Eight of the top 10 pass catchers in the Sun Belt last season aren’t returning to the conference in 2024. Thanks to the transfer portal and expired eligibility, only eight of the top 25 will return for the upcoming college football season.
Despite that, there are plenty of talented pass-catchers ready to take the crown as best in the conference, and our 2024 Sun Belt WR Rankings showcase how they stack up.
Sun Belt 2024 WR Rankings
1) Joey Hobert, Texas State Bobcats
Joey Hobert led the Bobcats in receiving with 76 catches for 895 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season in San Marcos, and he did it in 11 games, missing two to injury.
With the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year, Jordan McCloud, now on the roster — and second-leading receiver Ashtyn Hawkins off to Baylor, Hobert’s numbers should rise significantly this season.
2) Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama Jaguars
The South Alabama Jaguars lost their leading receiver from last year when Caullin Lacey transferred to Louisville, but their second-leading receiver from 2023 is returning with senior Jamaal Pritchett.
Listed at 5’8″and 164 pounds, Pritchett hauled in 57 catches for 883 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
3) Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State Red Wolves
The Red Wolves are among the few teams returning their leading receiver, with Courtney Jackson returning to Jonesboro for his senior year.
He didn’t have an exaggerated reception count last fall, with just 38 catches, but he made the most of each one, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. He finished the year with 658 yards receiving and seven touchdowns for the Red Wolves.
4) Derwin Burgess Jr, Georgia Southern Eagles
There will be many more available passes to catch in Statesboro after the graduation of Khaleb Hood, who led the Sun Belt with 101 receptions last year.
Hood also sits fourth all-time in Sun Belt for career catches. Despite this, Derwin Burgess Jr. is ready for the task of leading the Eagles receiving room after grabbing 74 catches for 813 yards and six touchdowns last fall.
5) Chris Lewis, Troy Trojans
Jabre Barber led Troy in receiving last season but left for the SEC and Texas A&M.
MORE: 2024 Sun Belt Power Rankings
The Trojans need a new top pass catcher, and Chris Lewis is their man. Listed at 6’4″, he led the Sun Belt in yards per catch (23.0) and tied for the conference lead in receiving touchdowns (10), grabbing 32 passes for 735 yards.
6) Kole Wilson, Texas State Bobcats
The Bobcats need a stable No. 2 receiver with Hawkins leaving for Waco, and they won’t have to look far with Kole Wilson.
He finished his sophomore season on the All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention Team after bringing in 67 catches for 747 yards and eight touchdowns.
7) Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern Eagles
In Clay Helton’s high-powered Georgia Southern Eagles offense, there are plenty of passes to go around.
Dalen Cobb caught 40 passes for 601 yards and two touchdowns last season. With Burgess Jr. moving into the top receiver spot for the program, leaving space for Cobb to lap up the vacated targets in an elevated role.
8) Christian Horn, Appalachian State Mountaineers
A team captain heading into his senior year, Christian Horn is ready for an elevated role in the Appalachian State Mountaineers’ offense following the graduation of leading receiver Kaedin Robinson.
Horn caught 36 passes for 566 yards and six touchdowns last season.
9) Corey Rucker, Arkansas State Red Wolves
Corey Rucker didn’t find the end zone last season despite averaging a whopping 19.3 yards per catch on 31 catches for 598 yards.
Initially a transfer from South Carolina, he’s primed to step into the No. 2 role for the Red Wolves next to Courtney Jackson.
10) Tychaun Chapman, Marshall Thundering Herd
The only newcomer in the top 10, Tychaun Chapman is one of six receivers transferring to Marshall.
KEEP READING: 2024 Sun Belt Transfer Portal Rankings
He joins the Thundering Herd after one season at North Carolina, grabbing seven catches for 135 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. He was the No. 24 ranked receiver on 247 Sports coming out of high school and was in the ESPN 300 for 2023.
2024 Sun Belt WR Rankings | 11-20
11) LV Bunkley-Shelton, Georgia Southern
12) Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall
13) Bralon Brown, Marshall
14) Malik Hornsby, Arkansas State
15) Nakai Poole, James Madison
16) Senika McKie, Coastal Carolina
17) Reymello Murphy, Old Dominion
18) Beau Sparks, Texas State
19) Tyler Griffin, ULM
20) William Fowls, Appalachian State
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!