OSU Football Season Preview: Ranking the Wide Receivers

OSU’s wide receiver corps is far-and-away the deepest in the Big 12, and a case could be made that is the most talented bunch in the country.

James Washington, the active leader among returning receivers with 2,923 career receiving yards, headlines a group that has already proven to be plenty productive in Stillwater. Catching passes from future NFL quarterback Mason Rudolph certainly won’t hurt their hopes of improving in the 2017 season.

The downside to all those weapons is that there’s only one ball to go around. Rudolph to Washington will be the option, but All-American tailback Justice Hill will need his touches. Marcell Ateman will need red zone targets. Jalen McCleskey will be wide open on his crossing patterns. So who will be Rudolph’s targets in order of importance? We’ve attempted to sort them out for QB1 so there’s more clarity as the team prepares for fall camp.

8. Tyrell Alexander

The transition from high school to college was smoothed over by a redshirt last season, and Alexander has all the tools to make an impact in OSU’s pass-happy scheme in 2017. The Lancaster product was one of a handful of standouts at the spring game, showing his elusiveness as a route-runner, but he’ll need to improve his consistency as a pass-catcher to make an impact this season.

7. Tylan Wallace

While most freshmen entering a situation like OSU has would qualify for an automatic redshirt, Tylan Wallace’s talent might just be too tantalizing to waste on the sidelines. The Fort Worth native has the speed to blow defenders away on the outside, and the burst to get up the field in a hurry. That’s why he finished 12th all-time in total receiving yards in Texas High School record books.

“Tylan is a fast Josh Stewart,” Mike Gundy said in February on National Signing Day. “Stewart was tremendous in a phone both, but when he opened it up he was 4.6 or 4.7. I think Tylan has the same quick-twitch as him, but he’s going to run under 4.5. So that’s what you get with him.”

6. Dillon Stoner

If not for an injury that sidelined him for most of last season, it might be Dillon Stoner — not Tyron Johnson — getting the most buzz in the receivers position group. Stoner is an absolute freak athlete and do-it-all player who will be used in the slot and also potentially in spot duty as the Wildcat quarterback. He’s fast, he’s incredibly smart, and he’s gritty. Think of Stoner as a mix between Julian Edelman and Danny Woodhead.

5. Chris Lacy

In any other football program, Lacy might very well be a No. 1 option at wide receiver. He has developed into one of the most sure-handed talents in the program, and has the blocking ability — one of his best traits as a football player — to open up big plays for the Pokes down the field.

“He’s got an edge to him,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich told The Oklahoman last fall. “I think he likes it best when the game’s on the line.”

4. Tyron Johnson

Tyron Johnson was a five-star talent and signed on to play in a ground-and-pound offense at LSU, but those features that made him one of the nation’s best prospects a few years ago are why he might just be the breakout player OSU needs to win a Big 12 title. He’s already impressed Jordan Sterns, now with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“We do tackling drills every Tuesday and he was just jumping over like — over people — literally jumping over guys,” Sterns recalled in a Pistols Firing podcast. “I remember I was hurt and I was on the bike and I was just watching him do the drill and he jumped over somebody and I was like ‘man, he’s going to be a handful to guard.’ And it’s gonna add to Marcell Ateman, McCleskey and James and even Stoner. The receiving corps next year is going to be scary and I won’t be surprised if they take it to the next level and go ahead and take it to the playoff next year.”

S.O.S.!

3. Marcell Ateman

An injury derailed his senior season before it ever began, but 2017 holds promise for a former Biletnikoff Award Watch-Lister set to make one final impression on NFL scouts. Receivers coach Kasey Dunn says the sky is the limit now with a bigger, faster and stronger version of No. 3.

“He was having a great year,” Dunn said reflecting on the injury that forced Ateman out for 2016. “The kid busted his ass and he was ready for 2016. I told several people I thought he might have the biggest year in our receiving corps. James is a talented guy but Marcell was killing it.”

2. Jalen McCleskey

Remember Jalen McCleskey, the 170-pound (soaking wet) freshman who caught 29 passes as a true freshman two seasons ago? That same kid has grown into a Biletnikoff Award Watch List candidate and, coming off a 73-receptions sophomore campaign, is primed to take another leap as a junior. The speedster is a handful coming out of the slot and is nearly unstoppable when he gets into the open field. His pristine route-running and ability to sink into holes of the defense makes him an easy target for QB1.

1. James Washington

No. 28 could have been an early-round NFL Draft selection, but instead he’s chose to lead the most talented position group in the Big 12 for one final go-round. Not only does he have the physical tools to win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver, he’s a potential frontrunner. In addition to leading all returning receivers in career yards, he also leads the nation in yards after the catch. The dude is slippery, explosive, and clutch. Rudolph to Washington is officially the new Weeden2Blackmon.