The ACC will be known for a few things in 2023, most notably its battle for the top quarterback spot. While Jordan Travis and Drake Maye duke it out, their weapons at receiver will surely reap the rewards. The ACC WR Rankings are loaded with talent in 2023.
2023 ACC WR Rankings
Unlike our previous rankings (QB and RB), the ACC WR rankings for 2023 are shedding light on more individuals than units. While the quarterback rankings in each conference outlined the strength of a clear-cut starter, they were still based on the strength of the QB room in some situations, albeit a small amount.
The 2023 ACC WR rankings are truly a list of the best wide receivers we project to see on the field based on what they’ve shown in their collegiate careers to date. There are certainly some players who are expected to break out (five-star Hykeem Williams, specifically), but this list aims to highlight the known commodities at this stage of the offseason.
Wide receiver play is far more than statistics, and the more a receiver has shown over his time on the field, the higher they’ll rank here.
1) Johnny Wilson, Florida State
Johnny “Big Play” Wilson always seemed to come up big for Florida State down the stretch of the season in 2022. The Arizona State transfer nearly eclipsed 1,000 yards and did so while averaging over 20 yards per catch. That’s a ridiculous feat.
MORE: ACC RB Rankings
What’s most notable about the hulking 6’7″, 240-pounder is the fact that he doesn’t lurch around and has surprising speed and agility in his routes. Wilson is a great yards-after-catch threat and can run a full route tree to boot.
Wilson gets the edge as the top receiver in the conference as he has the top quarterback in the ACC throwing to him: Jordan Travis.
2) Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech
Truly a game-changing receiver, Ali Jennings transfers into the ACC as the top incoming receiver on the board. After two very successful seasons at Old Dominion, it feels like a college football forever that Jennings was at West Virginia to start his college career.
Jennings is big and fast yet moves around like a nimble slot receiver at times. He’ll win everywhere on the field and dominates with physicality at the catch point. Give him some solid quarterback play, and a 1,500-yard season isn’t out of the realm of possibilities.
3) Keon Coleman, Florida State
After a breakout year in 2022, Keon Coleman enters the picture at FSU as one of the top receivers in the ACC. Coleman feasted on smaller defensive backs last year at Michigan State, especially as the year went on, and nearly averaged 14 yards per catch.
He’s consistent with his hands and downright dominant at the catch point. Coleman fights through contact and defenders to the football, timing his shots to near perfection to snatch any pass in his catch radius. A catch radius that is massive, for what it’s worth.
FSU’s receiving corps got a whole lot better when Coleman committed to the Noles in the transfer portal this spring. That’s saying something considering FSU’s WR room was already the best in the conference.
4) Devontez Walker, North Carolina
Get to know the name: Devontez “Tez” Walker. Forming one of the scariest duos in all of college football, Walker is sure to be Drake Maye’s best friend by August, if they aren’t already.
Walker, a transfer from Kent State, flashed brilliance a year ago with 11 touchdowns and nearly 16 yards per reception. He’s a big-play threat who was featured heavily in the Golden Flashes’ passing attack. He’ll be able to fill the void from Josh Downs, who is NFL-bound.
5) Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
Possessing the “it” factor, Konata Mumpfield struggled to find consistency with the new offense at Pittsburgh and Kedon Slovis at the helm in 2022. Though he’ll be on his third quarterback in as many seasons, the former Akron transfer has more than enough skills in his bag to pull off a dominant season.
Mumpfield has prototypical size to play any position in an offense and has the versatility to line up anywhere. He’ll push the boundary with ease and win over the middle of the field all the same.
6) Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Transferring in after a 1,000-yard season at Georgia State, Jamari Thrash returns this season as technically the “only ACC receiver to haul in over 1,000 yards” a year ago. Sure, he did it at Georgia State, but the skills are evident.
Thrash won a ton outside for the Panthers and has more than enough juice in his routes to continue that trend against ACC defensive backs. Given the fact that Louisville’s offense is expected to be wide open this year, Thrash has “breakout candidate” written all over him — if a 1,000-yard receiver can be considered a “breakout” player.
7) Bradley Rozner, Rice
It’s completely fine if you didn’t watch a whole lot of Rice football last year, it just means you’ve learned from your mistake. Bradley Rozner is one of the top big-play receivers in college football, averaging nearly 17 yards per catch over the past three seasons.
A catch-point connoisseur, Rozner uses his ridiculously long frame to out-body defenders of all kinds. Yet, Rozner is a refined route runner and a threat to take the ball the distance in the open field.
8) Jalon Calhoun, Duke
The career leader returning to the ACC in receiving yards, Jalon Calhoun has been the pinnacle of consistency during his time with the Blue Devils. He’s hauled in over 35 catches in each of the past four seasons and multiple touchdowns in each.
Calhoun is fresh off his best season to date with a capable quarterback throwing his way, as he and Riley Leonard form one of the more underrated QB-WR duos in all of college football.
9) Ryan O’Keefe, Boston College
There are big shoes to fill for Boston College, and there may be no better receiver than Ryan O’Keefe to attempt to do so. O’Keefe will be tasked with filling the large hole left by Zay Flowers’ NFL departure, and like Flowers, O’Keefe is far more than the receiver you think he’d be with his size and build.
Despite standing just 5’10”, 172 pounds, O’Keefe is a viable outside receiver and catch-point connoisseur, much like Flowers was during his time in Chestnut Hill. Given the fact that he’ll run right by defenders in the open field, O’Keefe is ready to make his name known nationally after four years at UCF.
10) Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
You don’t have to ask Miami fans who Jaylin Lane is, and the rest of the ACC may be in for a rude awakening this fall. The speedster with game-changing abilities transfers in from Middle Tennessee after nearly reaching 1,000 yards a year ago.
It’ll be a different offense to learn in Blacksburg, but if Lane catches on quickly, the sky is the limit for him and the Hokies. Where he fits in the Tech offense will be an interesting offseason storyline as he won more as an outside receiver for MTSU but may kick inside for the Hokies.
11) Donavon Greene, Wake Forest
Rebounding to the fabulous 2020 form that saw him earn postseason recognition, Donovon Greene was a great compliment to A.T. Perry a year ago. Now, sans Perry and Sam Hartman at quarterback, Greene will have to take his game to a new level in 2023.
Fortunately, for Demon Deacon fans, Greene seemingly possesses that ability. He possesses great size and an even better presence at the catch point with his wingspan and athletic ability. Greene will dominate smaller defensive backs in the red zone as he does all over the field.
MORE: ACC Weekly Football Schedule
12) Winston Wright Jr., Florida State
An offseason injury kept the world from seeing Winston Wright Jr. on the field in 2022, but let it be known, if he’s fully healthy in 2023, there may not be a better inside receiver in all of college football. Wright is over a year removed from his dominant season at West Virginia in 2021, but make no mistake — he is a certified star at receiver.
Wright has the speed to burn slower defenders, the moves to shake the sickest defensive backs, and the catch-point prowess to dominate even the best corners. He can win all over the field and will be yet another weapon for the ACC’s No. 1 returning quarterback: Jordan Travis.
13) Jahmal Banks, Wake Forest
Flying largely under the radar a year ago, Jahmal Banks is poised for a breakout season in 2023. Banks finished with nine touchdowns on just 42 catches after just six receptions for hardly over 100 yards in the two seasons prior.
Banks is a massive man on the outside with an incredible advantage over smaller defensive backs. If his separation skills have caught up to his physical dominance, Banks can make his name known nationally (and soon-to-be professionally).
14) Malik Washington, Virginia
The Northwestern offense wasn’t quite known for its prowess a year ago, but Malik Washington made the best of a bad situation. Washington transfers in from the Wildcats after leading the team in receptions and yards, hauling in nearly 35.7% of the WR yards at Northwestern.
Despite shaky quarterback play, the shifty Washington was a go-to receiver over the middle of the field and a dependable pass catcher in the short and intermediate area. He has great yards-after-the-catch ability and should help rejuvenate a Cavaliers offense that needs a spark.
15) Beaux Collins, Clemson
With underwhelming quarterback play during his two seasons, there is a chance we haven’t seen the best Beaux Collins has to offer. Still, when he was thrown to down the field, Collins has looked more and more like a mismatch for any defensive back tasked with covering him.
At 6’3″ and 205 pounds, Collins has the size to match his incredible athleticism and become a dominant receiver — if he can secure the catch.
16) Taylor Morin, Wake Forest
One of the most dependable receivers over the past three years in the ACC, Taylor Morin leads all returning ACC receivers in career touchdowns with 17. Morin kicked inside in 2022, proving to be a versatile weapon no matter where he lines up.
He adds a terrific option over the middle of the field in Wake Forest’s offense with dependable hands and underrated abilities after the catch.
17) Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
A Norfolk State transfer, Da’Quan Felton is a big deal. After leading the Spartans in every receiving category a year ago, Felton transfers to Blacksburg, where he’ll help co-lead a new, revamped receiving corps in 2023.
The 6’5″, 207-pound Felton has a lot to offer, and if his skills, both on his routes and with his separation, can translate against ACC defensive backs, this is the lowest you’ll find him on these ACC WR rankings.
18) Bub Means, Pittsburgh
A long journey paid off in 2022 as Bub Means found his home in Pittsburgh. After spending his 2019 season as a defensive back for Tennessee, Means transferred to Louisiana Tech for two seasons and ultimately to Pitt in 2022, where he hauled in 27 catches for 401 yards.
As a still-ascending player at receiver, Means looked every bit the part with his athleticism to get off the line of scrimmage and pull away from defenders after the catch. The redshirt senior is a talented route runner, albeit slightly limited, but if his ascension continues, you’ll hear from him a lot more in 2023.
19) Colbie Young, Miami (FL)
Big things are expected from the big man at Miami. Colbie Young, who stands 6’5″ and tips the scales at 215, is surprisingly light on his feet. He has nimble footwork on his releases and can break away from defenders with his straight-line speed.
Young cracks our top 20 as his potential is sky-high. Given some solid quarterback play in 2023, Young has the talent to easily eclipse multiple receivers ahead of him.
20) Nate McCollum, North Carolina
The North Carolina offense is missing a large chunk of targets with the departure of Josh Downs. While Deonvtez Walker will likely factor in as the feature receiver outside, Nate McCollum’s transfer from Georgia Tech fits directly into Downs’ spot in the lineup.
McCollum was terrific in the short area for the Yellow Jackets a season ago, averaging over half his yards after the catch in the process. He’s shifty and has terrific hands, something Drake Maye will surely love as a second or third read this fall.
21) Damien Alford, Syracuse
Damien Alford hasn’t even come close to his ceiling as a receiver. But if his success down the stretch of 2022 is any indicator, he may be coming close. Alford hauled in multiple catches, and the majority of his yards in the final five outings for the Orange last year, breaking out as the season came to a close.
Alford, at 6’6″ and 211 pounds, is a big-play threat who has surprising speed in his get-off at the line of scrimmage. He’ll lumber a bit in his routes, but he makes up for that with burst and his prowess at the catch point.
MORE: ACC QB Rankings 2023
22) Abdul Janneh, Georgia Tech
The top returning receiver at Georgia Tech isn’t actually a “returning player” for the Yellow Jackets, as Abdul Janneh transferred in from Duquesne. Janneh hauled in 43 receptions for 579 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago for the Dukes.
Janneh has track speed and a keen athletic ability that allows him to stop on a dime with no wasted motion. He is absolutely a name to know as one of the reliable threats for Georgia Tech as they continue to reshape the way they play.
Honorable Mention
- Dominick Blaylock, Georgia Tech
- Kevin Coleman, Louisville
- DJ Collins, NC State
- Ja’Khi Douglas, Florida State
- Sahmir Hagans, Duke
- Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, Louisville
- Vandrevius Jacobs, Florida State
- Frank Ladson Jr., Miami (FL)
- Chase Lane, Georgia Tech
- Christian Leary, Georgia Tech
- Da’Wain Lofton, Virginia Tech
- Eli Pancol, Duke
- Xavier Restrepo, Miami (FL)
- Porter Rooks, NC State
- Deuce Spann, Florida State
- Antonio Williams, Clemson
- Hykeem Williams, Florida State
- Ke’Shawn Williams, Wake Forest
