Summer Scouting - WR's

We're back! This time we're taking a look at this stacked wide receiver class. Currently, 5 of my top 15 are wide receivers; this might change as I get deeper into other positions, but it demonstrates how good this class could be.

As before, I'll be using some PFF stats to give context on their 2025 performance. Most are basic, but let me run through a couple of the more obscure stats I'll be using. Average Depth Of Target (ADOT) helps give context to how the player was used. Drop% is the percentage of catchable passes that the receiver drops; obviously, the lower, the better here. I will also be using PFF grades for both receiving and run blocking, I have a love-hate relationship with PFF grades but they are another datapoint for reference.

Let's get on with it.

10. Chase Hendricks

Class:​ Senior ​

College: California    

Jersey No.: 7    

Height: 6'0''    

Weight: 200 lbs  

Previous Schools: Ohio (2023-24)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
108	71	1042	7	13.3	5.3	87.6	55.1

Hendricks was a late addition to the list, he only he only emerged on my radar this week but still impressed me enough to sneak into the final spot on my top ten. I'll start by saying this; if he weighs in at 6'0'' 200 lbs, I'll buy a Bears jersey, he looks about 5'10'' 180 lbs to me. Hendricks is a twitchy slot receiver who broke out for the Bobcats in 2025, earning himself a transfer to Cal. He possesses elite acceleration and change of direction ability, this combination makes him an absolute nightmare to cover in man coverage, he also shows some subtle nuanced moves to keep the defensive back guessing which way he's about to break his route.

I don't think the strength of competition is a stick to beat him with, he played against one of the best defences in the nation last year in Ohio State and made the Buckeye defensive backs look ordinary for the entire game, if the offensive line and quarterback play were better, Hendricks would have produced more than his 3 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. He also had 100-yard games against Rutgers and West Virginia. He doesn't have the long speed to be a constant deep threat, or the size and strength to constantly win at the catch point, but frankly, that's not his game. Hendricks just knows how to get open and does so repeatedly.

9. Wyatt Young

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Oklahoma State    

Jersey No.: 10    

Height: 6'0''    

Weight: 195 lbs  

Previous Schools: North Texas (2024-25)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
97	70	1264	10	9.8	5.4	89.9	64.3

Another slot receiver, unlike Hendricks, Young is solidly built, despite the listed weights of the two. He accelerates quickly off the line, has enough speed to threaten all levels of the defence and can pluck the ball out of the sky with ease. It's after the catch that Young really comes into his own, he transitions quickly from receiver to ball carrier and gets up the field in a hurry, he doesn't seem to do anything glamorous, but he really racks up the yards with the ball in his hands. Young is not a technically sound run blocker, but he is effective.

I would like to see Young get better at locating and tracking the ball in the air on deeper routes and become stronger at the catch point, these would really make him an all-around threat at the receiver position. I expect a big year from Young who has followed his head coach and quarterback to Oklahoma State.

8. Cooper Barkate

Class:​ Redshirt Senior ​

College: Miami (FL)    

Jersey No.: 18    

Height: 6'1''    

Weight: 195 lbs  

Previous Schools: Harvard (2022-24) Duke (2025)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
115	72	1093	7	13.5	7.7	76.1	59.4

Another receiver who has followed their quarterback to a new school, Barkate will join Darian Mensah in Miami for his last year of college football. Barkate is an experienced player, having already played four years in college, three at Harvard and one at Duke. He has a smooth, effortless release package allowing him to get up to speed in good time, he can then put the anchors on and decelerate on a dime creating a ton of separation. He also has a good feel for space in the defensive zones and tempos his routes well to drift into these spaces. His strong hands are able to cling onto passes away from his body, through contact making him very hard to cover.

He often loses the initial contact with a defensive back when run blocking, which makes it hard for him to be consistently effective in the run game. Having an established relationship with Mensah, I expect Barkate to hit the ground running when the season begins in a few months and I think Miami fans should be very excited at the prospect of these two transfer additions.

7. Nick Marsh

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Indiana    

Jersey No.: 11    

Height: 6'3''    

Weight: 215  

Previous Schools: Michigan State (2024-25)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
97	58	662	6	11.0	9.4	68.5	48.9

Our fourth receiver, our fourth transfer, that's college football in 2026, not that you can blame Marsh for opting to move to the reigning national champions. Marsh is a prototypical X receiver with good size and long arms giving him a big catch radius. He has enough speed to threaten a cornerback in the deep areas of the field but he can also work underneath too, he is electric with the ball in his hands and is incredibly difficult to get to the ground.

His production so far in his career is barely mediocre but the move to Indiana has come at a good time for him and I expect to see a jump in the number this year. Marsh doesn't turn 20 until October so he still has time on his side and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back in college in 2027, but in my opinion, the tape is more than good enough for him to be considered a high-end prospect in this draft cycle.

6. Ryan Wingo

Class:​ Junior

College: Texas    

Jersey No.: 1    

Height: 6'2''    

Weight: 214 lbs  

Previous Schools: N/A

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
94	54	834	7	12.9	11.5	72.2	56.3

No one celebrated the Longhorns getting Cam Coleman out of the portal more than Arch Manning, (SPOILER ALERT - we'll talk about Coleman a bit later) but Wingo would have been far behind his quarterback. Although there was talent in the Texas wide receiver room in 2025, Wingo was clearly posed the biggest threat to opposing defences, and how they played him, he often had to deal with safety cover, or an extra defender on his side of the field. In 2026, Coleman will be the one getting this attention, giving Wingo more space to operate. He has the speed to get over the top of a defence but is also often used on screens due to his incredible ability to break tackles as a ball carrier.

Wingo's hands are inconsistent and this needs to get better for 2026. I would also like to see more variety and nuance in his route running, in 2025 it was a lot of screens and a lot of deep balls with very little in between. Wingo is going to be a key part of the Longhorns' run at a Natty in 2026 and he could end up getting himself into the 1st round of the 2027 NFL draft.

5. Mario Craver

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Texas A&M    

Jersey No.: 1    

Height: 5'9''    

Weight: 165 lbs  

Previous Schools: Mississippi State (2024)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
85	59	917	4	7.8	6.3	82.7	50.7

I know what you're thinking......a 5'9'' 165 lbs receiver at 5, really? Believe me, I tried not to, but Craver is just too good for me to put him lower. He was used primarily as a slot receiver but also took some snaps outside as a Z, this might change a bit now that K.C Concepcion is in the NFL. Craver electric with the ball in his hands, it always feels that he could take any given play to the house, but it's not just speed, he can change direction on a dime, a trait that also shows in his route running. This route running is why I am so high on him, he breaks his routes without losing a step which puts the defensive backs in a blender, it's virtually impossible to play any sort of man coverage concept against him.

Ideally, he would be able to put on ten pounds and keep his explosiveness, we'll see what he looks like in 2026. No matter what he weighs, I promise you, Texas A&M will be worth watching for him alone. Now that Concepcion has gone, Craver will be the main man, even with some other incredibly talented receivers in that room, Ashton Bethel-Roman (No.14) and Isaiah Horton (No.16) were not far away from making this list.

4. Charlie Becker

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Indiana    

Jersey No.: 80    

Height: 6'4''    

Weight: 203  

Previous Schools: N/A

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
45	34	679	4	18.4	0.0	89.6	64.0

Our second Hoosier, Becker really emerged in the second half of the 2025 season and became one of Fernando Mendoza's go-to guys during the run to the National Championship, he was the big-play threat for the Hoosiers which opened up space underneath for others to feast. Becker has the speed and strength to win off the line when faced with press coverage, he has the acceleration and speed to get over the top of any off-coverage, he locates and tracks the ball incredibly well and has consistent, strong hands at the catch point.

I struggle to find a weakness in Becker's game in his current usage. To take the step to the next level he needs to expand his route tree and add some more nuance to his game. He and Nick Marsh are going to be a great pairing for new Hoosier quarterback, Josh Hoover to throw to as Curt Cignetti's team strive to defend their crown.

3. Omarion Miller

Class:​ Senior ​

College: Arizona State    

Jersey No.: 4    

Height: 6'2''    

Weight: 210 lbs  

Previous Schools: Colorado (2023-25)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
77	45	805	8	14.2	11.8	71.5	48.5

There was not a lot to smile about in Boulder during the 2025 season, the Buffaloes finished 3-9, couldn't decide which of their three quarterbacks was the least worst, and couldn't stop opposition offences, but, they did have Omarion Miller. Miller has good size and can break his routes without losing speed to create separation. He runs a full route tree and can track the ball over his shoulder very well, he shows good speed and contact balance after the catch to gain those extra yards. Despite the grade, I thought he was an enthusiastic and effective run blocker.

Now, a nearly 12% drop rate is alarming, but I didn't see anything on tape to make me think it's anything other than a concentration issue and I expect this to be much better in 2026. Other than that, there is nothing not to like about Miller's game. I expect to see a jump in production now that Miller has transferred to a program with a better quarterback situation, better offensive scheme and better head coach.

2. Cam Coleman

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Texas    

Jersey No.: 8    

Height: 6'3''    

Weight: 200 lbs  

Previous Schools: Auburn (2024-25)

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
87	56	708	5	13.4	6.7	69.5	59.7

Coleman at 2 has been pretty chalk from what I've seen in the draft-verse, and I am not different, however, it was closer than I thought it would be. The 2025 stats are very middling, but he did have to deal with dreadful play calling and even worse quarterback play. Coleman is a true X receiver, he glides across the turf, using long strides to eat up the ground but also shows some quick feet on his releases. He generally does a good job of keeping his feet under him at the stem of his routes and shows some really good deceleration for a man his size. He has good hands and can adjust to off-target throws (he's had plenty of practice) and is a willing blocker.

The scariest thing about Coleman is that there is still so much to come. He looks stiff and clunky on short routes and needs to add nuance to his overall route running to be able to set up defensive backs to gain more separation. He also needs to locate and track the ball better, there were too many occasions in 2025 where he had to turn his body to track a deep pass, rather than being able to catch it over his shoulder. It might be that he just doesn't trust the placement on the pass, but these little adjustments would start to put Coleman into the same tier as the man we are talking about next.

1. Jeremiah Smith

Class:​ Junior ​

College: Ohio State    

Jersey No.: 4    

Height: 6'3''    

Weight: 223  

Previous Schools: N/A

2025 Stats:

Targets	Rec	Yards	TD	ADOT	Drop %	PFF Receiving Grade	PFF Run Blocking Grade
106	87	1243	12	11.2	2.2	90.7	74.7

You didn't need to read this article to know that Smith is at 1, he's been the best receiver in college football since he got on the field as a freshman, but why? Well first, he's a freak athlete, he was number 1 on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List last summer with an 11-foot broad jump, 38-inch vertical jump and was GPS clocked at 23.5 mph, ridiculous for someone of his size. Then there's the football skill and IQ; he has a good feel for weakness in defensive zones, can track the ball brilliantly, has great hands, runs sharp routes and clearly has the speed to stress any cornerback. But for me, the most impressive trait from Smith is how he creates separation at the catch point, even if he's covered. He uses subtle little pushes and nudges to put the defender off balance and give himself the yard he needs to make the play, it's a veteran trait that really separates him from the rest of the class; even when he's covered, he's open.

I really cannot see a weakness in his game, as the grade suggests, he's also a good run blocker, he really is the full package. He's the best wide receiver prospect to come along since.....Julio Jones?? Calvin Johnson?? Let me know in the comments below. Smith is the best player in this class and should go first overall, but it'll depend on what teams need a quarterback.

Some notable names that didn't make my top ten, KJ Duff, Rutgers; just missed out at the last minute, Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama; talented player, but I can't put a receiver that drops 17% of his passes in my top ten. There's the Clemson pair, TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr., who will be hoping for some more consistent quarterback play in 2026, both Tennessee receivers, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley will be looking to continue their 2025 form. Junior Sherrill, Vanderbilt, Isaiah Horton, Texas A&M, and Evan Stewart, Oregon, will be aiming to build upon promising 2025 seasons and Evan Stewart, Oregon will be hoping to prove his quality after missing the entire 2025 season through injury.

That rounds off summer scouting for the wide receivers, let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear your sleepers in this deep class and your top tens in the comments too. I should be back soon with the tight ends.