Joel Klatt gives top five pass catchers in college football
Year after year the talent at the wide receiver and tight end positions in college football seems to increase more and more, as the game continues to evolve towards more passing with skill players following suit.
This college football season is no different, as each conference seems to have a group of talented pass catchers that strike fear into opponents and demand attention from defenses for their effectiveness. Whether they’re getting behind defenses with speed or making catches overtop of defensive backs, you could argue that there’s more talent at the positions than ever before.
College football analyst Joel Klatt decided to take a closer look at the nation’s top pass catchers so far this college football season and rank his top five through seven weeks of the season. Check out Klatt’s current list of college football’s top five pass catchers below.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
To no surprise, the wide receiver that some evaluators are calling the best prospect at the position since Randy Moss lands at the top spot of Klatt’s pass-catcher list. Ohio State‘s Marvin Harrison Jr. leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (604 yards) and yards per catch (19.5 yards per reception) this year, and has a big-time matchup with Penn State this weekend who he torched for a career high 10 catches and 185 receiving yard last season.
“He’s the best, just period. He runs the best routes, he’s got the best hands, he’s got body control, he’s big, he’s fast, he does everything well. He’s the best non-quarterback in college football,” Klatt said.
2. Brock Bowers
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers established himself as the nation’s best tight end with ease this season leading the Bulldogs with 41 catches, 567 yards, and four touchdowns. But unfortunately, Bowers suffered an ankle injury that required surgery on Monday that will sideline him for a multitude of weeks.
“I’m really bummed for him about that ankle injury, looks like he’s gonna have tight rope surgery on that ankle and I hope he comes back at some point whether it’s the SEC Championship or maybe in time for the playoffs,” Klatt said. “He leads all tight ends in catches and yards, this dude, he’s an absolutely great player.”
3. Rome Odunze
Between the quarterback and wide receiver positions, the Pac-12 is loaded with talent. But no pass catcher has been as menacing as Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, who leads the conference in receiving yards with 736 this year.
Odunze has six touchdown catches on the season including two this past weekend against Oregon, catching a 18-yard pass that served as the game-winner in one of the best games of the college football season. He’s also added a rushing score and a punt return for a touchdown to his highlight reel this year.
4. Keon Coleman
After an impressive three-touchdown performance in Week 1 on a national stage, Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman has only continued to build on his impressive first season with the Seminoles. He had a season-high 140 yards last weekend versus Syracuse highlighted by a one-handed catch that is an immediate contender for catch of the year.
“By the way did you see the catch last week?” Klatt asked. “If you haven’t seen Keon Coleman’s catch last week, you’ll know why he’s on the list, so he’s there.”
5. Malik Nabers
LSU‘s Malik Nabers rounds out the top five and could arguably be higher on the list. Nabers leads all players in the nation with 860 yards this season, adding 52 receptions and 7 touchdowns to his impressive stat line through seven games.
“Leads FBS in receiving yards per game with 123 and you see that offense with amazing productivity over the last few weeks,” Klatt said. “And yeah, they’re not playing great on the defensive side but boy they can absolutely get after it.”