Even with some of its top programs leaving the league, the American Athletic Conference will surely have some electric offenses in 2023 with some of the best wide receivers in the Group of Five.
Here’s a ranking of the best wideouts in the AAC.
Best AAC Wide Receivers, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Team |
| 1 | Joshua Cephus | UTSA |
| 2 | De’Corian Clark | UTSA |
| 3 | LaJohntay Wester | FAU |
| 4 | Jordan Kerley | SMU |
1. Joshua Cephus, UTSA
Cephus has been among the best wideouts in Conference USA for multiple years. He’s now the best receiver in the AAC, assuming Zakhari Franklin doesn’t come back to the team after entering the transfer portal.
Cephus was on the All-Conference USA honorable mention list in 2020 and in 2021. Then he made the second team last season.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound upcoming senior was fourth in the league last year with 985 yards to go with six touchdowns on 87 receptions, which was third in the conference. In the past four years combined, he’s caught 224 passes for 2,504 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Cephus has already proven how great he can be, and without Franklin, that just means more targets for Cephus.
2. De’Corian Clark, UTSA
UTSA was the only program in the country last season with three all-conference receivers. But those players deserved that recognition.
As the third option in UTSA’s offense last year, Clark caught 51 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. That production was good enough for second-team All-Conference USA honors.
That was Clark’s second season with at least 50 catches, 700 yards, and seven touchdowns. He compiled 755 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 receptions in 2021.
The 6-3, 210-pound senior should only be better in UTSA’s high-flying offense led by quarterback Frank Harris.
3. LaJohntay Wester, FAU
Wester is another former C-USA wide receiver who’s still expected to play at a high level in the AAC.
Wester was also on the All-Conference USA honorable mention list a season ago. He was eighth in the league with eight touchdown receptions as well as top 15 for catches (62) and receiving yards (719). He added 106 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushing attempts as well.
The 5-11, 165-pound junior is also exceptional on special teams, having also earned all-conference honorable mention accolades as a punt returner last season. He racked up 136 yards on 14 punt returns, averaging 9.7 yards per return.
Wester should thrive in myriad ways in the AAC.
4. Jordan Kerley, SMU
Kerley certainly is among the best wideouts who played in the AAC last year and is back this season.
Kerley began his collegiate career at Arizona State and played in 13 games as a freshman in 2019. Then he transferred to SMU, and it appears to have been a good choice.
The 6-2, 189-pound senior caught 12 passes for 197 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021. Then he elevated his game and finished the 2022 season with 588 yards and six touchdowns on 37 receptions. He was second on the team in receiving yards behind only Rashee Rice, who is now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kerley should be a featured playmaker in this offense with Rice now gone.
