Behind The Box Score

College Football showcases a plethora of spread offenses and the pass is starting to become the most common play. With a major amount of great quarterbacks slinging the ball, the players catching the ball are making names for themselves also. These are the best in the country and the stats they have put up in their careers. Check them out and tell me if I missed anyone and leave your comments. Keep reading and look for the Top Tight Ends to come out very soon. Enjoy!

1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State- Freshly removed from a sophomore season where Bryant outgained Michael Crabtree in receiving yards and touchdowns, Bryant will only improve in 2009. With Unitas Award candidate Zac Robinson passing him the ball, Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 TD’s. Bryant’s game was so nasty that defenses often double teamed him and he still reeled in multiple passes each game. Wearing #1, Dez has showed he is the top pass catcher in football and may challenge the 22 TD’s Larry Fitzgerald caught in 2003. With Kendal Hunter drawing more attention on the run, look for more man coverage and more yards and touchdowns.

2. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati- As the top receiver in the Big East, Gilyard went unnoticed last season, reeling in 81 passes for 1,276 yards and 11 TD’s. Gilyard is a big pass catcher and gains much seperation in man coverage. Also exposing the zone, Gilyard makes Tony Pike an even better quarterback, as the Bearcats hope to win the Big East for the second consecutive year. Under Brian Kelly’s offense, Gilyard has flourished and will continue to get better in his senior year. Dominic Goodman received the most attention out of the Cincinnati receivers last season which helped Gilyard have a better season. Barring injury, Gilyard is helped out by the fact that the Bearcats will have a full time quarterback as Cincinnati used five last season due to injuries.

3. Brandon Banks, Kansas State- Banks is a speedy home run hitter at 5’9″ and was Josh Freeman’s favorite target a year ago. Even going 5-7, Banks is still unknown among college football fans but should be mentioned among the top receivers in the nation. Catching 67 passes for 1,049 yards, Banks took it to the house nine times. Being a major part of the 19th passing offense in the country in 2008, Banks returns for his senior season. Weighing in at 150 lbs, Banks is the best receiver pound for pound. Even with his size, Banks can get up and snag highly thrown balls. Still unknown, Banks will only put up better stats and hopefully take the nation by storm.

4. Arrelious Benn, Illinois- Benn, the Big Ten’s best receiver has shown signs of being a star since his freshman year in 2006. Along with Banks, Benn caught 67 passes but only had three touchdowns, mainly due to the inefficiency of Juice Williams, who threw 19 interceptions and the lack of a running game. The Fighting Illini offense was stalled quite often last season and Benn’s offensive production payed the price. With RB Jason Ford taking over the reigns, the run game hopes to perform like they did in 2007, led by Rashard Mendenhall. Heavily underrated, Benn should catch around 80 balls and have well over 1,000 yards receiving in 2009.

5. Dezmen Briscoe, Kansas- Briscoe, a junior, is also a three year starter and should blossom in Todd Reesing’s senior year. Briscoe was third in receiving yards last season with 1,407 and also set a school record with 15 TD’s. Along with Kerry Meier, the Jayhawk offense spreads the ball around and Briscoe at 6’3″ will only continue to improve. A guaranteed first round selection in the NFL, watch for Briscoe to climb up on this list as long as he can keep a good head on his shoulders off the field. If not, Meyer may continue to catch more passes and the Jayhawk may move down. With college football, anything can happen so his production remains to be seen.

6. Damian Williams, USC- Williams, the top receiver in the best corps in the country, Williams should improve on the 58 catches he had last season. Showing his versatility in having 869 yards receiving, Williams caught ten balls in the Rose Bowl and should have more than the nine touchdowns he had last season. With Ronald Johnson, David Ausberry and Brice Butler also catching passes his numbers may go down. Just because he isn’t the top stats guy in college football, Williams still has some of the best skills, with sticky hands and size that creates problems in the secondary. Let’s just see if Williams will be the next great receiver to come through Pete Carroll’s machine, as many have done so before.

7. AJ Green, Georgia- Green, the top freshman receiver from 2008, he hopes to lead the Bulldogs in receiving again after Mohammad Massaquoi moved on to the NFL. As a true freshman in the SEC, Green caught 56 passes for 963 yards and 8 TD’s. Challenging defensive backs in man, Green used his 6’3″ frame to gain seperation and make tough catches. With a new offense led by Joe Cox, Green’s stats may not be as good. Having the top pick in the draft throwing the ball to you, that will make your stats that much better. If Caleb King can help establish the run, maybe Green can go over 1,000 yards. It’s not whether Green can step up or not, it’s whether his teammates can make the plays to get him the ball.

8. Julio Jones, Alabama- Jones, the other star-studded receiver coming out of the SEC, he also faces changes at quarterback and receiver. At 6’4″ 220 lbs, Julio has the potential to dominate college football as long as his quarterback Joe McElroy can get him the ball. Even in a heavy run offense, #8 caught 58 passes for 924 yards. Only having four touchdowns, Jones should look to get the ball more in the red zone and rack up more touchdowns. With a more athletic running back in Mark Ingram, the Crimson Tide could pass more to suit the versatility of the team. Being one of the top playmakers in the country, Julio will show just why he was the top receiver in the class of 2008.

9. Jordan Shipley, Texas- Shipley, who seems to be in his tenth year at Texas, caught a career high 89 passes last season for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns. Shipley is a great route runner and has great hands. With Colt McCoy throwing the ball, Shipley should have an even better season. Being roommates with McCoy, the two have formed a great bond and it shows on the field. Head Coach Mack Brown wants to run more this season so the number of receptions may go down but that doesn’t detriment the talents of Shipley. In the Big 12, the pass coverage isn’t too great so Shipley just might have a better season but once again, it’s college football, he could go down with an injury tomorrow, you never know.

10. Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo- Roosevelt is the third best Roosevelt to come from the state of New York behind Teddy and FDR. Catching an astouding 102 passes in 2008, Naaman was totally overlooked by the country as 9 out of 10 people will likely not know who he is. Eclipsing 1,400 receiving yards, Roosevelt also had 13 TD’s. Being the vocal point of the 43rd passing offense in the country a year ago, the senior should only improve as sophomore quarterback Zach Maynard has shown he can throw the football and the defense in the MAC isn’t up to par with the rest of the mid majors. Catching over 100 passes in a 14 game season as it was for the Bulls last season is amazing and Roosevelt has shown that he is one of the best pass catchers in the nation.