The 10 best seasons by sophomore WRs in SEC history
Life as a wide receiver isn’t always easy. There are several factors that go into a successful season, far beyond individual talent.
Sure, a physical specimen will often take advantage of their opponent, but quarterback play, offensive scheme and supporting talent are important for a receiver as well.
Depending on the situation, receivers can thrive immediately. Freshmen have had some of the best seasons in SEC history, but a year of experience usually helps. There were several second-year players who made an impact in 2016, and there are talented rising sophomores looking to do the same next year.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to research the 10 best sophomore seasons by wide receivers in SEC history. For clarification, this list is based entirely on receiving yards for a player’s sophomore year. If you would like to share your subjective top 10, feel free to do so in the comments below.
Christian Kirk, who had 1,009 yards as a freshman in 2015, just missed making this list as a sophomore in 2016, finishing with 928.
In case you’ve missed our lists on the best sophomore seasons by quarterbacks and running backs, we’ve attached the links.
No. 10: Mardye McDole, Mississippi State (1978)
Sophomore stats: 48 Rec., 1,035 YDs, 21.6 Avg., 7 TDs
One of the most underrated receivers in SEC history, McDole became the first Mississippi State player to top 1,000 receiving yards. McDole was an explosive player who averaged 19.1 yards per catch during his career with the Bulldogs. Nearly 40 years later, his 1,035 yards as a sophomore still remain the most in school history.
Credit: MSU Athletic Media Relations
No. 9: Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee (2011)
Sophomore stats: 67 Rec., 1,040 YDs, 15.5 Avg., 9 TDs
Rogers, as a sophomore in 2011, became just the sixth player in Tennessee history to top the 1,000-yard receiving mark. His 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns were the second-most in the SEC that season, and he had a five-game touchdown streak dating to his freshman year. Rogers reached the 100-yard mark in six games as a sophomore with three multi-touchdown games.
No. 8: Sidney Rice, South Carolina (2006)
Sophomore stats: 72 Rec., 1,090 YDs, 15.1 Avg., 10 TDs
Following a record-setting freshman year, Rice avoided the sophomore slump with another 1,000-yard season. His five touchdown catches against Florida Atlantic are still tied for the most in a single game by an SEC receiver, and Rice had five 100-yard receiving games in 2006. Although players like Alshon Jeffery and Pharoh Cooper became more notable players under Steve Spurrier, Rice was an important part of the beginning for South Carolina’s new era.
No. 7: Josh Reed, LSU (2000)
Sophomore stats: 65 Rec., 1,127 YDs, 17.3 Avg., 10 TDs
Reed remains one of the most productive receivers in SEC history. As a junior, Reed gained 1,740 yards, which remains a conference record. Before accomplishing that, however, Reed put together a sophomore campaign that was the second-best season by an LSU receiver at the time. Reed tied a school record with six 100-yard receiving games, including a 173-yard outing against Ole Miss.
No. 6: Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina (2014)
Sophomore stats: 69 Rec., 1,136 YDs, 16.5 Avg., 9 TDs
One of the most versatile players in the SEC, Cooper was especially deadly in his second season. He was South Carolina’s leading receiver in 2014 and his 200 rushing yards were fourth-most on the team. Against Tennessee, Cooper set the school record with 233 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches.
Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
No. 5: Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt (2006)
Sophomore stats: 82 Rec., 1,146 YDs, 14.0 Avg., 6 TDs
Bennett put together the best freshman season as a Vanderbilt receiver in school history, and he followed that with the top year by a Commodores’ sophomore at the position. Bennett’s 236 career receptions are the second-most in SEC history, behind fellow-Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews. He caught at least 10 passes in three games during the 2016 season and gained 150 yards or more in four games.
No. 4: Jabar Gaffney, Florida (2001)
Sophomore stats: 67 Rec., 1,191 YDs, 17.8 Avg., 13 TDs
Two of the top five seasons put together by Florida receivers have come from Gaffney. After a strong redshirt freshman season, Gaffney became a unanimous first-team All-American as a sophomore. Gaffney followed in his father, Derrick’s, footsteps as a receiver for the Gators, and he remains the only receiver in Florida history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
No. 3: Carlos Alvarez, Florida (1969)
Sophomore stats: 88 Rec., 1,329 YDs, 15.1 Avg., 12 TDs
Long before throwing the ball became a major part of college offenses, Alvarez had a season that still stands among the best in Florida history. The NCAA did not allow freshmen to play varsity football before the 1972 season, so Alvarez’s sophomore campaign was his debut with the Gators’ main squad. He scored a 70-yard touchdown in his first game for Florida, a 59-34 over No. 7 Houston and set the school’s single-game receptions and receiving yards record at the time with a 15-catch, 237-yard game against Miami.
No. 2: Mike Evans, Texas A&M (2013)
Sophomore stats: 69 Rec., 1,394 YDs, 20.2 Avg., 12 TDs
Although Johnny Manziel, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, received the most attention in 2013, Evans became a household name in his own right. The 6-5, 210-pound receiver broke several school records while making spectacular catches on a weekly basis. His best performances came in the Aggies’ biggest games. Against No. 7 Alabama, Evans had a school-record 279 yards and a touchdown; he later broke that record against No. 2 Auburn, when he gained 287 yards and four touchdowns. In the nation’s toughest conference, Evans often made it look easy.
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (2010)
Sophomore stats: 88 Rec., 1,517 YDs, 17.2 Avg., 9 TDs
Jeffery’s second season at South Carolina was the best for a receiver in school history, and the third-best the SEC has ever seen. The first-team All-American led the conference with 108.4 receiving yards per game and topped the century mark eight times during the 2010 season. Jeffery was a key piece for Spurrier’s best teams, and he helped lead the Gamecocks to their first SEC East title in school history.
