Poor play and injuries ravaged the quarterback position in the MAC last season, thus affecting wide receiver output. There is nowhere to go but up this year, and we should see a passing game resurgence. As such, the players atop the 2024 MAC WR Rankings are in for big seasons — who will finish as the conference’s WR1?
MAC 2024 WR Rankings
10) Anthony Sambucci, Western Michigan Broncos
Kenneth Womack is a top-three WR in the MAC, but Anthony Sambucci also deserves his flowers. The Broncos’ resident deep threat, Sambucci moved the chains on 11 of his 21 receptions last season (six first downs and five touchdowns). With Leroy Thomas and his 53 targets out of Kalamazoo, expect even more from Sambucci in 2024.
9) Jesse Prewitt III and Chris Parker, Central Michigan Chippewas
Central Michigan boasts arguably the best WR corps in the conference with Jesse Prewitt III, Chris Parker, and Tyson Davis (more on the latter later). At 6’3″, Parker does most of his damage deep, while Prewitt operates in the short-to-intermediate portions of the field.
Their contrasting profiles play well off each other and will make Bert Emanuel’s job easier in 2024.
8) Coleman Owen, Ohio Bobcats
All three of Ohio’s top WRs from last season are gone, forcing them to hit the transfer portal for reinforcements. Their biggest acquisition? Northern Arizona’s Coleman Owen.
MORE: Could More Teams Join UMass in the MAC?
Across five seasons against FCS competition, Owen posted 177 receptions, 2,272 yards, and 17 TDs, earning back-to-back second-team All-Big Sky honors in 2022-2023. He’s shifty in the open field, turns into a running back in the open field, and has kick/punt return experience to boot!
7) Andrew McElroy, Northern Illinois Huskies
Another FCS transfer to know is St. Thomas’ Andrew McElroy. The 6’3″ WR dominated the Patriot League, totaling 84 catches, 1,242 yards, and nine TDs in the last two years. He uses his size well in contested situations and has the juice to test defenses downfield, reaching a top speed of 21.1 mph in 2023. McElroy struggled with drops last year, but it wasn’t an issue in 2022, so he should rebound with the Huskies.
6) Tyson Davis, Central Michigan Chippewas
Davis spends over 95% of his snaps in the slot, torching defenses with two-way go’s. He accelerates for yards after the catch with ease, picking up every yard his 5’10” and 180-pound frame can gain. Slot-only weapons aren’t as sought-after as their boundary counterparts, but Davis shows just how valuable the position is.
5) Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois Huskies
A former walk-on, Trayvon Rudolph burst onto the scene in 2021 after recording 889 yards and seven scores on just 51 receptions. However, he missed the 2022 campaign due to a season-ending injury and moved to a more outside role last year.
He still played well, showcasing his alignment versatility, but with McElroy and Arkansas Pine-Bluff transfer Kenji Lewis joining the fray, Rudolph should return to making defenses pay from the inside this season.
4) Junior Vandeross III, Toledo Rockets
Junior Vandeross III and Jerjuan Newton combined to be the most productive receiving duo last season. At 5’8″, Vandeross has to win with speed, route running, and spatial awareness. He adjusts well with the ball in the air and even came down with a higher percentage of contested targets than you’d expect from a WR his size.
3) Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan Broncos
Defenses struggle to contain Davis and Vandeross on the inside, but Kenneth Womack is the premier slot option in the conference. He saw just over 100 targets last season as Western Michigan force-fed him the rock.
Womack was a nightmare to wrap up, with nearly 75% of his 691 yards coming after the catch. The Broncos would do well to let him stretch the field vertically more often — something he proved he could do while at Sacred Heart from 2020-2022.
2) Jerjuan Newton, Toledo Rockets
Illinois DT and 2024 NFL Draft prospect Jer’Zhan Newton isn’t the only one in the family who can ball. Jerjuan received first-team All-MAC recognition last season after leading the conference in receiving yards (696) and touchdowns (nine).
Losing Dequan Finn hurts the team overall, but the Rockets won’t run presumed starter Tucker Gleason 85 times in 2024, likely leading to more pass attempts … and more targets for the No. 1 pass catcher.
1) Chrishon McCray, Kent State Golden Flashes
Chrishon McCray joined the Golden Flashes as a little-known two-star RB/WR recruit in the 2022 class. After last season, there’s no mistaking he is the best receiver in the conference. Typically, there isn’t much to glean from a 1-11 team, but McCray put on an absolute show.
KEEP READING: 2024 MAC QB Rankings
Despite standing 5’10” and sub-165 pounds, he won from all levels of the field, adding to his highlight reel every week. McCary missed the last three games of the year due to injury, but with another offseason to hone his craft and for the coaching staff to figure out more ways to utilize him, he’ll imprint his place in the national consciousness (not the way Jacob did in Twilight).
2024 MAC WR Rankings | 11-20
11) Solomon Davis, Central Michigan
12) Qian Magwood, Ball State
13) JB Mitchell III, Oran Singleton, and Tyler Walton, Eastern Michigan
14) Luke Floriea, Kent State
15) Javon Tracy, Miami
16) Jasaiah Gathings and Justin Browick, Ball State
17) Kenji Lewis, Northern Illinois
18) Jordin Parker, Western Michigan
19) Tre Richardson, Toledo
20) Justin Anderson and Jacobi Moore, Akron
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!