Which School is WRU?
A few years ago I set out to answer the question of which school was “WRU,” meaning the college that produces the best NFL wide receivers. Only looking at the current players in the league rather than a more historical view, Clemson was the ultimate standard at the time.
The argument of WRU should always be a fluid one, and other schools have produced multiple NFL receivers since then. One program in particular, the Alabama Crimson Tide, will have four 1st round wide receivers over the past two drafts when DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle get selected highly in a couple of months. That recent development could clearly change the answer to the WRU question.
To answer this argument, I looked at which schools would create the best wide receiver corps for a current NFL roster. Some schools that narrowly missed out either only had a few notable wide receivers in the NFL or couldn’t quite match the talent of the top 5.
Honorable Mentions
Ole Miss - DK Metcalf, AJ Brown, Laquon Treadwell, Donte Moncrief. 2021 Draft: Elijah Moore
Cal - Keenan Allen, Marvin Jones, DeSean Jackson, Chad Hansen
SMU - Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley, Trey Quinn, James Proche
Notre Dame - Will Fuller, Chase Claypool, Golden Tate, Equanimeous St. Brown, Miles Boykin. 2021 Draft: Ben Skowronek
Penn State - Allen Robinson II, Chris Godwin, DeaSean Hamilton
Oklahoma - CeeDee Lamb, Marquise Brown, Sterling Shepard, Kenny Stills, Jeff Badet
Oklahoma State - Tyreek Hill, Dez Bryant, James Washington, Tyron Johnson. 2021 Draft: Tylan Wallace
5. Ohio State
Michael Thomas
Terry McLaurin
Curtis Samuel
Parris Campbell
KJ Hill
Depth: Noah Brown, Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor
Ohio State’s case has strengthened over the past two years with the emergence of Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Additionally, they’ve added extra depth pieces ever since making Brian Hartline their wide receivers coach.
The Buckeyes case will only get stronger in the future with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson likely to enter the 2022 NFL Draft together. Expect them to continue climbing up this list.
4. USC
JuJu Smith Schuster
Robert Woods
Nelson Agholor
Michael Pittman Jr.
Marquise Lee
2021 NFL Draft: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Depth: Steven Mitchell Jr.
While USC hasn’t produced one of the best 12-15 wide receivers in the NFL, their balance and depth is encouraging. Between JuJu Smith-Schuster, Robert Woods, Michael Pittman Jr., and Nelson Agholor, they’ve developed four of the best complimentary options in the entire league.
Amon-Ra St. Brown projects to fit in that realm as well, which means that USC should continue to find themselves on this list for years to come.
3. Clemson
Deandre Hopkins
Mike Williams
Sammy Watkins
Hunter Renfrow
Tee Higgins
2021 NFL Draft: Amari Rodgers, Cornell Powell
Depth: Adam Humphries, Ray-Ray McCloud, Deon Cain
Clemson has the best depth at wide receiver among any college, which is the byproduct of head coach Dabo Swinney’s background with the position. When a player such as Adam Humphries is arguably the 6th best option, the sheer number of quality NFL receivers that a school has produced is remarkable.
Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell are two more mid-round prospects entering the NFL, and Clemson has future NFL wide receiver talent still in school. This means that Clemson’s crown of producing the most NFL wide receivers is unlikely to be taken anytime soon.
2. LSU
Odell Beckham Jr.
Jarvis Landry
Justin Jefferson
DJ Chark
Russell Gage
2021 NFL Draft: Ja’Marr Chase, Terrace Marshall Jr.
With Justin Jefferson emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL as a rookie, LSU’s case for WRU has only gotten better. On top of that, former Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase will be a top 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
With Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and DJ Chark being consistent 1,000 yard candidates, the Bayou Bengals are going to have an unbelievable top 5 wide receivers if Chase reaches his potential ceiling.
1. Alabama
Julio Jones
Amari Cooper
Calvin Ridley
Jerry Jeudy
Henry Ruggs III
2021 NFL Draft: DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle
Depth: Cam Sims, Robert Foster, Gehrig Dieter
Alabama is the current leader in the clubhouse for WRU, and their case is only going to get stronger. When healthy, Julio Jones is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Calvin Ridley finished in the top 5 in the NFL in receiving yards and Amari Cooper has consecutive 1,100 yard seasons.
Alabama has added 2020 1st rounders Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and are going to add projected 2021 1st rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. That foursome mixed with Jones, Cooper and Ridley is going to give Alabama a current NFL wide receiver group that has arguably never been produced before in NFL history.