This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

Despite its classic reputation as a running back-focused conference, the Big Ten has boasted terrific talent at wide receiver over the last few years. Ohio State‘s Marvin Harrison Jr. went No. 4 overall in the 2024 NFL draft, leading a group of four Big Ten wideouts selected. The conference delivered another strong output in 2025, with Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka going in the first round (No. 19 overall), Illinois’ Pat Bryant and Indiana’s Tai Felton in the third, then Oregon‘s Tez Johnson and Maryland’s Kaden Prather in the seventh.

Given the current prominence of passing offenses in the Big Ten Conference and in the broader college football landscape, 2026 may see that trend continue. The question isn’t whether any Big Ten wideouts will be considered during the draft’s opening night; it’s who will be. Of course, Ohio State star sophomore Jeremiah Smith, who may be the best player in college football this season, won’t be eligible until the 2027 draft. Therefore, the Big Ten’s talent at the position will be even better than its 2026 draft output shows.

In line with our preview work for the upcoming 2025 season, here is a full look at the wide receiver landscape across the Big Ten. This preview is done in the form of a ranking, from the Big Ten’s worst WR corps to its best.

Position Previews: Defense — Offense — Quarterbacks — Running Backs

Starters: Nitro Tuggle (3 receptions, 34 yards at Georgia), Charles Ross (1 reception, 11 yards at USC), De’Nylon Morrissette (11 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD)

Purdue will find itself at the bottom of several of these lists. The program’s spot in this ranking is due to its top-down roster turnover this offseason, as well as the lack of proven production from its notable additions at the position. Tuggle and Ross each come from big programs. The former has yet to produce at the college level, while the latter is a sixth-year who didn’t eclipse 350 yards in any of his three seasons as a primary contributor at USC.

17. Northwestern Wildcats

Starters: Frank Covey (10 receptions, 98 yards), Griffin Wilde (71 receptions, 1,154 yards, 12 TD at South Dakota State), Chase Farrell (Did not play as a freshman at Stanford

Northwestern is rarely talented at wide receiver. While SMU transfer quarterback Preston Stone should provide the offense a big spark, his supporting cast is a major question. Wilde is one wild card to watch after a 1,100-yard season at Football Championship Subdivision South Dakota State.

16. Maryland Terrapins

Starters: Jalil Farooq (3 receptions, 58 yards at Oklahoma), Kaleb Webb (6 receptions, 48 yards at Tennessee), Octavian Smith Jr. (30 receptions, 315 yards, 2 TD)

Maryland lost leading receivers Tai Felton (96 catches, 1,124 yards, 9 TD) and Kaden Prather (56 catches, 624 yards, 4 TD) after the 2024 season. Those two were key cogs in a Terrapins offense that was forced to play from a deficit in most of its games. Farooq is the most likely to lead the room in 2024, after tallying 82 catches for 1,160 yards and seven scores between 2022 and 2023 at Oklahoma.

15. Illinois Fighting Illini

Starters: Malik Elzy (4 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD), Hudson Clement (51 receptions, 741 yards, 5 TD at West Virginia), Collin Dixon (18 receptions, 264 yards)

The weakness of Illinois’ offense may be at wide receiver. The team lost its top two wideouts in Pat Bryant (54 catches, 984 yards, 10 TD) and Zakhari Franklin (55 catches, 652 yards, 4 TD) after the 2024 campaign. Clement is a notable addition to the room after a terrific campaign at West Virginia. Illinois has one of the Big Ten’s best quarterbacks in Luke Altmyer, although his supporting cast projects to be less than stellar.

14. Michigan Wolverines

Starters: Donaven McCulley (2 receptions, 21 yards, 1 TD at Indiana), Fredrick Moore (11 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD at Cal), Anthony Simpson (3 receptions, 16 yards at UMass)

Michigan projects to be a classic run-first team in 2025. Part of that is due to a question at quarterback, specifically if five-star freshman Bryce Underwood is able to hit immediately. Another is due to a pedestrian wide receiver corps. McCulley is the one addition to circle. While he only caught two passes last season, he registered 48 catches, 644 yards and six scores at Indiana in 2023. He at least has the potential to emerge as the room’s leader.

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13. Iowa Hawkeyes

Starters: Reece Vander Zee (14 receptions, 176 yards, 3 TD), Jacob Gill (35 receptions, 411 yards, 2 TD), Seth Anderson (5 receptions, 106 yards)

Many are viewing 2025 as the breakout year for sophomore Reece Vander Zee. The versatile athlete started eight games as a true freshman in 2024 and finished as the team’s second-leading wide receiver, behind Gill (also returning). This group now has a capable quarterback throwing to them in South Dakota State transfer Mark Gronowski. Don’t be surprised if the counting stats take a major step forward.

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12. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Starters: Javon Tracy (57 receptions, 818 yards, 7 TD at Miami (OH)), Le’Meke Brockington (18 receptions, 282 yards, 1 TD), Logan Loya (29 receptions, 348 yards, 4 TD at UCLA)

Minnesota brought in two intriguing transfers in Tracy and Loya this offseason. While this group has no Daniel Jackson (75 catches, 863 yards, 4 TD in 2024), it should be able to produce plenty. The Gophers’ bigger question on offense will be the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey.

11. UCLA Bruins

Starters: Kwazi Gilmer (31 receptions, 345 yards, 2 TD), Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (28 receptions, 294 yards, 1 TD), Mikey Matthews (32 receptions, 272 yards, 1 TD at Cal)

UCLA returns two intriguing wide receiver talents in Gilmer and Mokiao-Atimalala. The team may not have a world-beater at the position, although the arrival of Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava should help the group flourish. This starting trio has a high ceiling if all falls right.

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10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Starters: K.J. Duff (27 receptions, 425 yards, 1 TD), Ian Strong (43 receptions, 676 yards, 5 TD), D.T. Sheffield (66 receptions, 822 yards, 11 TD at North Texas)

Rutgers will have a strength at wide receiver in 2025. Strong and Duff return to lead the room, with Sheffield filling in as an intriguing third option. If Athan Kaliakmanis can get this group the football, it could crack the conference’s top half.

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Starters: Dane Key (47 receptions, 715 yards, 2 TD at Kentucky), Nyziah Hunter (40 receptions, 578 yards, 5 TD at Cal), Jacory Barney (55 receptions, 447 yards)

Nebraska lost its top two wideouts in Jahmal Banks (44 catches, 587 yards, 3 TD) and Isaiah Neyor (34 catches, 455 yards, 5 TD) after the 2024 season. It then added two established starters in Key and Hunter from Kentucky and Cal, respectively. This group’s spot at No. 9 showcases the conference’s impressive depth of talent at the position.

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Starters: Vinny Anthony (39 receptions, 672 yards, 4 TD), Jayden Ballard (2 receptions, 18 yards at Ohio State), Trech Kekahuna (25 receptions, 339 yards, 2 TD)

Wisconsin has one of the more underrated wide receiver corps entering 2025. Part of that is due to the program’s move from the air raid back to a pro-style offense under new OC Jeff Grimes. Another is Anthony and Kekahuna’s production with a poor quarterback situation in 2024. Anthony especially excelled, finishing with a 17.2 yards-per-reception clip. Maryland transfer QB Billy Edwards could elevate this group into the top five if all goes right.

7. Michigan State Spartans

Starters: Nick Marsh (41 receptions, 649 yards, 3 TD), Omari Kelly (53 receptions, 869 yards, 4 TD at Middle Tennessee State), Chrishon McCray (40 receptions, 705 yards, 9 TD at Kent State)

Michigan State returns its leading receiver in Marsh entering 2025. It also welcomed several intriguing small-school transfers in McCray and Kelly. The Spartans have the offensive infrastructure to turn 2025 into a breakthrough. To do so, they’ll need significant improvement from QB Aidan Chiles, as well as top-tier production from their wide receiver corps.

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6. Washington Huskies

Starters: Denzel Boston (63 receptions, 834 yards, 9 TD), Omari Evans (21 receptions, 415 yards, 5 TD at Penn State), Kevin Green Jr. (Did not play — injury)

Denzel Boston returns to lead the Washington wide receiver room in 2025. He, Evans and Green will be catching passes from sophomore quarterback Demond Williams, a popular breakout pick entering the season. Williams delivering a great year under center could help Boston rise into draft consideration.

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5. Oregon Ducks

Starters: Kyler Kasper (1 reception, 21 yards, 0 TD), Gary Bryant Jr. (2 receptions, 12 yards), Dakorien Moore (N/A — true freshman)

Oregon lost nearly its entire wide receiver room production from the 2024 season. Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden are off to the NFL, while Evan Stewart is out for 2025 due to an offseason injury. That means the team welcomes a new-look receiver corps in 2025. Moore is a player to circle — he just joined the program as a five-star recruit and the No. 4 overall player in the class of 2025.

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4. Penn State Nittany Lions

Starters: Kyron Hudson (38 receptions, 462 yards, 3 TD at USC), Devonte Ross (76 receptions, 1,043 yards, 11 TD at Troy), Trebor Pena (84 receptions, 941 yards, 9 TD at Syracuse)

Penn State hasn’t quite mastered the wide receiver position in recent years. That could change in 2025, with touted transfers at every starting position. Spring addition Trebor Pena may be the most impactful of the three. None should be surprised if he and quarterback Drew Allar turn into one of the Big Ten’s better QB-WR duos.

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3. Indiana Hoosiers

Starters: Elijah Sarratt (53 receptions, 957 yards, 8 TD), Omar Cooper Jr. (28 receptions, 594 yards, 7 TD), Jonathan Brady (36 receptions, 386 yards, 3 TD at Cal)

Indiana lost a ton of talent off its breakthrough 2024 team. That is not the case at wide receiver, where leading receivers Sarratt and Cooper are both back. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza steps into a fantastic situation with one of the conference’s better outside starting receiver duos.

Starters: Ja’Kobi Lane (43 receptions, 525 yards, 12 TD), Makai Lemon (52 receptions, 764 yards, 3 TD), Prince Strachan (25 receptions, 304 yards, 1 TD at Boise State)

USC’s wide receiver room is set for a major breakout in 2025. Lane and Lemon flashed top-end playmaking in 2024. A more stable quarterback position should help their cause this upcoming season. On paper, the Trojans appear to have a classic top-end Lincoln Riley offense.

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Starters: Jeremiah Smith (76 receptions, 1,315 yards, 15 TD), Carnell Tate (52 receptions, 733 yards, 4 TD), Brandon Inniss (14 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD)

This position shouldn’t be up for debate. Jeremiah Smith may be the Big Ten’s best player entering 2025, if not one of the single best in the entire country. He has a real chance to become one of the rare players to win a Heisman Trophy and be forced to return to school, like Caleb Williams did at USC in 2022. Next to Smith, Tate is also quietly emerging as one of the conference’s better options.

This position can be written in Sharpie each offseason. Ohio State always has the Big Ten’s best wide receiver corps.

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