Previously: Quarterback, Running Backs 

We're back for Part #3 of the The Enemy, Ranked 2022 series and today will be an all-encompassing look at the receivers of the opponents on Michigan's schedule. For this piece, we're folding WRs and TEs into one, and will be taking into account the sorts of offenses the teams run. Teams like Maryland and Ohio State will have a greater focus on WRs, while teams like Iowa will have more attention given to the TE position. 

12. Connecticut 

The Huskies return to the cellar for receivers thanks to a depth chart with a lack of returning production at WR, as well as any degree of FBS-caliber talent. Keelan Marion, the returning leading receiver last season for UCONN, is back after hauling in 28 catches for 474 yards (16.9 average) and 5 TD. He's alright, but the problem lies with the players beneath him (as well as the general talent level of the roster). Cameron Ross had an excellent season in 2019 in Storrs, but the Huskies opted not to play in 2020 and he played just two games a year ago, meaning that it's been many years since Ross was an effective receiver.

Connecticut has added Nigel Fitzgerald as a transfer from Old Dominion and he is in a similar boat to Ross, with some production to speak of in 2019, but just one catch since then. Kylish Hays comes in as a true freshman at WR, but the problem with all these guys is their baseline talent level: none of these four players ranked in the top 1,500 overall players in their given recruiting classes. Brandon Niemenski returns at TE but he will be moving into the starter role for the first time, with just 12 catches last season. He was also #2,690 in the composite as a recruit, so that tells you where this group is at. Basically, this is a group without many returning starters from 2021 and due to a complete dearth of talent, it's hard to project much of anything positive here, hence the #12 ranking. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: the four teams with real WR/TE rooms]

[Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser]

11. Hawaii 

Rebuilding the Hawaii receiver room is going to be a work in progress for new head coach Timmy Chang, as none of the Rainbow Warriors' top three receivers from last season return to the island. Technically speaking, the fourth-most productive passcatcher in 2021 was neither a WR nor a TE. It was RB Dedrick Parson! We covered him last week, though, so next up on that list was Zion Bowens, who had a nice showing in half of a season, playing five games and catching 12 passes for 257 yards, a big time 21.4 average. Josh Panoke also caught 11 passes for 123 yards, his second year as a role-playing contributor. However, we should be cautious because both will be inhabiting much larger roles than ever before this season. 

James Phillips has 9 career catches across 3 seasons, and he seems in line to be the third WR right now, which gives you a sense of why Hawaii is near the bottom of the list. The 'Bows do pick up a transfer of their own in TE Jordan Murray, from Missouri State. Murray had a solid career, but nothing legendary and he was playing in the FCS, so it's reasonable to temper expectations. Like UCONN, the talent level here is very, very low, on par with the Huskies, but I left Hawaii a little higher because their receivers at least have played slightly more recently, even if I think the history of production is better for UCONN. Ultimately it came down to injury risk and ability to fit which spooked me a bit more about UCONN than did the questions about taking on larger roles with Hawaii. Either way, #12 and #11 here are both bad. 

10. Colorado State

Jay Norvell's decision to put his Nevada program on wheels and haul it with him to Fort Collins was exemplified by the situation of the WR room for the Rams. Three of CSU's top four receivers in yardage from last season return, everyone but departed star TE Trey McBride (2nd round pick), yet two of those three are not projected to start at the moment due to the transfer of a pair of Nevada WRs who followed their head coach. Those would be Tory Horton and Melquan Stovall, who both started for the Wolfpack and caught passes for over 600 yards at more than 11 yards per pop last season. Then you add in-house returners Dante Wright, who caught 43 passes for 540 yards and 3 TD last season for Colorado State and Ty McCullough, 24 catches for 415 and 1 TD to the mix... pretty good situation for a Mountain West team!

The drop off at TE will be stark, but will be muted by Norvell's Air Raid system that will decrease the reliance on TEs. RS Fr Tanner Arkin is the starter for the job, for the record. CSU slots in higher than the other two non-conference teams because their receivers are more experienced and are a bit more talented than those of Hawaii and CSU. There's no real reason to move them ahead of a B1G team, but they are clearly the best of the non-conference opponents in receiving talent. 

[Patrick Barron]

9. Indiana 

Fans of players with unusual names will be disappointed to learn that Ty Fryfogle has departed Bloomington after a memorable career. So too, has standout TE Peyton Hendershot, in the process forcing IU to turn the page to a new vision at the receiver position. They do roll over DJ Matthews, last year's transfer from FSU who had 165 yards in 5 games before injury crushed his season. He'll get a crack at being the top dog this year and I have belief he can seize it. Matthews is joined by a pair of new transfers, Emery Simmons of UNC, who has never had a starring role for the Tar Heels but does have 30 career catches and 516 yards to his name, and the nation's #1 JUCO WR transfer (per 247), Cam Camper.

TE AJ Barner is the other name to know at the receiving spot, poised to be the starter. Barner has big shoes to fill following the departed Hendershott, who was last season's team leader in catches and yards, a stalwart of Hoosier offenses over the past several seasons. Thankfully, Barner does have a touch of experience, 14 grabs for 162 yards a year ago. 

The Hoosiers come in last among B1G squads, even though I am a fan of Matthews'. The uncertainty with a pair of transfers, a new starter at TE, and a lead receiver coming off injury was very murky and struggled to measure up to other teams. There are large holes here and a lot of uncertainty about how well the pieces present here can fill those holes. 

8. Illinois 

Given the style of offense that Illinois now rolls with, this shouldn't surprise anyone. The Illini are a rushing-first team under Bret Bielema and therefore, they lack a terribly flashy crop of receivers. That said, they do get a nice chunk of returning production. One-time QB/RB project Isaiah Williams is now a receiver and he led Illinois in catches, yards, and TDs by a country mile. Lucky for those in Champaign, Williams is back in school, bringing his undersized, athletic skillset to an Illinois team that generally lacks that sort of player. Casey Washington is a much larger target at 6'2", and he came in second on the team in receiving last year, with 21 catches for 294 yards, but was unable to find the end zone.

With a team like Illinois, it's worthwhile to check in on the TEs before combing any deeper at WR. They lost Daniel Barker to MSU via the portal, but do have returning second-string Luke Ford. Ford was the one-time prized recruit whose transfer from UGA to Illinois was botched in arcane manner by the NCAA, paving the way for the unrestricted movement that the portal now provides. Ford has not really popped with his new school and struggled last year as a receiver, but the size and talent is still there and now as the undisputed #1 in an offense that should feature TEs, I'd expect an uptick in production. Beyond these three, second year WR Pat Bryant is a player I'd look out for to take a jump, while Michael Marchese provides depth at the TE spot. 

This receiver group is not anything particularly special, but they do return a good bit of production and have legit talent at TE, where there will be a new starter. The high upside with Ford and Williams especially was enough to move them by the Hoosiers, in addition to the experience. 

Aron Cruickshank is being gang-tackled here [Marc-Gregor Campredon]

7. Rutgers 

Forever WR Bo Melton has moved on from Rutgers, which is a tough loss considering that Melton was the team's best offensive player a year ago. The good news is that the Scarlet Knights roll over every other receiver of note from last year and add a couple of decent pieces from the portal. Aron Cruickshank and Shameen Jones both return, coming off seasons in which both caught at least 20 passes for ~200 yards each. Neither are the best or the flashiest, and they are, like the whole Rutgers offense, largely bounded by the line of scrimmage. But both are solid players you're happy to get back.

Rutgers also adds WR Taj Harris out of the portal from Syracuse, who had a monster 2020 season with over 700 receiving yards, but injuries shortened his 2021 campaign. WR Sean Ryan also joins the ship from West Virginia, another quality option that makes Rutgers a decently deep group, even if there isn't a standout star. Melton is a tough loss, but they have options. TE doesn't figure too heavily, but wildcat QB Johnny Langan is the starter after catching 18 passes for 177 yards last season. I ranked Rutgers behind Iowa because of the lack of a standout talent to lead the group, and the hole vacated by Melton, but I do like the depth of decent options here more than I do Illinois' group. 

6. Iowa 

In typical Iowa fashion, we have to start by talking about the tight end position. Sam LaPorta, the only receiver in the B1G Championship Game who could get open for the Hawkeyes, returns and that's a big lift for the Iowa offense. He gives Spencer Petras one reliable option and figures to be one of the better TEs in the conference. Though Purdue stole two of Iowa's receivers through the portal, they still return Nico Ragaini and Keagan Johnson. Both of them were just guys last year, but I do like the potential for Johnson to take a big step. He was only a true freshman a year ago, had a 19.6 yards per catch average, and is a former 4* prospect. In that context, Johnson seems like one of the easier bets to be a breakout player at the WR position in the conference this season. Arland Bruce's 25 catches also returns to round out the WR position, and with returning production, a breakout option at WR, and a very good TE, Iowa finds itself at 6th on this list. 

5. Nebraska 

The final entry from the B1G West, the Huskers have seen some major attrition here. Jumbo target Omar Manning returns, but the losses of Samori Toure and Austin Allen hurt- those two studs combined for 1,500 receiving yards and 7 TDs last year at the WR and TE positions, respectively. Manning was the #3 option a year ago, so the question is whether he can take the next step and assume some of Toure's role from last season. To fill in some of the holes, the Huskers have consulted the transfer portal, as usual, and have fetched Trey Palmer, formerly of LSU. The 6'0", 180 lb. receiver had a career high 30 catches for 344 yards last season in Baton Rouge and he brings with him plenty of upside, a former top 150 recruit in the class of 2019.

Speaking of which, they also yanked another former top 150 2019 recruit out of the portal, Marcus Washington of Texas. Washington brings with him a bit more size but has just 25 catches in his career to his name. Old Friend Oliver Martin is still around and he will always have that former 4* status around his neck, even though his role was pretty limited a year ago in Lincoln, only 10 catches. Those four guys figure to comprise the upper group of wide receivers for the Huskers, but I guess we can throw in NMSU transfer Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, who had very nice production for the Aggies a year ago, but has nowhere near the raw talent of any of the names mentioned above. 

At TE, Nebraska will look to replace Allen with a combination of Travis Vokolek and [insert young guys here]. Vokolek is a senior who had 11 catches last season backing up Allen, but he was mostly just a guy. Thomas Fidone II is the player they were desperately hoping to be the starter, as a blue chip RS Fr, but another knee injury in the spring has slowed down that hype train. The TE position will probably be okay, but there will be drop off from Allen. 

[Patrick Barron]

4. Michigan State 

The Spartans roll over one of the very best WRs in the conference in Jayden Reed. The electric playmaker is among the B1G's top big play threats after averaging over 17 yards per catch and 10 TDs on 59 catches a season ago. He's a bona fide star and a legit #1, the single best WR to be mentioned on this list so far. After that, the pieces are a bit fuzzier. Tre Mosley returns to East Lansing, having been the solid mid-range option a year ago. I'm not sure if there's more upside there for him to emerge as a deep threat, but even if he reprises that role, MSU should be comfortable. The Spartans lose Jalen Nailor but he missed plenty of games last year with injury, so that's not necessarily something new. MSU didn't have a viable outside #2 to fill Nailor's shoes last season but hope to do so this year, with either RS So Montorie Foster or So Keon Coleman. I think Coleman, also a basketball player, is the higher upside option here as a former borderline 4* recruit. In his second year in the program, I'd look to Coleman to have a breakout season. 

The TE spot was not used terribly heavily last year, with Connor Heyward having been the guy, a player with a much more FB-sized body than a TE's body. Heyward is off to the NFL and MSU has fished Daniel Barker out of the portal from Illinois. He's a decent, 15-20 catch, 250 yards type option. If it's not Barker, it may be Maliq Carr, who will be another year removed from a positional switch and thus may be more ready to start at TE for the green & white. Overall, the talent level and established depth at receiver for MSU is lower than the three teams ahead of them on the list, but the presence of Reed and the possibility of a breakout option in Coleman + steady players in Mosley and Barker made them a very obvious #4. 

3. Penn State 

Jahan Dotson is off to the NFL, robbing the Nittany Lions of a first round talent, which will not be easy to replace, to say the least. But PSU is loaded with talent in the WR room and has a seeming star in waiting, Parker Washington. Washington was already a stud last season playing second fiddle to Dotson, catching 64 passes for 820 yards and 4 TDs. He was not Dotson's level yet, but I'd expect at least 1,000 yards from Washington this season. He's good. KeAndre Lambert-Smith was not a bad #3 either, with 500 yards to his name last season, and he returns as well. I would say that KLS is in line for more catches, but he may not be despite the Dotson exit, because Penn State added WR Mitchell Tinsley out of the transfer portal from Western Kentucky. For those unfamiliar, WKU ran an absurd passing offense that saw QB Bailey Zappe throw for nearly 6,000 yards(!!) and Tinsley was one of the many weapons who made that possible. His totals paled in comparison to Jerreth Sterns, but Tinsley still caught 87 balls for 1,402 yards and 14 TDs to earn All-CUSA honors. Now joining the PSU WR room, he figures to be a very nice weapon in the B1G. There will be an adjustment to an increase in the level of competition, yes, but Tinsley played two B1G teams last year (Indiana/MSU) and caught 11 balls for nearly 200 yards in those two games. He can play in this conference. 

WR depth is a pretty big weakness for PSU, as they were just a three-fanged passing offense last season. Of course, it wasn't bad because all three fangs were legit, but an injury would've been catastrophic and that still may be the case this year. On the other hand, the hope is to get more from the tight ends. Brenton Strange was the top guy through the first half of last year but then disappeared in the back-half. Most PSU insiders want Theo Johnson to be the guy, an athletic Canadian who was a blue chip back in 2020 that Michigan really wanted. He didn't pop last year, but perhaps 2022 can be his breakout campaign. 

PSU's room lacks the depth of quality options to be ranked ahead of either of the two teams ahead of them on this list, but three potentially very good receivers + a breakout candidate with high talent at TE put them ahead of the Spartans. 

Rakim Jarrett is a star [University of Maryland Athletics]

2. Maryland 

Every year the Terps bloggers enter the season with sugary optimism, but if they are relentlessly sunny about wide receiver, they may have a point. This room is LOADED. Last year's top receiver, former 5* Rakim Jarrett, returns, and he's one of the best wideouts in the conference. That alone would put Maryland high, but what sweetens the pot is the return of two good contributors from injury AND the acquisition of another from the portal. The two returners from injury are Dontay Demus and Jeshaun Jones, both of whom played half the season last year for Maryland. Demus was on pace for a monster year (500 yards in 5 games) before he was beset by injury and Jones has shown flashes before, but at this point he's a #3 option. Well, he would be, but Maryland also has Jacob Copeland, who should bump Jones down to the #4 option. Copeland is a former 4* top 100 player in the 2018 class who was Florida's top receiver last season, catching 41 passes for 642 yards and 4 TDs. That's right, MARYLAND is stealing talented and productive receivers from FLORIDA. 

Having four receivers that good is a coup for the Terps, which they do need because there will be a drop off of some kind at TE. In fairness, they may not use that position much without a quality option, but they will miss Chigoziem Okonkwo, who was a valuable piece of the offense. Corey Dyches looks like the starter at TE, a returner with 19 catches last season, more of a short yardage and red zone threat than some of the WRs. There will probably be a decline in not having Okonkwo around, but that will be more than offset by better health from the receivers and the addition of Copeland. This is a downright scary room with multiple NFL talents (Demus/Jarrett), experienced producers, and depth. Combined with Tagovailoa's live arm, the Maryland passing attack will be something to see.... if the QB has any time to throw (more on that next week). 

1. Ohio State 

Well, well, well, these guys again. The Buckeyes lose two first round picks and yet return the best WR in the conference, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the shifty slot with massive home-run potential every time he touches the ball. JSN totaled 1,600 yards last season, including 347 in the Rose Bowl when OSU was playing without Wilson and Olave. He is an absurd player. The reinforcements to replace Wilson and Olave are up in the air, but the Buckeyes have a disgusting degree of talent. Among the players they could pick from are Marvin Harrison Jr., a former high 4* who had 3 TDs in the Rose Bowl, Julian Fleming, the #1 national WR in the 2020 class, and Emeka Egbuka, the #1 national WR in the 2021 class. 

The TE room is not used very much because of the wealth of receiver talent and the offense they run. Jeremy Ruckert, who was decent, is off to the NFL thanks to his HS recruiting ranking, and Cade Stover is slated to replace him. I don't expect much from Stover but honestly it doesn't matter and it's not like he's replacing a lot (Ruckert only had 300 yards on 26 catches). Feels like Stover can replicate that. This WR room will likely be a bit worse than last year, but last year they had one of the best WR rooms that college football has ever seen. It was going to be a small step back. But at the end of the day, despite the experience Maryland has and the talent in their room, OSU's talent level at this position is so overwhelming, and their track record of producing WRs so elite, that I ask all readers to ask the question "will Maryland really have better receivers than OSU by the time late November rolls around?" If you seriously believe yes, then props to you, because I don't have much doubt in my mind. Buckeyes rank #1.  

Mmmmhmmm [Patrick Barron]

Where would Michigan rank? 

Michigan's a pretty unique team on this list, with a clown car of good options at receiver, deeper than any other team in terms of experienced quality producers. Between two legit TEs in All and Schoonmaker and five conceivable options at WR in Bell, Wilson, Johnson, Anthony, and Henning (maybe Darrius Clemons too?), this group is extremely deep. No one has the jump-off-the-page statistical profile of a Reed or a JSN, but that's also a function of the sort of offense Michigan runs. One of the biggest questions for the team right now is whether they will adjust the offensive approach to feed these guys.

When you look at the way they play, their talent level (via recruiting rankings), and production when given opportunity, this WR room has a case for being close to OSU at the top of the conference. It's just a matter of whether they will be allowed the chance to put up the stats to match it. No they won't catch OSU statistically because the offenses are different, but if you made me assign a ranking, I'd think it would be right there with Maryland and the Buckeyes at the top of the league. This group is deep and loaded.