The last few years I have put out daily blogs that listed all the True Freshmen at each position and given you an idea of how many actually played in their first year on campus. I will go thru each position and show you how many have played the last three years, so you know what to expect out of this year’s true frosh class.

Here is a look at the top 50 WR’s that were signed over the last 5 years. Now 2020 was an odd year as with no spring practice, the true frosh WR’s could not benefit from being in early for the spring. With some conferences cancelling their seasons and then starting them up again that put them even further behind. Now in 2020 technically every WR redshirted as 2020 did not count against their eligibility so coaches were more likely to play them.

Here is a look at the Top 50 rated True Frosh WR from 2020 and how many played.

My original thought was that Wide Receivers do have to learn route concepts and be in tune with the QB so they may have a little less play as true frosh than the RB’s. The top WR in 2020 was Kayshon Boutte of LSU who had 735 receiving yards and five TD’s. Quentin Johnston of TCU was second with 487 yards and an impressive 22.1 ypc. Jermaine Burton of Georgia was #3 with 404 yards receiving (15.0). Only 22 WR’s had more than five receptions and overall 32 WR’s had at least one catch which was 64% or 8% below the RB’s.

Now let’s look at the 2021 True Freshmen. I know that technically all of 2020’s true frosh were still true frosh, but I will just look at the ones that were in their first year on campus. We will just look at the 2021 signing class of WR’s and how much they played.

With everyone back from Covid and unlike in 2020 if a player played more than 4 games the player would lose a year of eligibility you would think that less true frosh WR’s would play. One advantage the 2021 true frosh had was being able to be on campus for spring if they enrolled early. The uninterrupted summer probably helped the WR’s gain cohesion with their QB’s.

Here is a look at the Top 50 True Frosh WR’s from 2021 and how many played.

Xaiver Worthy of Texas led the way with 981 receiving yards (15.8) and 12 TD’s. Trevonte Rucker a rare VHT signee for Jackson St was #2 with 515 and an impressive 19.8 ypg. Just like 2020, 32 of the top 50 true frosh WR’s had at least one catch last year which is 64%. Nineteen of the Top 50 had 100+ yards receiving.

In 2022 I thought that Luther Burden could be Missouri’s top WR. Kevin Coleman is a rare PS#2 to play in the SWAC and should light it up with a veteran QB. Evan Stewart was the MVP of the spring for Texas A&M and should be one of the Aggies top WR’s with Chris Marshall not far behind. I said Tetairroa McMillian could be Arizona’s top WR this year. I called for last years’ top 50 Frosh WR’s to outproduce the last two years.

The top 50 true frosh WR’s did outdo the previous two years true frosh but not by a large amount. McMillan led the way with 702 (18.0). Stewart was #2 with 649 (12.2). Burden only had 375 (8,3). Barlon Brown of Kentucky was #3 with 628 (12.6) and Clemson’s Antonio Williams was #4 with 604 (10.8). Matthew Golden of Houston and Dante Key of Kentucky both topped 500 yards.

Last year I did not project as many true frosh WR’s to be starters and as you would expect the numbers dropped. Eugene Wilson of Florida was the top guy with 538 yards (8.8) with Rico Flores of Notre Dame #2 (392, 14.5) and Zachariah Branch of USC had 320 (10.3). The top 50 true Frosh actually had the lowest numbers in the last 4 years.

In 2020 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 4051 yds rec, 24 td and 13.2 ypc.

In 2021 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 5849 yds rec, 96 td’s and 14.1 ypc.

In 2022 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 6035 yds rec, 53 tds and 12.7 ypc

In 2023 the top 50 true frosh WR’s combined for 3248 yds rec, 23 tds and 12.6 ypc

This year I project Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State as a starter along with Micah Hudson of Texas Tech, Cam Coleman of Auburn and Bryant Wesco of Clemson. I think this years group should challenge the 2022 group which combined for 6035 yards.

Here is a list of this year’s top 50 True Frosh WR’s.

Remember I have a new daily blog each and every day this year so stop back to philsteele.com and check it out each day. Also did you know the digital magazine is updated all the way thru the start of the football season. We circle players that are out for the year, add in any new transfers and update position outlooks for each team. If you want to get the digital magazine along with your hard copy you can purchase it here on PhilSteele.com.