In 2023, LSU owned the title of “best pass-catching group in the SEC,” and it wasn’t particularly close.

Sorry, but when 1 team has the nation’s leader in receiving yards/game (Malik Nabers) and receiving touchdowns (Brian Thomas Jr.), that title is easy to award.

Heading into 2024, that might be a bit trickier.

With Nabers and Thomas both off to the NFL, the title of “best pass-catching group in the SEC,” is up for grabs. Shoot, maybe LSU will keep it after returning Kyren Lacy and adding top Liberty receiver CJ Daniels. Or perhaps it’ll go to a new SEC team like Oklahoma.

Let’s dig into the top 5 pass-catching groups — because we include tight ends in that discussion — in the SEC for 2024:

5. Georgia

I could’ve gone with LSU because I do think the Lacy/Daniels combination has potential, but I’ll go with the Dawgs even though like the Tigers, they have their own dynamic duo to replace. Brock Bowers was arguably the best tight end in college football history while Ladd McConkey would’ve been a true WR1 on more SEC rosters than people realize.

So what’s to like? A lot. Dominic Lovett and RaRa Thomas are veteran, proven SEC receivers (they led their respective SEC teams in receiving in 2022 before transferring to Georgia for 2023). Dillon Bell is a Swiss Army Knife who could vie for that “All-Purpose” slot on the All-SEC team.

But what gives Georgia the nod for the 5th spot was the transfer additions of London Humphreys (Vandy) and Colbie Young (Miami). Those guys are both big, move-the-chains outside receivers who should become fast friends with Carson Beck. Oscar Delp won’t covet the volume of Bowers, nor will he block at that level, but he’ll flash superstar ability that’ll make us all wonder where Georgia grows these tight ends.

The only thing preventing me from putting UGA even higher on this list is that I’m not sure there’s a guy in that group who’ll take over a game.

4. Oklahoma

If you’re bullish on Jackson Arnold’s potential for a reason beyond “he’s a 5-star talent,” it has to be the pass-catchers. No, they haven’t shined against SEC competition. Not yet.

Jalil Farooq took another step in 2023 and had an impressively low 8.2% drop rate (H/T Eli Lederman) while Nic Anderson established himself as one of the nation’s top big-play threats with 7 catches of 40 yards (No. 7 in Power 5) as a redshirt freshman. Andrel Anthony was Oklahoma’s leading pass-catcher in every major category before he went down with a season-ending injury in October. The 6-5 Jayden Gibson was excellent down the stretch with 3 touchdowns in November and a career-high 44 snaps in the bowl game.

On top of that, Oklahoma got a big-time portal addition with second-team All-Big Ten selection Deion Burks, who’ll be a nightmare to tackle in space with his speed. Burks might be the best NFL prospect of that group in 2024.

If Oklahoma finished in the top 2 in the SEC for the best group of pass-catchers, it wouldn’t surprise me.

3. Tennessee

For my money, Oklahoma and Tennessee are pretty interchangeable on this list.

A leading receiver who suffered a midseason injury? Oklahoma has Anthony, Tennessee has Bru McCoy.

A veteran, reliable No. 2 who took a nice step forward as a between-the-20s guy? Oklahoma has Farooq, Tennessee has Squirrel White.

A big-play threat who could benefit from transitioning to a former 5-star QB who can make every throw? Oklahoma has Anderson, Tennessee has Dont’e Thornton.

An electric transfer who could establish himself as the go-to weapon by season’s end? Oklahoma has Burks, Tennessee has Chris Brazzell II.

There are a ton of similarities. What pushes it over the top for Tennessee is that the Vols added top transfer tight end Holden Staes from Notre Dame, as well as 5-star true freshman receiver Mike Matthews. I also believe that White and McCoy are better than what last year’s Joe Milton-led passing game suggested. I’m not saying that this will be 2022 all over again with Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, but this is as close to a dream scenario as there could be for a talented, first-time starter like Nico Iamaleava.

2. Mizzou

You had me at “Luther Burden III is back.”

I’ll admit that he’s a big part of this. Let’s not forget that he had more receiving yards than Marvin Harrison Jr. OK, he had exactly 1 more receiving yard than Harrison. Burden, when he was healthy, was 1 of the 5 best receivers in the sport. Period. His transition to the slot unlocked all of that 5-star ability and then some. If you’re coming up with a preseason All-American list and Burden isn’t on it, you might have a personal vendetta against him.

But it’s not just Burden. Theo Wease finally had the season he’s been waiting for. After he had 682 receiving yards and 6 scores, he’s coming back for Year 6. Only 4 returning SEC receivers had more receiving yards than Wease in 2023, and 1 of them is Burden.

We also saw Mookie Cooper have his best season to date, and Marquis Johnson flashed that next-level speed with his absurd 29.5 yards/catch. There’s hope that tight end Brett Norfleet will take another step after he had an SEC All-Freshman season with 3 receiving scores.

There are questions about whether Mizzou can repeat last year’s season and land in the first 12-team Playoff, but those questions shouldn’t be at the pass-catcher spots.

1. Ole Miss

My goodness, Ole Miss has an embarrassment of riches at the pass-catcher spots. For my money, 2 of the 3 best SEC receivers are in Oxford. Tre Harris was a revelation after transferring from Louisiana Tech. If he had been healthy all year instead of essentially playing 1 full game until Week 5, he would’ve been a 1,200-yard guy instead of a 985-yard guy. Nobody should be shocked if Harris has an All-American season.

He’ll work alongside a bona fide WR1 in Juice Wells, who entered 2023 as a preseason first-team All-SEC selection before injuries made it a lost year. Wells is going to make highlight-reel plays in that offense, and like Harris, he can take over a game at a moment’s notice.

If we were just talking about those 2 guys, Ole Miss might still be No. 1. But that’s not the case.

Jordan Watkins is back as the primary slot guy after he had 741 receiving yards (No. 4 among SEC returners). Caden Prieskorn is the top returning SEC tight end, which was only confirmed by a 136-yard, 2-touchdown performance in the bowl game. He’ll pair nicely with versatile Virginia Tech tight end transfer Dae’Quan Wright, who had 366 receiving yards in 2023. In case that wasn’t enough, top JUCO receiver Deion Smith signed with Ole Miss after he had 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns in an 8-game season.

There’s depth, there’s versatility, there’s All-American potential.

If Ole Miss does indeed earn that first Playoff berth, there’s a good chance those pass-catchers will be doing a whole lot of heavy lifting.