Season Preview: Ranking OSU Receivers by Projected Production in 2018

For all but a handful of teams in college football, replacing the production of a James Washington-like talent is a next-to-impossible task. For all but a select few of that handful, replacing a 1,000+ yard duo in Washington and Marcell Ateman would spell absolute doom the following season.

That’s the job facing receivers coach Kasey Dunn. And yet the biggest question isn’t whether they can get production out of the receivers, it’s who will get that production. The talent pool is as deep as any position on the roster. It’s a matter of sorting out duties and finding fits that will be the biggest hurdle in 2018.

So as we continue to preview the season (which starts Thursday!), let’s take a look at OSU’s deep bunch of receivers and rank them based off how I project them to produce in 2018.

1 Jalen McCleskey | Senior

McCleskey’s production took a hit last season due to lack of opportunity, dropping from 73 total receptions in 2016 to 50 in 2017. Still yet, his average reception yardage was respectable — 12.9 per catch — and he found the endzone five times. With no Washington or Ateman, I expect he leads the team in catches as a go-to option.

Projected catches: 80

Projected yards: 1,040

2. Dillon Stoner | Redshirt sophomore

I’m very ready to cash in on my Dillon Stoner stock this season. He was a lowkey monster last year, amassing 44 catches and 576 yards as the fourth option in OSU’s offense. As a potential co-go-to alongside McCleskey, I think he’s in for a starring role. He logged 315 yards and 24 receptions over the final five games of the season, and has proven he’s deserving of a more premium role in OSU’s offensive attack.

Projected catches: 69

Projected yards: 945

3. Tyron Johnson | Redshirt junior

Swaggy T was an enigma last season, showing bursts of the five-star potential then going off the grid for large stretches; he recorded zero catches in five games in 2017, most notably against Kansas State and TCU, only to flash a four-catch, 118-yard and two-score game against OU.

Tyron’s production will almost assuredly increase with the new opportunities he’ll find this season, but I’m not expecting a meteoric leap. A little over three catches per contest would be a healthy, reasonable bump to expect, but his stats may come with a question mark, as well: What kind of connection will he have with Taylor Cornelius, and will he be able to find him down the field as Rudolph could?

Projected catches: 44

Projected yards: 726

4. Tylan Wallace | Sophomore

After somehow finding a role last season in one of the deepest OSU receiving groups ever, Tylan Wallace is now hitting his sophomore season as a starter. I’m already picturing him as a rich man’s Josh Stewart and sweating with excitement about him getting more touches. He’s going to rock when given the shot.

Projected catches: 40

Projected yards: 660

5. Landon Wolf | Redshirt sophomore

Landon Wolf is perhaps the biggest unknown of this bunch, having joined OSU as a walk-on and subsequently earning a scholarship during his time on campus. He’s a quick twitch guy who will get some run in the slot behind McCleskey, but he won’t have the same chances McCleskey will be afforded coming off the bench. Still, a 20-catch season would be a huge boon to OSU’s passing attack.

Projected catches: 20

Projected yards: 210

6. LC Greenwood | Redshirt freshman

After Patrick McKaufman went down for the season, redshirt freshman LC Greenwood was the guy who inadvertently benefited the most. He’s listed as the No. 2 behind Tyron Johnson on the outside, and his bulky 6-3, 212-pound frame will help him win contested balls in the same way Ateman earned his due at OSU. A very physical receiver who has WR1 potential down the line.

Projected catches: 16

Projected yards: 203

7. Braydon Johnson | Redshirt freshman

Braydon Johnson is Tylan’s backup on the latest two-deep depth chart. Like Greenwood, Johnson has good size at 6-1, and has track speed that will give him an edge as an outside receiver in OSU’s offense.

Projected catches: 12

Projected yards: 140

8. Tracin Wallace | Redshirt freshman

I’m 100 percent here for the Tracin Wallace experience coming full circle. After starting his career at QB, he’s joining his twin at receiver and already earned a spot on the two-deep as Stoner’s backup. He’s an explosive athlete with the ball, so OSU working him into a small role this season with hopes of an expanded role in 2019 would be smart.

Projected catches: 10

Projected yards: 120