We want to know which schools have the best collection of talent in the NFL at five different positions -- QB, RB, WR, TE and DB. Using rosters from Week 1 of the NFL season as the criteria, College Football 24/7 analysts ranked the top three schools at each position, with points assigned to each school accordingly -- three points for each first-place ranking, two for each second-place ranking and one for each third-place ranking. The points were totaled, resulting in final rankings. We begin the series today with a look at who deserves the title of Wide Receiver U.
Wide Receiver U
5. Cal (3 points)
WRs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 6; Keenan Allen (Chargers), Trevor Davis (Packers), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Marvin Jones (Lions), Bryce Treggs (Eagles), Chris Harper (49ers).
In the pipeline: Chad Hansen, Demetris Robertson.
4. Ohio State (4 points)
WRs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 6; Philly Brown (Panthers), Ted Ginn Jr. (Panthers), Jalin Marshall (Jets), Braxton Miller (Texans), Terrelle Pryor (Browns), Michael Thomas (Saints). Note: Devin Smith (Jets) on PUP list.
In the pipeline: Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel.
3. Alabama (5 points)
WRs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 2; Amari Cooper (Raiders), Julio Jones (Falcons).
In the pipeline: Calvin Ridley, ArDarius Stewart.
2. Clemson (12 points)
WRs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 5; Jaron Brown (Cardinals), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans), Adam Humphries (Buccaneers), Charone Peake (Jets), Sammy Watkins (Bills). Note: Martavis Bryant (Steelers) serving suspension.
In the pipeline: Deon Cain, Ray-Ray McCloud, Artavis Scott, Mike Williams.
1. LSU (15 points)
WRs on 53-man Week 1 rosters: 5; Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Brandon LaFell (Bengals), Jarvis Landry (Dolphins), Russell Sheppard (Buccaneers), James Wright (Bengals).
In the pipeline: Malachi Dupre, Travin Dural.
Also receiving votes: Notre Dame (2 points), Miami (1 point).
Analyst ballots
Daniel Jeremiah: 1) Clemson 2) LSU 3) Cal
Clemson has done a fabulous job of recruiting and developing WRs. DeAndre Hopkins, Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant are the headliners but guys like Adam Humphries and Jaron Brown have been solid contributors as well. LSU has star power at the position and Cal is probably the most underrated wideout-producing school in the country.
Bucky Brooks: 1) Clemson 2) Ohio State 3) Alabama
Credit Dabo Swinney for churning out a handful of impact pass-catchers for the next level. Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins are already established stars, but the surprising emergence of Martavis Bryant, Charone Peake, Adam Humphries and Jaron Brown makes Clemson the easy choice as WR U.
Charles Davis: 1) LSU 2) Alabama 3) Notre Dame
OBJ and Jarvis Landry are the headliners for LSU. Alabama has two Pro Bowl forces in Julio Jones and Amari Cooper. Notre Dame might surprise you, but rookie Will Fuller really bolstered its candidacy. Just outside, and upset, are Miami (Andre Johnson, hello?!), Baylor (if Josh Gordon stayed on the field), Cal (DeSean Jackson/Keenan Allen), Pitt (Larry Fitzgerald), and, big surprise, Kansas State (Jordy Nelson and Tyler Lockett).
Gil Brandt: 1) LSU 2) Alabama 3) Ohio State
LSU and Alabama have athletes with size and speed. Warm-weather states have good high-school programs and a lot of passers. Football is a way of life in Louisiana and Alabama.
Lance Zierlein: 1) Clemson 2) LSU 3) Notre Dame
This one really isn't even close. With DeAndre Hopkins, Jaron Brown, Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant playing on the same Clemson squad, it's a wrap. Oh, and Mike Williams will be a pro one day as well. LSU lands second thanks to the high-end duo of OBJ and Jarvis Landry with Brandon LaFell mixed in. Michael Floyd and Golden Tate have already tasted NFL success and still appear to be in the middle of their careers. Will Fuller's blazing start helps to push Notre Dame into the third spot.
Chase Goodbread: 1) Clemson 2) LSU 3) Miami
These three not only have plenty of talent, they've also got the numbers: 15 receivers from these schools were on a Week 1 NFL roster, and that's not including Steelers WR Martavis Bryant, who is sitting out a suspension. Biggest star? Odell Beckham, Jr. (LSU). Longest resume: Andre Johnson (Miami).
Chad Reuter: 1) LSU 2) Cal 3) Ohio State
The Bayou Bengals have had a lot of receivers enter the NFL over the past twenty years; not all of them turned out to be playmakers, but any school producing Dwayne Bowe, Jarvis Landy, and Odell Beckham will be on this list. Cal's quarterbacks get a lot of hype, but the guys they're throwing to have had success in the NFL (DeSean Jackson, Keenan Allen, Marvin Jones). Even though the Buckeyes play in the Big Ten, where temperatures make passing difficult in November, they've produced excellent receivers from Cris Carter, Terry Glenn, David Boston, Santonio Holmes, to new guys like the Saints' Michael Thomas. Even converted quarterback Terrelle Pryor is starting to make plays for the Browns as a wideout.
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