Top 10 Returning College Football Wide Receivers for 2024 who could be early NFL Draft Prospects
The 2024 college football season may seem far away, but it really isn't. Spring football practices are already underway. Many recruits and transfers are already firmly entrenched in their new university homes. As spring games begin to take place and depth charts take shape, the spotlight intensifies on wide receivers who not only aim to […]
The 2024 college football season may seem far away, but it really isn't. Spring football practices are already underway. Many recruits and transfers are already firmly entrenched in their new university homes. As spring games begin to take place and depth charts take shape, the spotlight intensifies on wide receivers who not only aim to dominate this fall, but seek to prove they're worthy to play at the NFL level.
It's time take a look at the best returning college football wide receivers for the 2024 season and talk through which ones have real potential to be early NFL Draft Prospects. This top 10 list features dynamic playmakers of all styles. From big-bodied athletes with ball skills, to speedy stars who can stretch the field, to dynamic do-it-all playmakers, this list has it all! Let's dive in.
Top 10 Returning College Football Wide Receivers
1 – Luther Burden, WR Missouri
The conversation for WR1 among all wide receivers returning to college football for the 2024 season has to begin with Luther Burden. Five star pedigree. Explosiveness. Elite yards after catch ability. He does everything.
Burden had the fifth most yards per route run last fall behind only Malik Nabers, Tez Johnson, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Troy Franklin as a true sophomore. A truly special talent. If you want to check out some of the best 2023 highlights from the future first round pick Missouri Tigers wide receiver I highly recommend you do so here (after you read the rest of this article, of course).
2 – Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
Beyond the fact that Tetairoa McMillan is a 6'5" monster with flexibility, speed, contested catch ability, and an immaculate production profile through his first two years, I also learned some promising things from his former teammate this spring.
When I talked to Jacob Cowing (the 7th most productive receiver in college football history) about his most influential teammates that he learned from, Tetairoa McMillan was the first he mentioned. Cowing said that from day one of McMillan's true freshman season he was the leader, tone-setter, and the most hardworking wide receiver he played with in his career.
McMillan is a lock for early first round capital. If you want to see a sample of his play just check out this post below. "What. A. Catch." is a pretty perfect summary from the official Arizona Football X account.
3 – Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
When you're sharing the spotlight with Marvin Harrison Jr. it can be hard to stand out, but Emeka Egbuka didn't have any problem doing so back in 2022. As a true sophomore, Egbuka posted over 1200 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns alongside Harrison Jr. as the two put up the most impressive production profile seasons in the nation among all second year receivers.
Egbuka struggled last fall as he fought through injury for over half the season, but he should bounce back in 2024. He's the most proven wide receiver on Ohio State's roster by a mile, so he'll be leaned upon heavily this fall. With Egbuka's elite 2022 season and likely slam dunk 2024 there's almost no way he doesn't get drafted early in 2025.
4 – Evan Stewart, WR Oregon
Evan Stewart posted one of the more (if not the most) impressive true freshman seasons in 2022, despite imperfect quarterback play. Then the QB situation got even worst last fall for him when new full-time starter Conner Weigman went down for the year. Before the Weigman injury Stewart had already racked up 307 yards and three touchdowns in just three games, but the entire Texas A&M program fell apart after that.
Stewart possesses a five star skill set to separate and win at the point of the catch. He just needs to consistently play with a QB who can get the ball to him for a whole season.
Now that he's transferred to Oregon he has a solid teammate opposite him who can pull some defensive attention away (Tez Johnson) and one of the most productive QBs of all time (Dillon Gabriel) we should see the breakout Stewart was already on his way towards early last fall.
5 – Isaiah Bond, WR Texas
The Alabama receiver group hasn't quite been the same since Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs were playing rock, paper, scissors pre-snap to see who got to catch the easy incoming touchdown from Tua Tagovailoa. Since then, there have been a handful of disappointments at the position. However, Isaiah Bond has been the best Crimson Tide wide receiver since that group left (hat tip to Jermaine Burton too).
Bond developed into the most consistent wide receiver for Jalen Milroe last fall, leading the team in receptions, coming in clutch on several plays that helped carry Alabama to the College Football Playoff. He'll now be joining Texas' electric Steve Sarkisian offense with even better quarterback play and weapons around him.
I'm sure Alabama fans hate that he's leaving, but they'll certainly always remember him for his "4th and a mile" touchdown catch to defeat Auburn in last year's Iron Bowl:
6 – Zachariah Branch, WR USC
When a wide receiver gets compared to Tyreek Hill before he's ever played a down of college football there's certainly room for skepticism, but Zachariah Branch looks special. Yes, Branch's true freshman season wasn't quite what most people wanted it to be as he fought through an injury. But prior to that injury near the end of September Branch had already caught 13 receptions for 178 yards, added 14 rushing yards, and returned both a kickoff and punt for touchdowns. A healthy Zachariah Branch should break college football if he stays healthy for the 2024 season.
7 – Kevin "KC" Concepcion, WR NC State
Kevin Concepcion was a true freshman breakout that wasn't supposed to happen. He wasn't some highly touted five star. In fact he wasn't even a four star according to the top recruiting services, ranking well outside the top 500 overall recruits. That didn't apparently matter. Concepcion showed up and was immediately the entirety of the NC State offense from day one.
Concepcion kicked off the year snagging 22 receptions in his first four games, and that was his least productive four-game stretch of the season. When the 2023 season was complete he had logged 112 total touches (including 40+ carries) for nearly 1200 total yards. No other Wolfpack receiver had more than 32 touches on the season. Concepcion was the most productive true freshman in the nation by far and should dominate once again in 2024.
8 – Barion Brown, WR Kentucky
If there's a battle for the most electric playmakers in all of college football it's between Barion Brown, Zachariah Branch, and no one else. The last time we saw Brown he was racking up 226 all-purpose yards as he scored a rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdown all in the same game against Clemson in Gator Bowl last December. In case you missed it, here's his kick return touchdown from the Bowl game that he made look way too easy:
Brown currently has the all-time record for kickoff return touchdown percentage as he's ran back four of his 32 career attempts (12.5%!!!). Brown needs to put up one more strong season developing his route running, but he's certainly one of the most dynamic returning college football wide receivers for 2024 and should certainly be drafted early in 2025.
9 – Nic Anderson, WR Oklahoma
At 6'4", 209 pounds Nic Anderson should not be able to move the way that he does at his size. His speed, body control, and late hands to keep defensive backs guessing made him one of the most incredible deep threats in the nation last year. Anderson was second in yards per reception (20.9) among all power conference wide receivers behind only Javon Baker of UCF.
The size-speed freak redshirt freshman started off the year slow as he grew into a full-time starter, but from week three onwards he became the team's home run threat as he caught a touchdown on 28% of his receptions last fall. His success did come in a smaller sample size last year, but he's definitely one of the best returning wide receivers in all of college football.
If you'd like to check out some of Nic Anderson's huge plays and 2023 season highlights you can find them here:
10 – Eugene "Tre" Wilson, WR Florida
Last, but not truly least, we have Eugene "Tre" Wilson. He impressed everyone in the Florida program last summer, so we knew a true freshman breakout was likely coming. Wilson wasn't always the most efficient receiver because the offensive system is a joke and his quarterback play was suspect at best, but he flashed incredible talent every single week. By the end of the year he was actually out-targeting fifth-year senior Ricky Pearsall who many project to be a second round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Wilson is the only returning wide receiver for the Gators who caught more than 21 receptions last season and is expected to be the feature WR1 for them in 2024. Expect a huge breakout this fall and eventual ascendence to early round NFL Draft capital in 2026.
Honorable Mention Returning College Football Wide Receivers
Tez Johnson, WR Oregon – The only thing questionable about this star receiver is his size. Elite per route and per play numbers.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB Colorado – Won Paul Hornung Award for being the most versatile player in the game. Elite playmaker, but likely lands as a cornerback at the next level.
Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State – Someone is going to break out alongside Emeka Egbuka. If it isn't true freshman Jeremiah Smith then Carnell Tate will be that wide receiver.
Tre Harris, WR Ole Miss – He doesn't separate consistently, but makes contested and difficult catches look routine.
Eric Singleton, WR Georgia Tech – The third most impressive true freshman wide receiver in the nation in terms of meaningful production metrics.
And there you have it. The top 10 returning college football wide receivers for the 2024 season. It remains to be seen how many of them will take the next big step, proving they're worthy of early NFL Draft capital, but all 10 of these wide receivers certainly look the part.
Be looking for more College Football and NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Be sure to follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
