The Best College Football Wide Receivers & Tight Ends In The Group of Five From A Statistical Standpoint

With the proliferation of spread offenses, college football has more and more top-flight wide receivers and tight ends each year. 

While true freshman receivers such as Ryan Williams of Alabama and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State have justifiably earned plenty of headlines, there have been many Group of Five receivers and tight ends among the nation’s top statistical leaders. 

Here are just a few of the G5 receivers and tight ends (listed alphabetically) who have been at or near the top of the receiving charts. 

Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii

Ashlock is seventh nationally with eight receptions per game – 40 receptions for 428 yards and four touchdowns. In a loss to UCLA, he had nine receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown. Ashlock has scored a touchdown in each of his last four games. This comes after having a big year last season with 83 receptions for 832 yards and nine scores. 

Skyler Bell, UConn

A Wisconsin transfer, Bell has 22 receptions for 508 yards and four touchdowns. He is fifth nationally with 23.09 yards per reception. In a 47-3 win over Buffalo, he had six receptions for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Bell had just one reception for eight yards in last week’s 29-20 win over Temple, leaving the game with an injury.

Mac Dalena, Fresno State

Dalena is one of 10 players nationally averaging at least 100 receiving yards per game (100.2). He has 22 receptions for 501 yards and four touchdowns. Dalena averages 22.7 yards per reception, which is sixth nationally. Last season, he had 47 receptions for 509 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. 

Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

Fannin has 46 receptions for 676 yards and four touchdowns in five games. Fannin is second nationally with 9.2 receptions per game and third with 135.2 receiving yards per game. He has already exceeded last year’s receiving output in 11 games when he had 44 receptions for 623 yards (along with six touchdowns). In this year’s 34-27 loss to Penn State, he had 11 receptions for 137 yards and one touchdown. 

Tanner Koziol, Ball State

Koziol is tied for eighth nationally with 7.6 receptions per game. Koziol has 38 catches for 391 yards and three touchdowns in five games. He has twice gone over the 100-yard receiving mark this year. Last season in 12 games he had 34 receptions for 295 yards and three scores. 

Nick Nash, San Jose State

A converted quarterback, Nash has exploded during his second full season playing wide receiver. He leads the nation in receptions (55) and touchdown receptions (nine) in five games. Nash is second nationally with 712 receiving yards. His average of 11 receptions per game also leads the nation. In a wild 54-52 double overtime loss to Washington State, he had 16 receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns. As a bonus, he hasn’t forgotten his quarterback skills. This past week, Nash threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jabari Bates with 50 seconds left in San Jose State’s 35-31 home win over Nevada.

Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama

Pritchett has 36 receptions for 532 yards and six touchdowns. He is tied for fifth nationally with his six TD receptions. He has also returned eight punts for 196 yards and a touchdown. Last season, he recorded 57 receptions for 883 yards and eight touchdowns. This is his third season at South Alabama after beginning his career and spending one season at Tuskegee. This past week, he had seven receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns in an 18-16 loss at Arkansas State. 

Devonte Ross, Troy

The Trojans have struggled with a 1-5 record, but Ross has been a consistent performer. He has 31 receptions for 556 yards and seven touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally with seven touchdown receptions. Ross also has three punt returns for 108 yards and a touchdown. He has improved greatly from last year when he had 40 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns. 

Ricky White III, UNLV

White is tied for fifth nationally with six touchdown receptions in five games. White is coming off an impressive performance with 10 receptions for 135 yards in last week’s 44-41 overtime loss against Syracuse. This season, he has 30 receptions for 388 yards in addition to the six scores. Last season, he had 80 receptions for 1,314 yards and seven touchdowns. This is his third season at UNLV after spending his first two years at Michigan State