The Big Ten isn’t particularly deep at the wide receiver position but there are a few select receivers who could have significant years. Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State in particular will have a hard time replacing the production that A.J. Jenkins, Marvin McNutt, Junior Hemingway and B.J. Cunningham provided.
1. Keenan Davis, Iowa
Davis finished last season with 713 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 50 receptions. He’ll likely get the most targets in Iowa’s pass-happy offense. Kevonte Martin-Manley and tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz will lighten the coverage on Davis and give the senior plenty of open looks for James Vandenberg. Davis had at least three games of 95 yards receiving last year, including 129 vs.Pittsburgh.
2. Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
The junior recorded 55 receptions for 933 yards along with eight touchdowns last season for the No. 6 scoring offense in the country. Although his numbers were boosted by N.C. State-transfer Russell Wilson, Abbrederis is still one of the best possession receivers in the Big Ten. His biggest game last season came against Ohio State when he had six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
3. Roy Roundtree, Michigan
Roundtree took a backseat to Junior Hemingway last season but is expected to be highlighted in Michigan’s offense this season. Hemingway, who’s currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery but should heal before the season starts, had only 19 receptions last year for 355 yards. The previous year Roundtree snagged 72 catches for 935 yards and seven touchdowns. Head coach Brady Hoke dismissed the idea that Roundtree had a down year saying, “We won more games. So I wouldn’t call that a rough season and neither would Roy.”
4. Antavian Edison, Purdue
As a junior, Edison hauled in 44 receptions for 584 yards and three touchdowns. Edison’s season was highlighted with 105 yards receiving and a touchdown vs. Notre Dame and then a nine-catch, 97 yard afternoon against Iowa on Nov. 26. He will be the primary target of Caleb TerBush, the Boilermakers senior quarterback.
5. Demetrius Fields, Northwestern
The Wildcats have more depth than they’ve had in years at the receiver position which should take some pressure off of Fields. The senior is the top returning wide receiver aside from QB Kain Colter, who had 43 receptions himself. Fields has seen a steady increase in production in each of the past three seasons in terms of receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He finished last season on a high note with a career-high seven catches for 73 yards against Texas A&M in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
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