Midseason Position Grades: Wide Receivers

Halfway through the 2016 football season, we’re handing out grades for each position group and one of the most vaunted groups, wide receivers, is up next.

Even without preseason Biletnikoff Watch Lister Marcell Ateman, the receivers group has performed admirably this season, and rank No. 10 as a passing offense with more than 350 yards through the air per game on average. And while that number is also a testament to the dude slinging the rock, the receivers have done their part to vault them into the top 10 nationally and No. 3 in the conference.

The strength of the group, much like the Big 12 conference, is at the top of the depth chart. Losing freshman phenom Dillon Stoner was a blow to the overall depth of the team, but the top half of the group is loaded with talent, lead by James Washington.

Washington started the season surprisingly slow. Against lesser competition against SE Louisiana and Central Michigan, he combined for 103 total yards. In the games since then, even with a step up in competition and more attention thrown his way in coverage, he has proven his all-american status by averaging 157 per game since.

And the attention he gets on the outside has opened things up for OSU in other areas, too, as Mike Gundy noted this week. “(The defense) plays differently,” Gundy said Saturday. “You go back and watch it and study how they play when he’s in the game compared to when he’s not, they’re going to get an extra guy in the box in the running game.”

Washington isn’t the most physically imposing receiver at 6-foot (which might be a stretch), but he has the leaping ability and athleticism to flat out make you look silly on the edge with catches like this.

The second leading receiver is by far the biggest leap from last year as far as production. Jalen McCleskey, who was a speedster last season who had high points, has been able to step into the No. 2 receiver spot and has been incredibly productive. Oklahoma State has gotten creative in their ways to get McCleskey the ball, and he has taken advantage of his opportunities on jet sweeps and out of the slot. Bottom line: McCleskey + Space = Good things.

WATCH: Rudolph to McCleskey gives #OKState its first touchdown of the day

Catch OSU vs. CMU on FS1! pic.twitter.com/zJjwNTM8Xc

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 10, 2016

Down the depth chart, Jhajuan Seales appears to have taken another step forward for his 12th season in Stillwater. Even being third in production as far as yards, Seales has proven at times he can manage the role as a No. 1 wideout and has the physical tools to stretch the field. Being a No. 3 option, he isn’t given the same amount of opportunities, but he has already eclipsed his total yards from the 2015 season.

On the other side of the spectrum, Chris Lacy has proven to be a formidable option but has really shown his worth in down field blocking.

“Chris Lacy, in the last game (against Texas), was as impressive as any wide receiver that I’ve seen here at OSU in a very long time,” Gundy said following the Texas game about Lacy. “He reminded me of DeMarcus Conner, who used to just wear guys out (blocking downfield). And that’s what Lacy did.”

The group as a whole is very well rounded, with each specific receiver bringing a unique skillset to the table that OSU has capitalized on throughout the year so far.  I gave the group a grade of A- for their performance thus far, and the team gave an aggregate of an A. Overall, though, you can’t ask for much more production than what they’ve been able to give you through the first half of the year.

WR Grade: A