While Big Ten passing games may be struggling a bit, the conference is loaded with good receivers. They may not have the kind of numbers that the Big 12’s receivers have put up this year, but the talent is there. Currently, the Big 12 can boast that twenty of their receivers are ranked among the top-100 in ypg. The Big Ten has only seven.Again, this is a running league. And I’m just showing how the Big Ten compares to America’s best conference this year. It is important to remember that the Big 12 is, without question, a passing league where nine players have attempted over 250 passes this year. The Big Ten only has five teams that have done so. You may not like my receiver rankings or may feel that I’m leaving some prominent name off the list. But as I’ve stated before, five names isn’t many and someone good is going to be left out.
1. Arrelious Benn (So.), Illinois – Benn is behind Minnesota’s Eric Decker in virtually every statistical category. But if you’ve ever seen Illinois’ star receiver play, you know who the Big Ten’s best wideout is. This is the most no-brainer call I’ve made all year about anything. Arrelious Benn is huge and his play is even bigger. That’s especially true when he plays top competition. He had a four-game streak of 100+ yards to start Illinois’ conference schedule and each of his receiving touchdowns has come versus a Big Ten opponent.
2. Eric Decker (Jr.), Minnesota – Decker may not be the best pro prospect out there, but his play over the last two seasons has been as good or better than any Big Ten receiver. He leads my No. 1, Arrelious Been, in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The chemistry between Decker and Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber has helped turn around Minnesota’s program. When Eric Decker is finished at Minnesota, he’ll go down as just another great name on the long list of offensive stars in recent Golden Gopher history.
3. Greg Orton (Sr.), Purdue – Ever wonder why NFL receivers never win the MVP? Or, why college receivers never win the Heisman? Because the receiver can only produce if the quarterback has success. Greg Orton’s senior quarterback, Curtis Painter, has not had much of that this year. But despite the struggles of the Purdue offense, Greg Orton has actually been pretty consistent. In each of Purdue’s road games, all versus quality opponents (Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern), Orton has averaged 7 catches for 88 yards. I like his pro potential and large frame more than Eric Decker, but his numbers just haven’t been there this year. This could be a nice sleeper pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
4. Greg Matthews (Jr.), Michigan – When Rich Rod was hired at UM and began to install his spread option offense, many young stars bolted for the NFL early, some transferred to other schools, and then there were the Greg Matthews-type. Matthews has stuck it out and played through the transition-period at Michigan. The spread option utilizes speed, not necessary size, and its feature players are most commonly an efficient, run-first quarterback and a quick, cutback-style tailback. At 6-3 and 207, Matthews doesn’t seem to fit either one of those descriptions. He’s a big, physical Wolverine receiver, from the same mold as David Terrell, Marquise Walker, and Braylon Edwards. Clearly, the system that Michigan runs and the fact that their quarterback is among the worst in the country hurts the numbers of their star receiver. This is one of many cases around the Big Ten this year where the receiver is outstanding, while the team and/or quarterback is badly underachieving. Matthews is another solid pro prospect. But as I always say, most of Michigan’s star receivers (Desmond Howard, Terrell, Walker) don’t make it in the pros.
5. Brian Robiskie (Sr.), Ohio State – Most people had Brian Robiskie on their All-Big Ten squad in the preseason. Most people were wrong. Ohio State has had a hard time finding the endzone on the ground or through the air. They replaced their senior co-captain quarterback after struggling to score against Southern Cal and today the Buckeyes are led by a true freshman (regardless of whether he’s the biggest recruit ever) and its really hurting both the numbers and exposure of Robiskie and fellow Buckeye receivers Brian Hartline and Ray Small, among others. Robiskie made the short list based on his career up to this point, the fact that I took into consideration his offensive situation and because of a few names I left off…
Honorable mention: Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood (Sr.), Penn State – These Nittany Lion receivers will go down as three of the few best in Penn State history. It’s hard to imagine that they’re seniors already. I listed these guys outside the top-5 because I couldn’t fit them all and it just wouldn’t be right to have one before another. They’ve been dependable and have all brought something different to the table. Williams has been the explosive one. He hasn’t found the endzone much in his career but, when he has, it always seems to be a big one. Butler has been the big-play, deep threat. When I think of Deon Butler, I think of diving catches for 35 yard gains. And Jordan Norwood has been the sure-handed one, known for running the best routes of the three. From the time he stepped onto campus, I’ve always loved how smooth he runs and cuts. My best friend and I call him J-Smooth. On November 22, these receivers will play their final home game at Beaver Stadium versus Michigan State. It will surely be sad to see these guys go. Since they’ve been on campus, Derrick Williams (even when no one took him seriously) stated each year that his goal was a National Championship. Before this season, he insisted that his goal remains the same. With Penn State currently sitting at No. 3 in the polls and having the easiest remaining schedule of the BCS unbeatens, Williams is looking like Nostradamus. Could there possibly be a better ending for Williams, Butler and Norwood than a National Title?
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