As football fans, we sure do love our milestones.

One of the key milestones for a running back or wide receiver is the 1,000-yard mark.

Right or wrong, at the end of the season a guy that finished with 1,005 yards receiving is viewed differently than a guy with 995.

Given that, we are going to try to predict which receivers will reach that milestone of excellence in 2015.

But before we make some picks, let’s take a look back at the 1,000-yard performers during the last decade to get a better perspective of how many players may be capable of the feat this season:

1,000-yard receivers during the last decade

2014 (3)

  • Amari Cooper, Alabama, 1,727 yards
  • Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 1,136 yards
  • Bud Sasser, Missouri, 1,003 yards

2013 (4)

  • Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 1,477 yards
  • Mike Evans, Texas A&M, 1,394 yards
  • Jarvis Landry, LSU, 1,193 yards
  • Odell Beckham Jr., LSU, 1,152 yards

2012 (5)

  • Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas, 1,335 yards
  • Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 1,323 yards
  • Mike Evans, Texas A&M, 1,105 yards
  • Justin Hunter, Tennessee, 1,083 yards
  • Amari Cooper, Alabama, 1,000 yards

2011 (2)

  • Jarius Wright, Arkansas, 1,117 yards
  • Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee, 1,040 yards

2010 (3)

  • Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, 1,517 yards
  • Julio Jones, Alabama, 1,133 yards
  • Randall Cobb, Kentucky, 1,017 yards

2009 (1)

  • Shay Hodge, Ole Miss, 1,135 yards

2008 (0)

  • None

2007 (3)

  • Stevie Johnson, Kentucky, 1,052 yards
  • DJ Hall, Alabama, 1,005 yards
  • Lucas Taylor, Tennessee, 1,000 yards

2006 (5)

  • Robert Meachem, Tennessee, 1,298 yards
  • Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt, 1,146 yards
  • Sidney Rice, South Carolina, 1,090 yards
  • DJ Hall, Alabama, 1,056 yards
  • Keenan Burton, Kentucky, 1,036 yards

2005 (1)

  • Sidney Rice, South Carolina, 1,143 yards

Quick observations: There were 27 1,000-yard receiver during the last 10 SEC seasons, averaging out to 2.7 per season. While five different players reach the milestone in a single season twice (2006 and 2012), there were two or less 1,000-yard receivers 40 percent of the time.

2015: The Contenders

Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
Why he will: He’s the only player in the league that has done it before. There is a good reason to believe he’ll continue to be one of the most targeted receivers in the league in 2015.
Why he won’t: Cooper had a good connection with QB Dylan Thompson, who has since moved on following the 2014 season. He may not have that same rapport with whoever the new Gamecocks quarterback is in 2015.

Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Why he will: A physical specimen with an elite NFL skill set, he’s nearly impossible to cover. He should be primed for a huge season, provided the new Ole Miss QB is up to the task.
Why he won’t: Though he is reported to be at full strength, there is always the chance that Treadwell does not return to being the player he was prior to last season’s gruesome leg injury against Auburn.

D’haquille Williams, Auburn
Why he will: In Jeremy Johnson, Auburn now has a starting quarterback capable of getting the ball to Williams on a consistent basis. Tigers should throw it more in 2015, which helps.
Why he won’t: After missing six practices in fall camp due to disciplinary issues, we have to consider the possibility that Duke could find himself as an onlooker at some point this season if he displeases the coaching staff.

Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M
Why he will: He got most of the way there last season, and will continue to play in the most receiver-friendly offense in the league.
Why he won’t: While he does play in a pass-happy offense, he also plays alongside a plethora of talented wideouts that Kyle Allen will distribute the ball to out of a four-wide set.

Demarcus Robinson, Florida
Why he will: Quietly productive on a poor offense last season, Robinson has 1,000-yard talent and Jim McElwain’s spin on the offense may be just what he needs to reach it.
Why he won’t: The Gators haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2002 (Taylor Jacobs), and Robinson will be catching passes from an inexperienced quarterback.

Travin Dural, LSU
Why he will: One of the league’s top deep threats, Dural is capable of gathering large chunks of yardage at a time. If he’s able to become a better intermediate receiver, he’ll get there.
Why he won’t: Just like most other things surrounding the upcoming season for LSU, his success will likely be dictated by the performance of the starting quarterback.

The Verdict

The talent is in place for another season during which five SEC receivers reach the 1,000-yard plateau, but I’m not quite ready to predict that level of success. My guess is that the SEC gets most of the way there in 2015, with Cooper, Treadwell, Williams and Reynolds all reaching 1,000 yards.