Even after the conference lost some star receivers to the NFL Draft, there are still plenty of highly talented players at the position. Here’s who can land at the top of the Big Ten at WR in 2025:
The Big Ten saw a few new teams rise to the top of the conference last season when it comes to passing offense. The addition of Dan Lanning, Lincoln Riley, and Curt Cignetti to the conference helped put Oregon, USC, and Indiana front and center when looking at passing offense.
While some teams lost a few stars at wide receiver, there are still plenty of talented players at the position in the conference heading into the 2025 season. Here are our top five.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith won’t just be one of the top receivers in the Big Ten, he’s going to be one of the top overall players watched across college football. That’s why it still feels so good to say that Michigan’s defense held him to just five receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown during The Game. Consider this, he only had seven catches against Oregon, but two touchdowns and 187 (!) yards combined for an average of over 26 yards per catch. He had an 89.7 grade from Pro Football Focus and 15 total touchdowns to end the year. We’ll see if he can improve with the expectations continuing to rise in Columbus for the sophomore.
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Ahead of Curt Cignetti’s second season, Indiana receiver Elijah Sarrat is getting a lot of attention, but Omar Cooper Jr . is one to watch for the Hoosiers this season. He averaged 21.2 yards per catch in 2024 with 28 receptions and seven touchdowns. He had one TD against the Wolverines and picked up 53 yards on just three catches. Pro Football Focus has him grading out a little lower than some of the others on this list, but at 77.9 he’s still getting high marks on that front, too.
Makai Lemon, USC
Makai Lemon is another younger receiver in the conference. He’s poised to have a huge year with the Trojans, where he finished with more than 750 yards at the end of the 2024 season, despite some changes at quarterback as Lincoln Riley might fight to keep his job. Lemon ended the season with an 83.9 PFF grade and is expected to be an even more important part of the offense in 2025.
Denzel Boston, Washington
Denzel Boston will be one of the older receivers in the conference this season, foregoing the NFL Draft to return to Washington for another season. He finished the year with 63 receptions, nine touchdowns, and 834 yards. He’s still got some room to grow as a receiver, but in the system they’ve got going at Washington, he could still make a name for himself. He’ll be under head coach Jedd Fisch for another season and that should help him make some gains this season. Boston will be a player that flys under the radar ahead of 2025, but don’t be surprised to see him play his way into the conversation by the end of the season.
Evan Stewart, Oregon
Evan Stewart is a player that’s going to need to improve in 2025, but he’s got the right attributes. The Texas A&M transfer is hoping to improve with the Ducks. Oregon lost Tez Johnson to the NFL, and now they’re looking for some new targets to step up as they adjust to a new quarterback. Stewart finished the season with 48 receptions, five touchdowns, and 613 yards, averaging just under 13 yards per catch. We’ll see if he’s got the skills head coach Dan Lanning is looking for in just a few months.
There are a few other players that could have big seasons in the Big Ten, including Nick Marshe (MSU) and Trebor Pena (PSU), but I’m convinced they may be limited because of coaching and quarterback play. Despite Drew Allar returning to the Nittany Lions, he still hasn’t wowed during his time as a starter.
Who would you put on the list of top receivers in 2025? Let us know in the comments!