Continuing our series where we rank the best pros at each position from every conference school, last week we looked at the ACC’s top NFL wide receivers. This week we turn to the Big Ten. Remember, this is based strictly on what each receiver did in the NFL, not their college careers. And I have to admit, while there are some big time names in this group, including Hall of Famers and a few active players who could get there someday, the Big Ten is surprisingly light on star power at this position. A few schools have almost no real production at all, which made this list more interesting than expected.
Illinois – Bobby Mitchell
Mitchell is one of the most accomplished players the Big Ten has ever produced and belongs in any conversation about the conference’s all time great wideouts (even though he also played running back in the NFL). He was an elite playmaker throughout the early 1960s, earning four Pro Bowl selections, three First Team All Pro honors, and leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns during that stretch.
Career Stats: 521 receptions, 7,954 yards, 65 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Brandon Lloyd
Indiana – Antwaan Randle El
Randle El played nine seasons and was never a superstar, but he was consistently productive and always dangerous with the ball in his hands. He won Super Bowl XL with Pittsburgh and famously threw a touchdown pass to Hines Ward in that game, becoming one of just six non-quarterbacks to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Career Stats: 370 receptions, 4,467 yards, 15 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Iowa – Quinn Early
Iowa has produced great tight ends, but wide receivers are a different story. Early is the clear choice here, putting up more than six thousand yards across a 12-year career with four different teams.
Career Stats: 460 receptions, 6,448 yards, 40 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Tim Dwight
Maryland – Stefon Diggs
Diggs became a star in Minnesota before being traded to Buffalo, where he immediately became Josh Allen’s top target. He led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2020 and has been one of the most consistent wideouts of the past decade.
Career Stats: 918 receptions, 11,170 yards, 73 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: DJ Moore
Michigan – Anthony Carter
Desmond Howard is the bigger name, but Carter had the better NFL career. He played 11 seasons, made three Pro Bowls, had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and led the league in yards per reception.
Career Stats: 486 receptions, 7,733 yards, 55 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Amani Toomer
Michigan State – Andre Rison
A first-round pick in 1989, Rison played 12 seasons for seven teams and was a major contributor to the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI. He also led the league in playoff touchdown catches that year.
Career Stats: 743 receptions, 10,205 yards, 84 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Plaxico Burress
Minnesota – Eric Decker
Minnesota has not produced many elite NFL receivers, but Decker had a strong eight-year career. He put up three 1,000-yard seasons, including a career year in 2013 with 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Career Stats: 439 receptions, 5,816 yards, 53 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Rashod Bateman
Nebraska – Irving Fryar
Fryar was the number one overall pick in 1984 and enjoyed a 17-year career across four teams. He was steady early, then broke out late with four 1,000-yard seasons in a five-year span.
Career Stats: 851 receptions, 12,785 yards, 84 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Niles Paul
Northwestern – Paul Flatley
Flatley played eight seasons, mostly with the Vikings in the 1960s. He never reached 1,000 yards but was productive for his era and made a Pro Bowl in 1966.
Career Stats: 306 receptions, 4,905 yards, 24 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Curtis Duncan
Ohio State – Cris Carter
Carter is the gold standard for Ohio State receivers and you could easily argue he is the best pro wideout the Big Ten has ever produced. He made eight straight Pro Bowls, earned multiple All Pro honors, led the league in receptions once, and finished as the NFL leader in touchdown catches three different seasons. He also landed on the NFL All Decade Team from the 1990s, is in the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor, and has his number 80 retired by the franchise. While Wide Receiver U has plenty of current pass catchers in the NFL that could some day possibly pass Carter on this list, he is a no brainer for now.
Career Stats: 1101 receptions, 13,899 yards, 130 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Michael Thomas
Oregon – Ahmad Rashad
Oregon has a strong football tradition but not much NFL WR success. Rashad stands out as a four-time Pro Bowler with more than six thousand career yards and back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Career Stats: 495 receptions, 6,831 yards, 44 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Samie Parker
Penn State – Chris Godwin
Godwin is still active, but he already leads this group. He was a key part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV run and formed one of the league’s best receiver duos with Mike Evans for several seasons.
Career Stats: 585 receptions, 7,318 yards, 39 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Allen Robinson
Purdue – Mark Jackson
Purdue lacks an elite all-time NFL receiver, but Jackson had a long and productive career, particularly with the Broncos. He finished as runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 1986.
Career Stats: 342 receptions, 5,551 yards, 29 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Calvin Williams
Rutgers – Kenny Britt
This was close between Britt and Mohamed Sanu, but Britt gets the nod thanks to a 1,000-yard season in 2016 and steady production when healthy.
Career Stats: 329 receptions, 5,137 yards, 32 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Mohamed Sanu
UCLA – Flipper Anderson
Anderson had two 1,000-yard seasons during his career from 1988 to 1997. He never made a Pro Bowl, but he flashed big-play ability and later won a Super Bowl with Denver.
Career Stats: 267 receptions, 5,357 yards, 28 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Mike Sherrard
USC – Amon-Ra St. Brown
USC has several active players who could eventually take this spot, but for now St. Brown is the clear choice. Since entering the league in 2021, he has been one of the NFL’s best receivers and a two-time First-Team All-Pro.
Career Stats: 505 receptions, 5,735 yards, 42 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Keyshawn Johnson
Washington – Reggie Williams
Washington has not produced many successful NFL receivers, so Williams gets the top spot for now. Rome Odunze will likely overtake him soon. Williams was drafted ninth overall and had a brief career highlighted by ten touchdowns in 2007.
Career Stats: 189 receptions, 2,322 yards, 18 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Rome Odunze
Wisconsin – Chris Chambers
Chambers played 10 seasons and was consistently productive, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2005.
Career Stats: 540 receptions, 7,648 yards, 58 touchdowns
Honorable Mention: Lee Evans
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