pounds, displays elite speed and has a junkyard dog mentality that comes from also playing physical defense. Robinson is the farthest thing from a diva. He welcomes contact, throwing his large body and extending his arms to fight for first downs.

That kind of mentality can be scary in college because while DBs get taller, they typically don’t reach 6-4. Often, corners are used to chasing receivers out of bounds or wrapping them up at a standstill. That won’t be easily accomplished against Robinson.

The key question is: Can Florida, with its quarterback issues, take advantage of Robinson’s gifts?

4. Georgia’s duo: Jeremiah Holloman – No. 18 WR, No. 125 overall
Mark Webb – No. 22 WR, NO. 138 overall

Highlights:

Georgia’s receiver corps was among the weakest in the league in 2016, which heavily contributed to the inconsistency of freshman quarterback Jacob Eason. In Year 2, coach Kirby Smart again flexed his recruiting muscles by adding two pass catchers to complement Eason’s pro-style skills.

In an offense that looked to be strapped by the departure of Isaiah McKenzie, their only true playmaker, the Bulldogs might have gotten more explosive on the recruiting trail.

Mark Webb is a burner who excels at creating space and making defenders miss in the open field. He has solid ball tracking skills but doesn’t body up DBs like other players in this class. That being said, his vision as a ball carrier is elite and he is elusive in a way that can’t be taught. It would be easy to see him in a return man role at some point in his career.

Ranked slightly ahead of Webb is Jeremiah Holloman, a slightly slower but also more physically talented version of the same prototypical player. Holloman profiles as more of a true No. 1 who can go up and get it on the goal line, while splicing in a bit of versatility in the open field as well. Holloman also has the best chance to see early playing time as an early enrollee.

Combine these two playmakers with tight end Isaac Nauta, who enjoyed a productive freshman season after being the No. 12-ranked player overall from last year’s class, and Eason will lead another SEC passing corps that will be difficult to contain for years to come.

5. OrTre Smith, South Carolina – No. 19 WR, No. 130 Overall

Highlights:

Will Muschamp, often criticized during his time at Florida for his emphasis on defense, has made a full 180 in his year and a half in Columbia. Already, Muschamp has brought in Jake Bentley, Rico Dowdle and Bryan Edwards, three impact freshmen at the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver spots.

In 2017, the Gamecocks added more talent including receiver OrTre Smith and athlete Shi Smith. These two share more than a last name, as they are also the No. 1 and 2 prospects in the Palmetto state.

Landing OrTrey Smith is a huge deal for the Gamecocks, as he is possibly the most talented pass catcher to come out of South Carolina since Lane Kiffin was telling Alshon Jeffery that he’d be pumping gas after his college career. Jeffery turned out to be one of the most prolific pass catchers during his time in the SEC and similar expectations wouldn’t be ridiculous for the new in-state 4-star.

Sadly, Smith’s high school tape is of terrible quality, so the best available video comes from Nike’s The Opening event. That might be his best work, however, as it shows off his athleticism and acrobatics. His 6-3, 215-pound frame and long arms are perfect for snaring passes bound for incompletions.

The Gamecocks could be nasty on offense if the play calling optimizes the young talent. With Bentley as the cemented starter under center, leading receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end Hayden Hurst returning, South Carolina has one of the better trios in the SEC.