Big 12 football wide receiver rankings: Where does Brennan Presley, Travis Hunter land?
Justin MartinezThe Oklahoman
The Big 12 isn't short on talented wide receivers.
The revamped conference is loaded with returners such as OSU's Brennan Presley and Central Florida's Kobe Hudson, but it also features newcomers such as Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and Colorado's Travis Hunter.
Here are the top 10 Big 12 wide receivers entering this season:
Top 10 Big 12 wide receivers for 2024 season
10. Xzavier Henderson, Cincinnati
Even though Cincinnati only ranked 12th in the Big 12 in passing yards per game last season (209), Henderson still looked impressive.The Florida transfer recorded career highs of 58 catches, 782 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns as a junior. He earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention for his strong play.
Henderson has the talent to be higher on this list, but his production could be limited on a Cincinnati team that'll surely lean on Corey Kiner and the run game.
9. LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
Wester is a Florida Atlantic transfer who should contribute right away for Colorado.Wester ranked second in the nation in catches last season (108), which he turned into 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned an American Athletic first team selection and also took home Special Teams Player of the Year honors for the conference.
Wester is joined by Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. in a stacked Colorado receiver room. But the Buffaloes love to throw the football, and Wester should still get plenty of chances to connect with quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
More:Colorado's Deion Sanders looking forward to facing Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State football
8. Lawrence Arnold, Kansas
Kansas dealt with injuries at the quarterback position last season, but Arnold provided a trusty target for whoever was throwing the ball.Arnold caught 44 passes for career highs of 782 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. He even earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention.
Arnold could be in for another strong campaign if Jalon Daniels stays healthy at quarterback. But if the Jayhawks have to turn to backup freshmen Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall, they'll surely lean on the run game more instead.
7. Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State
Owens was one of OSU's biggest breakout players last season.Owens recorded career highs of 63 catches, 895 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns as a junior. He also earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention and was named the Texas Bowl MVP in OSU's win over Texas A&M.
Brennan Presley is still the top target for the Cowboys, and running back Ollie Gordon II is a Heisman Trophy candidate who'll get fed the ball often. But Owens is a talented receiver who'll get plenty of opportunities to build on his breakout campaign.
6. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
After transferring from Eastern Kentucky, Higgins had no trouble adjusting to Big 12 play last season.Higgins earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention as a junior with 53 catches, a career-high 983 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. He even became one of just three players in program history to record two career 150-yard receiving games in a season.
Higgins will have to share targets with Jaylin Noel again this season. But reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Rocco Becht is returning at quarterback, and he knows how to spread the wealth.
5. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Iowa State found itself in need of a new lead receiver last season following the departure of Xavier Hutchinson.Noel became that guy. The co-captain earned an All-Big 12 second team selection as a junior with career highs of 66 receptions, 820 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
Noel has continuously elevated his game each season. Now a senior, he's undoubtedly one of the top receivers in the Big 12.
4. Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter shined at the cornerback position last season. He earned a Pac-12 first team selection as a sophomore with 31 tackles, five broken-up passes and three interceptions.But Hunter also shined at the receiver position. He caught 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns.
Hunter is probably the most talented player on this list, and he'll surely be a go-to target for Sanders. But he comes in at No. 4 because of Colorado's crowded receiving room, and he'll also have to split time and energy between both sides of the field.
3. Kobe Hudson, Central Florida
Central Florida made its Big 12 debut last season, and Hudson established himself as one of the conference's most electric newcomers.Hudson earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention with career highs of 44 catches, 900 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns as a senior. He averaged 20.5 yards per catch, which ranked third in the Big 12.
Hudson put up those numbers despite being UCF's No. 2 receiver behind Javon Baker. Now that Baker is in the NFL, Hudson is sure to thrive as the go-to target for Arkansas transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson.
More:Big 12 football quarterback rankings: Where does Shedeur Sanders, Jalon Daniels land?
2. Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Presley is back for his fifth season with the Cowboys.Presley earned an All-Big 12 second team selection last season for recording career highs of 101 receptions, 991 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. The accomplished veteran ranks fourth in program history in career catches (225) and seventh in career receiving yards (2,548).
Presley is a lethal offensive weapon who can also do damage as a kick returner. And with quarterback Alan Bowman in the mix for his seventh season, there's no question who his favorite target will be.
1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
There's a new top receiver in the Big 12.McMillan dominated as a sophomore at Arizona last season. He earned a Pac-12 second team selection by recording the fifth-most receiving yards in the nation (1,402) on 90 catches, and he hauled in 10 touchdowns.
McMillan is a former high school teammate of quarterback Noah Fifita, who's also back for Arizona. It's undoubtedly the most dangerous quarterback-receiver duo in the Big 12.
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