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2010 TOP FIVE UNIT RANKINGS
Receiver

Houston

The Cougars became just the fourth team in NCAA to have three 1,000-yard receivers last season. All three are back for another year. That is unheard of at any level. So the Houston offense racks up high numbers for their quarterback and receivers. Someone has to actually get open and catch these passes. Senior James Cleveland is the prime target after finishing with 104 catches in his first year as a JUCO transfer last fall. He is a physical receiver with huge hands. Patrick Edwards is the smallish 5'9, 175-pound pass catcher carrying a track pedigree. He has emerged as an explosive all-around playmaker. Tyron Carrier is the true speed burner with moves so quick that defenders have a difficult time keeping track of where he is on the field. He also doubles as an All-American return man on special teams. Several other candidates are more than capable of putting up 1,000-yard receiving production in this offense including Colorado transfer Chance Blackmon.

Arkansas

Arkansas fans can thank head coach Bobby Petrino for bringing some spark into an offense that has been left for dead the past decade or more. The quarterback and receivers can be more thankful. The Razorbacks welcome back all four returning starters with this unit. Greg Childs stood out last fall as the team-leading receiver catching 48 passes and averaging 18.6 yards per catch. He has excellent speed and plays at his best in the big games. Before the upcoming campaign is through, Childs has the chance to be the top receiver in the SEC at the least statistically. Jarius Wright has shown some real flashes of brilliance and is the team’s second leading returning receiver. He is dangerously quick and tough to cover man-to-man. Joe Adams is the rock of this bunch. He has become a steady target and managed to earn All-Conference honors last fall. Senior D.J. Williams is a preseason All-American by most accounts and is one of the nation's top receiving tight ends possessing NFL skills now. Built more like a fullback (6'2, 251 pounds) he has extremely gifted hands. He could easily push for 50-plus catches in 2010.

Boise State

The Broncos seem to get overlooked in so many departments and the receivers are no exception. All-WAC seniors Austin Pettis and Titus Young form one of the top receiving tandems in the nation after recording 29 touchdowns last season. Pettis already has a single season school-record 14 touchdown grabs from a year ago and should also break the school career record for receptions, yards and touchdowns. He makes big plays in clutch situations. Young is the deep threat and pulled in a team high 1,041 receiving yards last fall. He also averaged 9.2 yards per carry and is an All-American kick returner at NationalChamps.net. There is plenty of talent at tight end too. Senior returning starter Tommy Gallarda is primarily a blocker but caught four touchdowns last year. Kyle Efaw is a rare downfield threat (14.3 yards per catch) from this position and was the Fiesta Bowl MVP last January. There are several others who have seen their share of starts. With Kellen Moore behind center, this group is capable of getting passes thrown their way anywhere on the field.

Oklahoma

The most exciting player on the Sooner roster is receiver Ryan Broyles. He tied the school's single-season touchdown receptions record with 15 in 2009 and set new records for catches in a game (13 in OU's bowl win over Stanford) and for a season (86). He is a leading candidate for the Biletnikoff Award and has become one of the team's top leaders. Dejuan Miller came on strong at the end of last season, making 23 of his 26 receptions in the final six games. The same can be said for Jaz Reynolds, who displayed his best performances in the final four games. The star of the spring was incoming freshman Kenny Stills and he should find his way into this starting lineup much "sooner" than later. Former running back Mossis Madu will now line up behind Broyles. Brandon Caleb had 139 receiving yards last year in a win over Baylor and has earned his share of starts through out 2009.

Washington

Maybe the reason quarterback Jake Locker decided to return for his senior season is that he saw seven players who caught at least ten passes here last season coming back. Jermaine Kearse has become one of the Pac Ten's elite receivers and is a consistent deep threat that truly can stretch a field. Kearse scored in each of the Huskies' final four games and has developed great timing with Locker. Devin Aguilar is more of a possession receiver and he has solid numbers to support this role (42 receptions). James Johnson is the other starter in this three-receiver base set after catching 39 passes as a true frosh last fall. His expectations have continued to grow through the spring. Tight end Kavario Middleton was fourth on the team in receptions. He is a big athletic type at 6'5 but is being pushed by fellow junior Chris Izbicki.

 

Just Missed: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Hawai'i, Miami FL