Ranking the top 10 SEC wide receivers after spring practices
The SEC lost a few big-name receivers this offseason — Ole Miss’s A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, Mizzou’s Emanuel Hall, Georgia’s Riley Ridley and Auburn’s Darius Slayton among them.
Still, the conference is loaded at the receiver position, especially down in Tuscaloosa, where the Alabama Crimson Tide have an absolutely stacked receiving corps.
From there, most teams have a clear No. 1 target, many of whom will be playing on Sundays in the very near future.
So, who are the 10 best pass catchers on SEC rosters? Here’s a look heading into the 2019 season:
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
This one is easy. Jeudy could have potentially been the first receiver picked in the 2019 NFL Draft had he been eligible.
Instead, the rising junior returns for (presumably) one last ride in Tuscaloosa, where he’ll try to build on last year’s outstanding numbers — 68 catches, 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns. No one else can juke defenders like this:
Jerry Jeudy is different 👀 pic.twitter.com/zsJV2C0C6u
— Receiver Life (@ReceiverLife_) November 11, 2018
He’s a star and should once again put up huge numbers for the Crimson Tide in 2019 catching passes from QB Tua Tagovailoa. Then, he’ll almost certainly be off to the 2020 draft, where he could end up as a top 10 pick.
2. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Waddle’s speed is off the charts, and he gets to show it off quite a bit in an Alabama uniform.
Just look at this touchdown against Tennessee last year. Notice how he breaks away from the defenders to make the catch, then turns the corner and leaves everyone in his dust:
Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle 77-Yard TD #Bama #Vols #Cbs pic.twitter.com/qNK6q5zOD6
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) October 20, 2018
Waddle also contributes on special teams, making him even more valuable to the Crimson Tide:
https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1046078054580318209
3. Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt
Lipscomb led the SEC in receptions last year, hauling in 87 passes from QB Kyle Shurmur. He’ll have a new quarterback this fall, but he should continue to be one of the most-targeted receivers in the conference.
His 10.5 yards-per-catch average could be better, but he catches everything thrown his way.
4. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Much is made of Ruggs’ speed (and rightfully so), but the guy has elite hands, too. Look at this catch against LSU:
Are we sure that Henry Ruggs isn't made of wool?
Because this man has some MITTENS. pic.twitter.com/Tf2zWWbh4G
— Carter Donnick (@CDonScouting) May 3, 2019
And this touchdown grab against Auburn:
Henry Ruggs means business.
– Uses a little inside hesitation at the LOS
– Attacks CB vertically
– Tracks the underthrown deep ball well.
– Flips hips in MID-AIR.
– Brilliant concentration to haul in the underthrown pass with one hand.
Guy can play. pic.twitter.com/UZReg2JXoD
— Carter Donnick (@CDonScouting) May 3, 2019
Ruggs is the total package and should be fun to watch alongside Jeudy and Waddle this fall.
5. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
With Deebo Samuel off to the NFL, it will be Edwards’ time to shine in Columbia this fall. If QB Jake Bentley can take a step forward in 2019, Edwards could have a career year.
He’ll be counted on to use his size, strength and speed to lead the Gamecocks’ receiving corps, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a couple of unbelievable plays like this one from last year’s Ole Miss game:
#SpursUp WR Bryan Edwards with an #SCTop10 TD catch at #OleMiss . #SouthCarolina pic.twitter.com/YJNVwAXc3I
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) November 3, 2018
It’ll be interesting to see what he does as the No. 1 guy. If he shines, the Gamecocks’ offense could be even better than it was in 2018.
6. Justin Jefferson, LSU
The LSU passing game still didn’t look great in 2018, despite new QB Joe Burrow’s efforts. That didn’t stop Jefferson from putting up a solid statistical season, though.
With Burrow entering Year 2 as LSU’s starter, Jefferson could really come into his own this fall. He has a lot of Emanuel Hall-like tendencies in his game with his ability to stretch defenses:
Joe Burrow : 21/34 for a career-high 394 yards, 4 TD's & an INT; 9 carries for 24 yards
Justin Jefferson : 4 catches for 87 yards & 2 TD's pic.twitter.com/MAsu2EGBWS— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life25) January 1, 2019
TD Tigers…! Joe Burrow to Justin Jefferson for the deep Strike… pic.twitter.com/sz3uQZDlDG
— Josh Lemoine (@LsuFBallTruth) November 11, 2018
We’ll have to see how the LSU running game evolves without Nick Brossette, but Jefferson could definitely improve on his numbers from 2018 — 54 catches, 875 yards and 6 touchdowns.
7. Johnathon Johnson, Mizzou
Without Emanuel Hall, Johnson will be the top receiver in Columbia this fall. He’s shown flashes of brilliance in his 3 years, but the 2019 season will be his real chance to shine.
Johnson can catch the ball (59 catches for 737 yards and 5 scores in 2018), run it when needed and also returns punts. He’ll have a new quarterback in Kelly Bryant who won’t stretch the field like Drew Lock did, but that works in Johnson’s favor.
Look for Johnson and TE Albert Okwuegbunam to be the focal points of the passing game this fall.
8. Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky
Bowden is another versatile weapon, though he has been hurt a bit by Kentucky’s inconsistency at quarterback. Last year, he still managed to put up good numbers: 67 catches for 745 yards and 5 touchdowns.
He also returns kicks and punts, and does it better than most in the SEC. He returned 2 punts for touchdowns last year, including this huge one against Mizzou:
Lynn Bowden takes the punt back 67-yards for the TD #BBN pic.twitter.com/bjbqgueIAC
— KY Clips (@KY_Clips) October 29, 2018
With Benny Snell off to the NFL, the Wildcats’ offense might throw more this fall, so we’ll see what Bowden can do.
9. DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Smith has one of the most-iconic catches in college football history, as he was on the receiving end of Tua Tagovailoa’s 2nd-and-26 pass against Georgia in the College Football Playoff title game two years ago.
However, he’s often the forgotten man in the Alabama receiving corps, as Jeudy, Ruggs and Waddle get a lot of the attention. Still, the guy can make plays when he gets a chance. Just look at him laying out for this touchdown against Texas A&M last year:
…well that was FAST.
Tua Tagovailoa connects with DeVonta Smith for @AlabamaFTBL! pic.twitter.com/vlt3rQSeeU
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 22, 2018
He managed 42 catches for 693 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. There are only so many passes to go around in Tuscaloosa, but Smith shouldn’t be overlooked at all this fall.
10. Marquez Callaway, Tennessee
Callaway came into his own in 2017, recording 5 touchdown catches. He improved his receptions and yards in 2018 (37 for 592), but only had 2 touchdown grabs.
His first one, though, came in dramatic fashion against Kentucky, as you can see below:
🚨 HAIL MARY 🚨
Guarantano throws it up … Marquez Callaway brings it down.
TOUCHDOWN @Vol_Football!! pic.twitter.com/sOC8byDETQ
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 10, 2018
Oh, and like some other guys on this list, he’s also a dynamic punt returner:
Callaway takes the punt to the HOUSE!#Vols up 7-0 pic.twitter.com/o4KgtPZ0b9
— AtoZSports Nashville (@AtoZSports) November 3, 2018
A lot of his success will depend on whether QB Jarrett Guarantano takes a big step forward, but Callaway is the top dog in the Vols’ receiving corps and should still have a productive 2019 season.
*eye roll*. This guy is clearly under some unrealistic time constraints if he put 4 Alabama players in his top 10. Either that or he’s just lazy.
It’s Adam Spencer! What do you expect? He’s normally a bad writer as is. But when you add his grief about how poorly the Broncos are treating the career clipboard holder from his school then this should be expected.
Give the guy a break Destin, he’s grieving about the unfairness in the NFL and trying to help Lock find a safe space.
So im not the only one that noticed
No boss Hog you’re not. He is seriously out of sorts over Lock. First was because Lock wasn’t picked in first round, he wrote an article crying about that and actually stated how Lock “deserved” better. Now he’s crying because Lock isn’t being pampered in the freaking NFL!!! It’s sad but also funny.
I don’t know what’s worse. His articles or his posts. His last one needed a good cheese to go with the whine.
Now Darth that is a tough call for sure.
Tide homerizm at its finest……
I doubt you could name more than 6 others in the SEC on par with them.
What 4 WRs would you put on the list in place of them?
Alabama probably does have three of the best receivers in the country, but putting Smith in the top 10 is a headscratcher.
I think Jeremiah Holloman could make a case for being on this list. I would also probably put Ruggs ahead of Waddle.
Definitely, Calloway is way to low on this list.
I could make a case for Quartney Davis anywhere from 7 to 10 on this list.
UT has a very strong WR group. I can’t honestly say they should be ahead of these guys or if others on other teams are more worthy. I will say if our WR group plays to expectations there will be more than one on this list by seasons end.
UGA without a 5* on this list? Corch must be napping. Otherwise he would be having a fit.
No Seth Williams? Wow.
Who?
Physical freak. 2018 All Freshman Team, 4th in sec in YPC and better than any receiver the gators will have this year.
He definitely put it on liberty…
Yep, sure did. Glad you noticed.
Yeah, his 26 receptions is astounding
Less catches but more yards than any other receiver Florida had last year.
Hard not to notice he put up over a hundred against liberty and barely had over 500 on the season… LMAO
You don’t ALWAYS have to be a hater bammerturd. Otherwise you would realize Seth deserves to be on this list. But just really want to know how u think bama ‘s gonna do in that 1st round of the SEC baseball tourney? LMFAO!!
BT always thinking about Auburn.. conversation didn’t even involve him but he can’t resist. If you watched football then you would know what type of player Williams is. Played in only 10 games with a run first approach and wasn’t even the go to target yet still managed pretty decent numbers as a freshman.
It was a conversation about the receivers on the list and not about Auburn… I didn’t mention Auburn at all just the production from the receiver. Based on his receptions and yardage he doesn’t deserve to be on this list…
Was there something I posted that was incorrect?… You and your Auburn brother seem to have got your feelings hurt because it was an Auburn player…
It was a conversation about an auburn player..
“I didn’t mention auburn at all” .. just the production of an auburn receiver. Makes sense.
Based on his production he should be on the list.. not saying he should be top 5 but he’s definitely top 10.
Had a few less yards, more YPC and TDs than Callaway.
With such a pitiful offense last year he was one bright spot and earned it by getting freshman all sec.
Auphinphan….. What does baseball have to do with a conversation about a WR? I understand though, you got upset and had nothing else to come back with…
Yes it was an Auburn receiver… We have a different opinion on if he should be in the list or not. His limited use is part of the reason he shouldn’t be on it IMO… Just because it’s a Auburn player we’re discussing doesn’t mean I’m here trying to trash Auburn.
There is an entire conversation above about Alabama shouldn’t have that many receivers on the list. I didn’t jump in and start calling them Bama haters. I just asked who they would have….
So saying things like: “he definitely put it on Liberty” and “hard not to notice he put up over a hundred against liberty and barely had over 500 yards on the season… LMAO” is trashing him? If not then what is it? Why even say it?
And in his limited use he still had a productive season hence why I think he should be on the list. If you have a more pass happy offense your receivers will have better stats. Stats don’t tell the whole story though.
I had a reply but SDS ate it… It’s not worth it to me to type it again…
Jeudy Lipscomb and Edwards are the top 3 in no particular order
Jeudy is definitely the best dude on that list.
Id probably agree with that
Seven receivers better than Bowden in the conference? Not buying it…
Hahaha ok man I’d have a few more ahead of him tbh Shi Smith would definitely be one of them