Best Wide Receivers In College Football History
In college football history, there have been many game-changing wide receivers—once-in-a-generation athletes who could change the tide of a game with just one play.
Here are the best wide receivers in college football history. Check out the mind-blowing stats of these legendary wideouts below.
Desmond Howard: Michigan, 1989-1991
- Receiving Yards: 2,146 Yards
- Touchdowns: 37
- 1991 Heisman Winner
- Famously Hit “The Pose” in 1991
There’s no better way to start a list of the best wide receivers in college football history than with Desmond Howard. The Michigan legend was a dual threat who could score as a wideout or a punt returner.
From 1989 to 1991, Howard was college football’s most feared offensive weapon. At that time, Desmond made the Wolverines one of the best teams in CF with 2,146 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Desmond’s most iconic moment was hitting his famous Heisman pose before scoring a punt-return TD. He then won the 1991 Heisman Trophy later that year.
Calvin Johnson: Georgia Tech, 2004-2006
- Receiving Yards: 2,927
- Touchdowns: 28
- 2006 Biletnikoff Winner
- Holds Six School Records
If we were measuring the best wide receivers in college football history by intimidation factor alone, Calvin Johnson wins. “Megatron” was one of the greatest athletes ever to play the position.
In Johnson’s three years at Georgia Tech, he was the ACC’s top offensive player. Calvin put up six school records, which include the most receiving yards(2,927) and touchdowns(28)/
Johnson then went to the NFL and evolved into one of the greatest receivers in the game’s history.
Anthony Carter: Michigan, 1979-1982
- Receiving Yards: 3,076
- Touchdowns: 40
- 3x All-American
- Game-Winning TD vs. Indiana
Before Desmond Howard was a Michigan legend, the Wolverines had the great Anthony Carter. As a freshman, AC marked his name in college football history with his game-winning 45-yard touchdown against Indiana.
From that point on, Carter was considered the most dangerous weapon on this great Michigan team. Anthony went on to rack up 3,076 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns during his college career.
Carter also marked his name as one of the greatest kick returners in college football history. He gained over a thousand yards in kick/punt returns while setting the NCAA record for the highest-yard average per play.
Peter Warrick: Florida State, 1996-1999
- Receiving Yards: 3,517
- Touchdowns: 32
- National Champion MVP
- 1999 National Champion Team
Peter Warrick made his mark as one of the best wide receivers in college football history while playing at Florida State. He is also arguably the greatest dual-threat player in the school’s history.
Warrick was the #1 wideout at FSU during the school’s most significant era of football. He went on to gain over four thousand yards from receiving and kick returns while scoring 32 touchdowns.
Peter’s most incredible feat came in the 1999 national championship game, where he won MVP honors, gaining 160 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
DeVonta Smith: Alabama, 2017-2020
- Receiving Yards: 3,965
- Touchdowns: 46
- 2020 Heisman Winner
- National Champion MVP
DeVonta Smith marked his name as one of the greatest college wideouts of the last era. He was the most dangerous weapon on Nick Saban’s Alabama football team from 2017 to 2020.
In Smith’s three years at Alabama, he earned every accolade a college player could receive. He earned nearly 4,000 receiving yards and scored 46 touchdowns during college.
DeVonta became an all-time great during his senior year when he recorded 1800 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. His incredible senior season earned Smith the 2020 Heisman Trophy and national champion MVP honors.
Tim Brown: Notre Dame, 1984-1987
- Receiving Yards: 2,493
- Touchdowns: 22
- First WR Heisman Winner
- Back-to-Back Punt Return TDs
No list of the best wide receivers in college football history would be complete without the great Tim Brown. The Notre Dame great changed the game in his four seasons as the Fightin’ Irish’s top receiver.
Brown made history by becoming the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 1987. That year, Brown recorded 843 receiving yards and 856 return yards, while seven total touchdowns.
Michael Crabtree: Texas Tech, 2007-2008
- Receiving Yards: 3,127
- Touchdowns: 41
- 2x Biletnikoff Winner
- Freshman Reception Record(134)
When you combine a great athlete in Michael Crabtree with the run-and-gun offense of Texas Tech, you get an incredible receiver. Crabtree turned the college football world on its head when he came onto the scene in 2007.
The TT wideout broke five freshman records, which included- receptions(134), passes per game(10.3), yards gained (1,962), and yards per game(150,9).
Crabtree went on to win the Biletnikoff Award twice and recorded 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns in just two years.
Larry Fitzgerald: Pittsburgh, 2002-2003
- Receiving Yards: 2,677
- Touchdowns: 34
- 18-Game TD Streak
- 14 100-Yard Games
Larry Fitzgerald became one of the best receivers in college football history in just two years of college. The Pittsburgh legend was an absolute force, who was unstoppable during his college career.
During his college career, Larry set the record for most consecutive games with a TD(18) and broke Antonio Bryant’s record for most 100-yard games (14).
Fitzgerald’s 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns in just two years make him one of the greatest WRs ever.
Jerry Rice: Mississippi Valley State, 1981 to 1984
- Receiving Yards: 4,693
- Touchdowns: 50
- Single-Season TD Record(27)
- Held WR TD Record(50)
Of all the best wide receivers in college football history, there is only one: Jerry Rice. The iconic receiver from Mississippi Valley State put the small school on his back and became a legend.
Rice set numerous records at MVS, Which included the single-season TD record(27) and WR TD record(50). Jerry also recorded 4,693 receiving yards, another record at the time.
Jerry Rice then entered the NFL and became the greatest receiver in the game’s history. All receivers that came after Rice are now compared to his greatness.
Randy Moss: Marshall, 1996-1997
- Receiving Yards: 3,529
- Touchdowns: 54
- Single Season TD Record(26)
- Scored TD In Every Game Played
Of all the best receivers in college football history, Randy Moss had the biggest impact. He came into college as one of the greatest high school players ever and exceeded every expectation.
In just two years of playing college football, Moss became the best wideout ever. Randy played in 28 career college games and scored at least one touchdown in all of them.
He set the single-season TD record with 26 and the most TDs by a wide out with 26. Randy also recorded 3,529 receiving yards in just two years, which doesn’t even seem possible.
However, Randy Moss did the impossible and cemented his legacy as an all-time legend.