The SEC only had two 1,000-yard receivers in 2016 (Texas A&M’s Josh Reynolds and Mizzou’s J’Mon Moore), but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of talent at the position.
The conference boasts plenty of elite receivers and many teams feature a pass catcher or two who will soon be playing on Sundays.
Still, no one receiver embodies all the attributes you’d want if you were tasked with creating the perfect wideout. So, in order to build the perfect SEC wide receiver for 2017, you’d have to borrow an elite skill from a few different athletes.
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Here are six of the conference’s best receivers who, together, would make up the hypothetical “perfect” pass catcher:
Body: Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
At 6-3 and 205 pounds, Tennessee junior WR Jauan Jennings has an ideal body type for our perfect receiver.
He’s big enough to go up and grab a ball over an opponent and fast enough to beat a defensive back on a deep route.
Plus, he has a knack for using his body to get himself into the best position to make catches (just ask Georgia fans):
JAUAN JENNINGS YOU LEGEND!!!
?⚪️?⚪️?⚪️?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/KVSuUQAJxy— Vol Nation (@Vol_Updates) October 1, 2016
Hands: Antonio Callaway, Florida
Though Florida star WR Antonio Callaway might not snag every pass that comes his way (much to the chagrin of Gator fans), every talented wide receiver has his fair share of drops.
Still, there’s no one better at making acrobatic grabs than Callaway, as the below highlights prove:
Austin Appleby with the big arm. Antonio Callaway with the great catch. And the #Gators are in business (but Callaway is hurt) pic.twitter.com/BDwq1t8AUW
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) September 24, 2016
Antonio Callaway. Nasty catch. #Florida https://t.co/JuK3EwkIgS
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) October 18, 2015
If redshirt freshman QB Feleipe Franks, who has a tremendous arm, wins the starting job, Callaway will have even more opportunities to show off his flair for highlight-reel catches.
Feet: Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Though Calvin Ridley had to work with a true freshman quarterback last year in Jalen Hurts, the Alabama star still showed off some great footwork along the sidelines.
Ridley spends most of his time lined up outside, so being aware of where the line is and having the body control to make sure he gets one foot in bounds is imperative.
The rising junior will likely be a favorite target of Hurts again in 2017 if he keeps making impressive catches like the ones below:
Ruling overturned. 6-yard TD catch by Calvin Ridley. 17-0 Alabama pic.twitter.com/NWaDOVHdt2
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 1, 2016
What a catch by Calvin Ridley! #Alabama #secfootball (Vine by SEC Football Highlights) https://t.co/XtuvJF8ffL
— Anwar Abdi (@RealAnwarAbdi) January 22, 2016
Speed: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Deebo Samuel was clocked at 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash coming out of high school and it seems as though the rising junior has only gotten faster since joining the Gamecocks.
For evidence, just look at this 99-yard kickoff return touchdown from last season’s game against Western Carolina:
Samuel gets up to full speed quickly and doesn’t lose a step as he runs through a couple of attempted arm tackles. From there, it’s off to the races, and there aren’t many races Samuel is going to lose.
Elusiveness: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
When it comes to making moves in tight spaces, there’s no one better than Aggies star Christian Kirk. In addition to making an SEC-best 83 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns in 2016, Kirk also returned three punts for scores.
At 5-11 and 200 pounds, Kirk isn’t the most physically imposing receiver in the SEC, but his statistics speak for themselves.
If the Aggies need a big play, they get the ball to Kirk and watch him go to work. The list of SEC defenders he’s made look silly is sure to grow even longer in 2017.
Big-play ability: J’Mon Moore, Mizzou
Though Mizzou’s opponents knew QB Drew Lock was going to attempt many long passes in 2016, he still completed a few per game, most of which were hauled in by rising senior WR J’Mon Moore.
Moore is the SEC’s leading returning receiver in terms of yards, catching 62 passes for 1,012 yards last season. Though his hands could be more consistent, Moore has a knack for the big play — whether it’s coming up with a deep pass or taking a short screen and making the most of it.
He averaged an impressive 16.3 yards per catch, with an 82-yard touchdown reception the longest among his 62 grabs. Lock and the Tigers will be looking for him to go long again in 2017, and Moore has proven he’s up to the task.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
