1. Michigan: The B1G isn’t loaded with elite receiving corps. You could even make the argument that the B1G doesn’t have any elite receiving corps, but Michigan has a solid group of receivers. Roy Roundtree, Martavious Odoms, and Darryl Stonum are all capable receivers and Roundtree has All B1G potential. Denard Robinson won’t be running nearly as much as he did last year so look for this group of receivers to put up very good numbers in year 1 of the Brady Hoke era. Kevin Koger also returns at TE.
2. Indiana: This is the best receiving corps that no one outside of the B1G has ever heard of. Demarlo Belcher, Duwyce Wilson, and Kofi Hughes are all capable of 50+ catch seasons. Belcher and Wilson are proven commodities and Hughes had a great spring. Throw in a capable tight end in Ted Bolser and you have some real dangerous weapons on the perimeter. New Head Coach Kevin Wilson will bring a wide open, passing friendly offense to Bloomington so none of the aforementioned players will be lonely this fall.
3. Michigan State: The Spartans lose Mark Dell, but return B.J. Cunningham, Keyshawn Martin, and Keith Nichol at WR. They also return promising sophomore Dion Sims and senior Brian Linthicum at TE. The Spartans have no shortage of weapons for senior QB Kirk Cousins to throw to.
4. Ohio State: DeVier Posey and James Louis are dangerous deep threats. I would also watch out for Freshman Devin Smith to emerge. The Buckeyes always seem to have great weaponry at WR, and despite the suspension to Posey I look for this group to be one of the more dangerous units in the B1G. Jake Stoneburner, who caught 21 passes returns at TE.
5. Northwestern: The Cats return Jeremy Ebert, Charles Brown, and Demetrius Fields at WR. Ebert is on the Biltenikoff Award watch list and looks to have a huge season along with fellow senior QB Dan Persa. Persa and Ebert could be a deadly hook this year in the B1G. Senior Drake Dunsmore has 98 career receptions and looks to be one of the premier pass catching TE’s in the country in 2011.
6. Iowa: Converted QB/former basketball player/superstar athlete Marvin McNutt who caught the game winning TD from Ricky Stanzi in the thriller against Michigan State two years ago figures to have a breakout year in 2011. McNutt has always had the talent and now that he is the #1 receiver in Iowa City look for big things from 6’-4”, 215lb senior WR. He will have talented Iowa native Keenan Davis lining up with him at WR this fall for the Hawkeyes. Davis was one of the most sought after WR recruits in the country out of Washington HS in Cedar Rapids. Expect McNutt and Davis to blossom along with first year starting QB James Vandenberg, the latter of which showed great potential in an overtime loss to TOSU two years ago. C.J. Fiedoriwicz has All B1G potential at TE, and I predict he will be the next Dallas Clark.
7. Penn State: Derek Moye is one of the most reliable receivers in the B1G and he will catch at least 50 balls this year, no matter who the QB is in State College. The Nitts will also have some talented young receivers who could emerge this year.
8. Minnesota: Da’Jon McKnight is one of the most physically impressive wide receivers in the country. He made at least a dozen circus catches last year and you could make an argument that he is the most indispensable player on the Minnesota roster, with all apologies to QB MarQueis Gray. TE Eric Lair returns after catching 39 passes in 2010. Brandon Green was one of the top WR recruits in the Midwest out of Chicago three years ago and looks to have a breakout year in 2011 after battling injuries throughout his career as a Gopher.
9. Nebraska: Brandon Kinnie returns after catching 44 balls in 2010. The Huskers will boast some talented but unproven wide receivers alongside Kinnie after the graduation of Niles Paul. Kyler Reed returns at TE after catching a whopping 8 TD’s in 2010.
10. Wisconsin: Nick Toon is a very good WR. Toon, who’s father Al was an NFL receiver for the New York Jets is a local product out of Middleton High School in Middleton, WI. Toon is 10th on the Badgers all time receptions list with 107. Jarred Abbrederis is a nice piece to compliment Toon and has good size at 6’2”. The Badgers have become somewhat of a mecca for great tight end play and look for that trend to continue with senior Jake Byrne.
11. Illinois: A.J. Jenkins is one of the better receivers in the league, but the only problem is there is absolutely zero depth behind him. Look for stud true freshman Matt LaCosse to emerge at TE this year.
12. Purdue: The injury to Keith Smith last year was absolutely devastating to the Boilermakers. No one stepped up after his injury and the Boilermakers stumbled to a 4-8 finish and a loss to arch-rival Indiana at home. O.J. Ross and Antavian Edison need to step up for Purdue this year.
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