Ranking College Football WR Rooms: Surprising depth of Tigers wide receivers, SEC powerhouses, and the Ohio State Buckeyes
The 2025 College Football season is just around the corner. That–of course–means it's time to debate everything that we're going to actually see play out here soon anyway.Who are the best starting QBs in the country? What about running back rooms? Head coaches? We've covered all of those this summer here at A to Z […]
The 2025 College Football season is just around the corner. That–of course–means it's time to debate everything that we're going to actually see play out here soon anyway.
Who are the best starting QBs in the country? What about running back rooms? Head coaches? We've covered all of those this summer here at A to Z Sports. Now it's time to argue over the best wide receiver rooms in the country.
Yes, Ohio State obviously made the list. Way too many Tigers did too. But which programs have the best of the best wide receiver groups?
Our A to Z Sports college football crew decided to break down the best in the nation. We pooled our rankings, defended our positions, and came up with the following "Top 5 WR Rooms in College Football" list as the season approaches. Enjoy!
[And make sure to complain to Travis May @FF_TravisM on X if we got anything wrong.]
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Projected WR Depth Chart for 2025
Starters – Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss
2nd Line – Quincy Porter, Mylan Graham, Bryson Rodgers
Jeremiah Smith put together the best true freshman wide receiver season ever. 1300+ yards. 15 touchdowns. 2.9 yards per team pass attempt and 3.15 yards per route run (both special marks, even for first round NFL Draft prospects). He is–no exaggeration–on greatest of all time trajectory.
That's a solid place to start with a wide receiver group, but the entire rest of the room is stacked full of high pedigree four and five star studs who would start for 100 other college football teams immediately.
Our Ohio State Buckeyes beat writer, Brandon Little, took a dive into just how special this group is this year:
Around this time last year, I looked a bit silly predicting that Jeremiah Smith would come in and be the Buckeyes’ third option at receiver. That wasn’t the case—he broke out for 1,300 receiving yards and is now poised for an even bigger season in 2025. While Ohio State did lose Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate is ready to take on a larger role, and Brandon Inniss is expected to step into the slot.
Beyond the top names, the Buckeyes have depth that could start for many Power Four teams. Mylan Graham, Bryson Rodgers, and Quincy Porter all bring high-level talent. Add in transfer tight end Max Klare, who’s going to make life even easier for the receivers. Ohio State hasn’t had a tight end with Klare’s skill set in a long time, and he’s going to elevate everyone around him. Once again, Brian Hartline has a loaded receiver room filled with NFL-caliber talent. – Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Projected WR Depth Chart for 2025
Starters – Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton
Backups – Rico Scott, Lotzeir Brooks, Jalen Hale, Cole Adams
Ryan Williams might no longer be 17 years old (the one fact no one could stop repeating last fall), but that doesn't make him any less special. His 38% true freshman dominator rating (weighted percentage of team receiving production split between yards and touchdowns) puts him into special territory. He should be the headliner yet again in 2025, regardless of who steps up at quarterback for Alabama.
However, as our very own Adam Holt mentioned when I asked him about his lower-than-team-average Alabama WR room ranking, this Crimson Tide group looks extremely deep (even to skeptics) despite losing a handful of playmakers to the portal this offseason:
Don’t get me wrong–I understand how good Ryan Williams is. This ranking [he had them lowest at fourth] has a lot less to do with the Tide’s talent and more to do with the depth and upside for a couple other squads. Germie Bernard is a legitimate potential day two pick in next year’s draft and Horton’s size is a great combo with the other two.
After those guys, the experience is limited for Alabama. For a team like LSU, depth options Chris Hilton Jr. and Zavion Thomas both have notable SEC experience. Auburn’s room is absolutely comparable to Alabama’s at the top, even if Tide fans are frustrated that I say that. Horatio Fields as the potential WR4 for the Tigers is a key to why they got the nod over some of the others in my rankings. Regardless, the Tide still have a very impressive group that should help out whoever wins the quarterback competition. – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports Saints and LSU Tigers
3. Auburn Tigers
Projected WR Depth Chart for 2025
Starters – Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr., Malcolm Simmons
Backups – Horatio Fields, Perry Thompson, Bryce Cain
Hugh Freeze hasn't quite won enough games just yet, but he's certainly finally gotten the talent where it needs to be.
Cam Coleman, a former five star in the 2024 class, posted the third most impressive true freshman season in the country (outside of Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams) last year. Eric Singleton transferred in as one of the best wide receivers in the country already. Malcolm Simmons is one of the best WR3s in the game who looks ready to break out even more.
However, our Texas beat writer Zach Berry has some questions as to whether all that wide receiver talent will actually be properly utilized:
Jackson Arnold had an up-and-down season in 2024 while at Oklahoma. Now, he is set to take over under center at Auburn under head coach Hugh Freeze. The latter is known for elevating quarterback play and generating a lot of offense. But, so far it's been tough-sledding on the Plains.
As far as wide receiver goes, the talent is absolutely there. But can Arnold get them the football enough to make a difference? Auburn has had just two wideouts eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season, the last of which came in 1999. Could it happen in 2025 with Cam Coleman (598 yards, 8 TD) and Eric Singleton Jr. (1,468 yards, 9 TD)? I think will see some improvements but I am not sure if Arnold can do enough for it to matter against a brutal slate of games. – Zach Berry, A to Z Sports Texas Longhorns
Ranking College Football RB Rooms: Does Notre Dame boast the best running backs or do Big Ten and SEC powers reign supreme?
Which running back room is truly the best that college football has to offer?
4. Clemson Tigers
Projected WR Depth Chart for 2025
Starters – Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco, T.J. Moore
Backups – Tyler Brown, Cole Turner, Tristan Smith
Star wide receiver Antonio Williams is entering year four of his Clemson career as a key piece of the offense. His second as the team's premier talent and lead wide receiver. Many expect him to be an early 2026 NFL Draft pick.
Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore are two carbon copy examples of the tall, lanky, dominant outside wide receivers featured in the Clemson Tigers' prime when they were taking down Nick Saban. Now sophomores, both wide receivers should develop into even more impressive playmakers.
Outside of the top three there are certainly questions, but there wasn't a single A to Z Sports staff member who ranked this wide receiver room below fifth in the nation for a reason. Tyler Brown and Cole Turner offer some decent depth and key redundancy if Antonio Williams misses any time. Tristan Smith, the new JUCO product, could be just as impressive as Wesco and Moore if given the opportunity to shine given his 6'5", 205-pound athletic frame.
Ranking College Football Teams: Which programs have the best shot at making the College Football Playoff for the 2025 season?
College Football Playoff Fantasy Draft highlights best programs in the nation for 2025
5. LSU Tigers
Projected WR Depth Chart for 2025
Starters – Barion Brown, Aaron Anderson, Nic Anderson
Backups – Zavion Thomas, Kyle Parker, Chris Hilton Jr.
Surprise! The LSU Tigers have another wildly talented wide receiver group. Aaron Anderson, Zavion Thomas, and Chris Hilton return from last season's squad. Kyle Parker–now finally healthy–could surprise as a fun weapon (that the coaching staff loves). However, the returning talents might not be even close to the most exciting part of this wide receiver room.
Nic Anderson (transfer from Oklahoma) is just one season removed from an 800-yard, 10-touchdown true sophomore campaign and brings 6'4", 210-pound size to win on the perimeter.
Barion Brown is a YAC machine who's already tied the SEC career record for kick return touchdowns with five. He should be the featured WR1 target hog that wins at every level of the field and showcase the best return skills in all of college football. If this year goes how it should for Brown he'll be a top 50 pick in the NFL Draft. Yes, another LSU wide receiver who should dominate on Sundays.
Honorable Mention WR Rooms
The Texas Longhorns just missed the cut as the standalone consensus number six on the list of best wide receiver rooms in the country thanks to returning receivers Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr., transfer star-in-the-making Emmett Mosley, and a bevy of high pedigree young players.
Florida found themselves atop the next tier of six teams who all averaged a WR room ranking between 8.9 and 10.1 overall by our A to Z Sports staff. Our Gators writer Tyler Forness was especially high on them:
The Gators wide receiver group is a really interesting one. They have seen three players drafted in the last two years, highlighted by Ricky Pearsall being selected at 31st overall by the San Francisco 49ers and they have consistently produced NFL level talent.
This group appears to be no different. J. Michael Sturdivant has flashed throughout his career, but hasn't had the right guy throwing him the football. That appears to be changing this year with DJ Lagway starting at quarterback. The wild cards here are Eugene "Trey" Wilson and Dallas Wilson. Trey exploded onto the scene as a true freshman in 2023 showing explosiveness that the Gators hadn't seen in a few years, but injuries have been the biggest reason why he's failed to break out.
The real breakout star could be Dallas. He set Gators spring game records with 10 catches and 195 yards, while also grabbing two touchdowns. The five-star flipped from Oregon two weeks after early signing day and it's been nothing but great news ever since. He's the one player to keep an eye out for going into the year. – Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida Gators
USC's impressive duo of Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane are definitely worth a mention (8th in our rankings). Both could be day two draft picks next spring and complement each other well.
Our national college football writer Ian Valentino was especially high on Georgia given what they did in the transfer portal this offseason–adding two key players who should be better than anything they had last offseason:
"The Bulldogs are straight dripping in physical upside across its transfer-driven receiver room. Adding Zachariah Branch from USC brings one of the fastest playmakers in the country into one of the biggest spotlight situations possible, and I think he thrives with the opportunity. Georgia fed Ladd McConkey as often as they could stomach when he was in Athens, and Branch can thrive in a similar role as a volume playmaker.
Flanking him with Noah Thomas as a low-volume, high-upside threat that can win on contested catches and convert scoring opportunities is a nice complementary piece. But it's Colbie Young who is the difference-maker for me. Young's speed-to-size ratio and ability to win at the catch point is one of the most impressive raw skill sets in the nation." – Ian Valentino, A to Z Sports National College Football
Notre Dame looks like they finally may have put together a strong wide receiver room with transfer Malachi Fields (6'4", 220 with speed), returning playoff breakout star Jaden Greathouse, and converted lacrosse athlete Jordan Faison.
Oregon would have been ranked much higher than 11th if Evan Stewart were healthy, but five star Dakorien Moore may make the Ducks a special group by himself. And finally, don't sleep on Ole Miss since they brought in nearly a half dozen transfers and return one of the best stretch slot wide receivers in Cayden Lee.
We'll be back with more College Football coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to look back on the best freshman wide receiver in the history of college football, you can find Jeremiah Smith highlights in the video below. This GOAT-trajectory wide receiver is the primary reason that there isn't any other room close to as good as the Ohio State Buckeyes.
