Factoid
It’s not only in the pro game that passing numbers have exploded. Football is a different game now.
Consider, for example, that three of the wide receivers selected in the first round caught 100-plus passes last year. In the last 20 years combined, there have been only two of those receivers.
Below is the list showing all of the ones with at least 70 catches. Numbers aren’t their best college season, just their final season. And touchdowns aren’t solely receiving touchdowns but include scores on kick returns and runs.
I’m not sure if there was a receiver taken in the ‘80s who caught 90 or 100 balls. I don’t have the college numbers for those guys. There was also a switchover at some point (the late ‘90s, I think) where college started including bowl games in final numbers.
FIRST-ROUND RECEIVERS WITH 70-PLUS CATCHES, 1992-2012
No Yds Avg TD Year
140 1996 14.3 31 1999 Troy Edwards, Pitt.
121 1522 12.6 18 2012 Justin Blackmon, Jac.
108 1663 15.4 14 2012 Kendall Wright, Tenn.
102 1260 12.4 13 2009 Jeremy Maclin , Phil.
100 1147 11.5 10 2012 Michael Floyd, Ariz.
97 1330 13.7 15 2005 Braylon Edwards, Clev.
97 1165 12.0 19 2009 Michael Crabtree , S.F.
95 1314 13.8 16 2005 Mike Williams, Det.
92 1672 18.2 22 2004 Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.
90 1218 13.5 6 1996 Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ
90 1647 18.3 25 1998 Randy Moss, Minn.
90 1276 14.2 8 2012 A.J. Jenkins, S.F.
89 1109 12.5 8 2004 Reggie Williams, Jac.
88 1604 18.2 13 1999 Torry Holt, St.L.
87 1371 15.8 7 2009 Kenny Britt , Tenn.
84 1713 20.4 19 2002 Ashley Lelie, Den.
78 1373 17.6 12 1994 Johnnie Morton, Det.
78 1079 13.8 10 2004 Michael Clayton, T.B.
78 1133 14.5 7 2011 Julio Jones, Atl.
77 1367 17.8 15 2004 Rashaun Woods, S.F.
76 1170 15.4 13 1998 Marcus Nash, Den.
76 1202 15.8 15 2007 Calvin Johnson, Det.
75 1545 20.6 9 2004 Lee Evans, Buff.
74 1330 18.0 14 1999 David Boston, Ariz.
72 1293 18.0 18 1997 Reidel Anthony, T.B.
71 934 13.2 11 2000 Peter Warrick, Cin.
71 1452 20.5 14 2005 Roddy White, Atl.
71 1298 18.3 11 2007 Robert Meachem, N.O.
70 1079 15.4 9 2004 Roy Williams, Det.
—Ian Allan
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