The 2024 NFL Draft has one of the deepest WR classes in recent memory as a plethora of pass-catchers left college behind to prepare for the next level.
The Big 12 had its fair share of attrition via the NFL’s annual selection event, transfer portal, and college football realignment, but with four new teams, the 2024 Big 12 WR Rankings are chock-full of talent.
2024 Big 12 WR Rankings
10) Samuel Brown, Houston Cougars
A two-year starter for Houston after spending his first two seasons at West Virginia (2021-2022), Samuel Brown was a bright spot in an otherwise dim season for the Cougars. He earned a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection and a CFN Third Team nod after grabbing 62 catches for 815 yards and three scores.
A fifth-year junior, new coach Willie Fritz will benefit significantly from having an experienced leader like Brown in the Cougars’ receiver room.
9) Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado Buffalos
Jimmy Horn Jr. spent his first two seasons at South Florida (2021-2022) before joining the Buffalos before last season. He was Shedeur Sanders’ third option out wide, with Xavier Weaver and Travis Hunter taking up most of the targets, but he started every game and managed 58 catches for 567 and six TDs.
With Weaver off to the NFL, Horn’s role will only increase as the Buffalos look for a bounce-back in its first year in the Big 12.
8) Lawrence Arnold, Kansas Jayhawks
With 41 appearances and 35 starts at Kansas in the last four seasons, Lawrence Arnold enters his final season with the Jayhawks with 121 career catches for 1,859 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a CFN 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after bringing in 44 catches for 782 yards and six TDs.
Now a senior, Arnold heads into his final season as the clearcut No. 1 receiver for Kansas head coach Lance Leipold.
7) Travis Hunter, Colorado Buffalos
A two-way athlete likely to find himself also on the Big 12 DB Rankings, Travis Hunter proved his both-ways act could translate to the FBS ranks when he transferred from Jackson State to Colorado. Playing nine games, he was second on the team with 57 catches, 721 yards and five TDs.
As leading receiver Xavier Weaver prepares for the NFL Draft, Hunter moves into Colorado’s No. 1 WR spot.
6) Rashod Owens, Oklahoma State Cowboys
A partial starter his first three seasons with Oklahoma State, Rashod Owens played in all 14 games with 10 starts last season. He solidified himself as a formidable No. 2 WR alongside leading receiver Brennan Presley, with Owens hauling in 63 receptions for 895 yards and five TDs.
MORE: 2024 Big 12 Transfer Portal Rankings
Owens heads into his redshirt senior season ready to pair with Presley and seventh-year QB Alan Bowman.
5) Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Cyclones
After two seasons at Eastern Kentucky with 87 catches and 13 TDs, Jayden Higgins joined the Cyclones before last season. With 53 catches for 983 (18.5 yards per catch) and six TDs, he earned a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and CFN Third Team selection.
With the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Rocco Becht back behind center in 2024, Higgins has the potential to break 1,000 yards next season.
4) Jaylin Noel, Iowa State Cyclones
Another weapon for quarterback Becht, Jaylin Noel, has 22 starts in his first three seasons at Iowa State. As a co-captain last year, he earned All-Big 12 Second Team after registering 66 grabs for 820 yards and seven TDs.
Between Noel and Higgins’ pass-catching capability and Becht’s ability under center, the Cyclones passing offense could be in store for a productive 2024 college football campaign.
3) Kobe Hudson, UCF Knights
2023 was UCF’s first season in the Big 12, and it didn’t go quite as planned (6-7). Still, the Golden Knights finished the season with the conference’s leading WR, Javon Baker. Unfortunately for the Knights, Baker is off to the NFL, but Kobe Hudson proved he’s ready to take his spot
On just 44 grabs, Hudson racked up 900 receiving yards (20.3 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns. He was a 2023 CFN All-Big 12 Second Team selection, all while playing second fiddle.
Hudson was more than impressive as a second option, and he’s set to ascend even further as the Golden Knights top pass catcher in 2024.
2) Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Presley stands at a mere 5’8″, but he’s been one of the biggest wide receivers in the Big 12 in the last few seasons. He led the conference in receptions last year with 101 and finished third in yards with 991. He also hauled in six TDs on his way to earning a 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team selection.
With 225 receptions, 2,548 yards, and 16 TDs for his career, Presley enters his senior season near the top of the conference’s WR group.
1) Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats
Tetairoa McMillan went from leading all true freshmen in receiving in 2022 (39 catches, 702 yards, eight TDs) to finishing fifth in the nation in receiving yards last season with 1,402. On 90 catches, he was among 25 receivers to catch double-digit TDs (10), earning All-Pac-12 First-Team honors.
KEEP READING: Big 12 Football Schedule for 2024-2027
McMillan proved to be QB Noah Fifita’s favorite target, and both return in 2024 at the top of their respective Big 12 Position Rankings, helping propel the Wildcats to the top of our 2024 Big 12 Power Rankings.
2024 Big 12 WR Rankings | 11-20
11) Xzavier Henderson, Cincinatti
12) Chase Roberts, BYU
13) Joseph Manjack IV, Houston
14) Elijhah Badger, Arizona State
15) Ketron Jackson Jr, Baylor
16) Savion Williams, TCU
17) Monaray Baldwin, Baylor
18) Quentin Skinner, Kansas
19) Munir McClain, Utah
20) Ashtyn Hawkins, Baylor
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!