SECs best producer of wide receivers
LSU has been called defensive line U and defensive back U because of the success of its players at those two positions. What Southeastern Conference school produces the best players at each position? This is the first of a series looking at all-league selections for the last ten years and their production in the NFL.
There is no doubt that LSU's passing game has not been efficient for much of the past two seasons.
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But, the Tigers have developed more good wide receivers than any school in the Southeastern Conference over the past ten years. LSU has had five wide receivers earn first or second-team All-SEC honors according to the league's coaches.
Those five players are Michael Clayton, Devery Henderson, Dwayne Bowe, Brandon LaFell and Rueben Randle. All of those receivers except for Randle have caught more than 100 passes in the NFL. The other SEC schools together only have nine receivers with triple-digit NFL receptions.
Alabama has had the most All-SEC selections at wide receiver with seven. Two Crimson Tide receivers - Julio Jones and D.J. Hall - have been multiple-year all-conference picks.
Three players were chosen All-SEC three times - Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett (2005-07), Georgia's A.J. Green (2008-10) and Jones (2008-10). Three players were all-league performers twice - South Carolina's Sidney Rice (2005-06), Hall (2006-07) and Florida's Percy Harvin (2007-08).
Bowe has been the most productive SEC wide receiver in the NFL. Bowe, who has played his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, leads former SEC wide receivers in catches with 415, yards with 5,728 and touchdowns with 39.
Auburn has not had an All-SEC wide receiver over the past ten years. Florida has not had an all-league wide receiver since Harvin in 2008. Jones is the only Alabama wide receiver with a catch in the NFL. Harvin is the only Florida player with more than 14 NFL receptions.
Georgia has three receivers with at least 100 career pro catches - Reggie Brown, Mohammed Massaquoi and Green. Robert Meacham is the only all-SEC receiver from Tennessee with a catch in the NFL. Neither Ole Miss nor Mississippi State has an All-SEC wide receiver with a NFL catch.
Here are the wide receivers who made either first or second-team All-SEC over the last ten years according to the league's coaches. Included are the years in which the players earned all-conference honors and their NFL career stats. The players are listed according to school.
LSU (5)
Michael Clayton (2003): 8 seasons, 223 catches, 2,955 yards, 10 touchdowns
Devery Henderson (2003): 9 seasons, 245 catches, 4,377 yards, 20 touchdowns
Dwayne Bowe (2006): 6 seasons, 415 catches, 5,728 yards, 39 touchdowns
Brandon LaFell (2009): 3 seasons, 118 catches, 1,758 yards, 8 touchdowns
Rueben Randle (2011): 1 season, 19 catches, 298 yards, 3 touchdowns
ALABAMA (4)
Tyrone Prothro (2005)
D.J. Hall (2006-07)
Julio Jones (2008-10): 2 seasons, 133 catches, 2,157 yards, 18 touchdowns
Marquis Maze (2011)
FLORIDA (4)
O.J. Small (2004): 1 season, 1 catch, 6 yards
Chad Jackson (2005): 3 seasons, 14 catches, 171 yards, 3 touchdowns
Dallas Baker (2006): 1 season, 1 catch, 6 yards
Percy Harvin (2007-08): 4 seasons, 280 catches, 3,302 yards, 20 touchdowns
GEORGIA (4)
Fred Gibson (2004)
Reggie Brown (2005): 5 seasons, 177 catches, 2,574 yards, 17 touchdowns
Mohammed Massaquoi (2008): 4 seasons, 118 catches, 1,745 yards, 7 touchdowns
A.J. Green (2008-10): 2 seasons, 162 catches, 2,407 yards, 18 touchdowns
SOUTH CAROLINA (4)
Troy Williamson (2004): 5 seasons, 87 catches, 1,131 yards, 4 touchdowns
Sidney Rice (2005-06): 6 seasons, 228 catches, 3,361 yards, 27 touchdowns
Kenny McKinley (2007)
Alshon Jeffery (2010): 1 season, 24 catches, 367 yards, 3 touchdowns
TENNESSEE (3)
Robert Meacham (2006): 5 seasons, 155 catches, 2,476 yards, 25 touchdowns
Da'Rick Rogers (2011)
Justin Hunter (2012)
ARKANSAS (2)
Jarius Wright (2011): 1 season, 22 catches, 310 yards, 2 touchdowns
Cobi Hamilton (2012)
KENTUCKY (2)
Keenan Burton (2006): 2 seasons, 38 catches, 425 yards, 1 touchdown
Randall Cobb (2010): 2 seasons, 105 catches, 1,329 yards, 9 touchdowns
OLE MISS (2)
Chris Collins (2003)
Shay Hodge (2009)
VANDERBILT (2)
Earl Bennett (2005-07): 5 seasons, 153 catches, 2,034 yards, 8 touchdowns
Jordan Matthews (2012)
MISSISSIPPI STATE (1)
Justin Jenkins (2003)
TEXAS A&M (1)
Ryan Swope (2012)
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