Last week, we looked at which true freshman running backs have meant the most to their team's 2022 success. It's only fair to check in on which pass catchers are making the biggest differences as well. While I said last week that early college production isn't necessarily a requirement for future NFL success for running backs, I would make the case that it's a great indicator of future success for wide receivers. College production, in general, is very important when scouting for NFL prospects, but those that achieve success early on as a receiver are even more appealing. Below I've listed the wide receivers from the 2022 recruiting class that have made the biggest impact on the stat sheet to open their careers. As a reminder, Tier 1 lists those that currently mean the most to their team's success. Tier 2 lists those that have found early playing time but aren't a focal point of their team's offense yet. These are purely stat-based and not a ranking of their NFL Draft profiles. Their On3 Consensus RB Rankings are in parentheses.
Tier 1
- Evan Stewart, Texas A&M (2) - 38 receptions for 478 yards and 2 touchdowns
- Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (5) - 31 receptions for 532 yards and 6 touchdowns
- Barion Brown, Kentucky (14) - 26 receptions for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns
Tier 2
- Dane Key, Kentucky (45) - 21 receptions for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns
- Jayden McGowan, Vanderbilt (136) - 34 receptions for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns
- Antonio Williams, Clemson (12) - 29 receptions for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns
- Kobe Prentice, Alabama (11) - 28 receptions for 279 yards and 1 touchdown
Not all of those mentioned above project to be great professionals, but they're all giving themselves ample opportunity to get noticed. Sometimes, that's all it takes. There are still so many wideouts that will rise to the top of their class in time for the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts. The On3 Consensus No. 1 wideout, Luther Burden, has been criminally under-utilized at Missouri. Alabama has a whole stash of highly-ranked receivers waiting in the wings. Clemson's Adam Randall suffered a serious knee injury in the spring and won't be at full strength until next season (though he is getting playing time in 2022). Tennessee has several freshmen that figure to ascend, given the high-powered passing game they'll operate within. If you're in a devy league (where you are allowed to draft the rights of college players before they enter the league), Stewart and McMillan have shown the most NFL potential so far.
Top Week 9 Performances
QB Drake Maye, North Carolina, Redshirt Freshman - 34/44 for 388 passing yards and 5 touchdowns, 14 rushes for 61 yards
I've written about Maye several times this year, and at this point, there isn't much left to say. He's a bonafide stud. His heroic play has the Tar Heels sitting at 7-1 and 4-0 in conference play. I'm assuming he'll give strong consideration to entering the 2024 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season next year, and if I'm a QB-needy NFL GM, I'm giving strong consideration to making Drake Maye the next face of my franchise.
RB Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss, Freshman - 34 carries for 205 yards and 1 touchdown
Similar to Maye, Judkins keeps himself entrenched in my Standout Underclassmen series. The former three-star recruit continues to surpass expectations in Oxford, this time eclipsing the 200-yard mark for the first time. He's been a blast to watch, and it's never lost on me that he's running ahead of former five-star Zach Evans. Through only nine games, Judkins has 1,036 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
WR Dorian Singer, Arizona, Sophomore - 7 receptions for 141 yards and 3 touchdowns
The fact that Singer is running as the Wildcats' number two wideout as a true sophomore is a pretty cool accomplishment in its own right. When you consider that he's running ahead of 5-star freshman Tetairoa McMillan, it's even more impressive. Once more, it's worth noting that Singer wasn't even ranked by two of the major recruiting services when he graduated from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix in 2021. In fact, he joined Arizona as a preferred walk-on instead of being given a scholarship at a smaller school. It's fun to see someone bet on themselves and go out and earn it. On the season, he has 48 receptions for 746 yards and 5 touchdowns. Though the Wildcats weren't able to pull out the victory against USC on Saturday, Singer showed that he can hang with the big boys. Arizona would not have been in contention without his efforts. His highlight tape shows someone that can make circus catches and excels on the outside. Watch out for #5 in blue and red.
RB Richard Reese, Baylor, Freshman - 36 carries for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns
I wrote extensively about Reese in last week's article, but he warrants another mention after punching it in the end zone three times against Big 12 foe Texas Tech. The Bears' coaching staff gave him an astonishing 36 rush attempts, showing an enormous amount of trust in the true freshman. It would be nice to see him more involved in the passing game in the future so he can showcase an aspect of his game that he'll need if he's to succeed at the next level.
RB C.J. Donaldson, West Virginia, Freshman - 19 carries for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns
Donaldson returned to form in his second game back in action after an October 1st injury. He was able to put up another strong game but, unfortunately, suffered another injury that will end his season. West Virginia staff wouldn't go into detail about the injury, but Donaldson's focus is now on 2023. He ends his freshman campaign with 526 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns after being recruited as a lowly three-star tight end.
Other Standouts:
- QB Caleb Williams, USC, Sophomore - 31/45 for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns
- QB Conner Weigman, Texas A&M, Freshman - 28/44 for 338 passing yards and 4 touchdowns
- WR Elijah Spencer, Charlotte, Sophomore - 5 receptions for 84 yards and 3 touchdowns
- WR Jordyn Tyson, Colorado, Freshman - 5 receptions for 115 yards and 1 touchdown, 88-yard punt return touchdown
- QB Taylen Green, Boise State, Redshirt Freshman - 24/30 for 305 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
Who to Watch in Week 10
Last week, the game to watch was Ohio State vs Penn State, which featured no less than 5 underclassmen in significant roles. The two Nittany Lion running backs - Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen - combined for 121 rushing yards and a touchdown. Leading the way for Ohio State were wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. They combined for 16 receptions and 238 receiving yards.
In that article, I put a spotlight on the Buckeyes' sophomore running back as one to watch.
Running back Treveyon Henderson has a pro skill set, but has been operating behind junior Miyan Williams for the most part. Henderson is still averaging 13 carries per game and could show up in a big spot here.
As fate would have it, Miyan Williams suffered an injury early in the game when his hand got entangled in the sideline chains. Henderson stepped up to the plate and finished with 78 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 41-yard touchdown scamper to give the Buckeyes a 4th quarter lead they would not relinquish.
This week, all eyes are on the Tennessee-Georgia matchup. I'm looking for Bulldog tight end Brock Bowers to be the deciding factor in this one. As I noted earlier in the season, he is a complete outlier at his position and someone that no one in the country can scheme out of a game. Tennessee's high-powered offense will put up points behind Heisman-favorite Hendon Hooker, but Georgia's offense has the ability to keep up. In last week's 42-20 victory over Florida, Bowers had 5 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown - a wild, juggling catch down the sideline that somehow deflected off of the defender twice before Bowers came up with it. If Georgia is going to pull off the victory, it will be on the back of Mr. Bowers.
You can find me on Twitter @craiglakins or by email at lakins@footballguys.com.