Clutch moments are an inevitable part of the college football season. On those stressful drives, it's a great luxury for an offense to have a reliable wide receiver. Need an explosive play to kick-start the possession? Go to that guy.
Third-down or red-zone conversion? Look his way first. As now-retired coach Nick Saban said he learned early on about key calls: Don't think of plays, think of players . Throughout the 2024 season, plenty of wideouts will become that critical target for their respective offenses.
Entering the campaign, though, six highly ranked teams are most in need of a No. 1 receiver to emerge in the fall. The good news: Alabama has Jalen Milroe at quarterback.
Because of Milroe's playmaking ability, the Crimson Tide can lean on him to create big plays, too. But he can't do it alone. This offense must replace now-NFL target Jermaine Burton (798 yards), and the expected solution, Isaiah Bond (668), transferred to Texas.
As a result, Bama's top returning wideout is Kobe Prentice, who tallied 18 receptions for 314 yards and had multiple catches in only four appearances last season. Germie Bernard reeled in 34 passes for 419 yards at Washington last year, so he's the most likely solution for the Tide. However, Bama needs to see it consistently on Saturdays.
Florida State enjoyed a strong outlook at receiver last season, even as the production wasn't necessarily elite. Keon Coleman caught 50 passes with 11 touchdowns, while Johnny Wilson and tight end Jaheim Bell .