PFF: The BIG10 has the best WRs. PLUS, a Nico Collins feature.

PFF says the BIG 10, not the SEC, not the Big 12, has the best WRs:

Some of the top-tier names belong to the nation’s powerhouse teams in Clemson and Alabama, but it’s actually the Big Ten that returns the most talented group of pass-catchers in the nation.

Here's a list they made:

Rondale Moore, Purdue

Tyler Johnson, Minnesota

JD Spielman, Nebraska

K.J. Hill, Ohio State

KJ Hamler, Penn State

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

A 5-star pedigree follows Peoples-Jones everywhere he goes, and by some standards, those lofty expectations were always going to be hard to live up to. Nevertheless, DPJ put forth a very strong sophomore season and is primed to break out in Year 3 in Ann Arbor. Given new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ track record with receivers, Peoples-Jones should be able to use his big frame and great speed to be on the receiving end of more Shea Patterson passes than 2018. Coming into his own last year, he was a do-it-all receiver, forcing 7 missed tackles, gaining 245 yards after the catch and dropping just 1 of the 48 catchable passes thrown his way, all pivotal aspects in a Gattis-led offense.

Nico Collins, Michigan

Continuing the trend of reliable hands for the Wolverines, Nico Collins leads all returning Big Ten receivers with 38 receptions without a drop from a season ago. Collins can go up and get any ball thrown his way and is no stranger to converting when called upon. Of his 38 receptions last year, 23 of them scored a touchdown or moved the chains for a first down, while his 16.7 yards per reception in 2018 is second among qualified returning receivers.

 

PFF also has said Nico Collins had a 0% drop rate last season, and the highest "contested catch" rate in the BIG10:

 

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1159950738124136449

 

https://twitter.com/pff_college/status/1127245233496973312

 

Here's a video of every Nico Collins catch from last season. You'll see that two of his most contested catches were TDs against Ohio St:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER84IhUWFTA

 

When Nico Collins was in high school he was one of the primary recruiting targets of Alabama. As a high school sophomore he was even in Nick Saban's office and was offered a scholarship:

"I'm from the State of Alabama, so yeah....... a lot of people think I would stay in State. But really, I would go anywhere..... The first time I was talking to coach Saban..... I went into the office with him, my first time ever..... he was all business about him..... he was like, "We want to offer you a scholarship"...... Getting a scholarship from coach Saban is kinda big. Because he's one of the best college coaches ever..... I kinda love that.... Talking to him now, I'm gonna call him in a couple minutes.... the more we talk it seems like we're getting closer. I remembered he called me at the draft. It was kinda awesome, because I heard him called Nick Draft Pick on the phone......."

You can see him talk about it this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryMP-yQYYic

 

Alabama pursued him pretty hard:

Last week he spoke to Alabama coach Nick Saban and is constantly reminded how important he is to the Crimson Tide as well.

“(Saban) was at his lake house and he wanted to speak to me and wanted me to come to a barbecue in Alabama for a bit before the season started,” Collins said.

Alabama receivers coach Billy Napier tells him what many schools do.

“I’m a big priority for them, a big size receiver on the outside playing the X position, they’ve got a lot of big plans for me if I come,” Collins said. “They really want me to come. They can use me in different ways.”

https://usatodayhss.com/2016/could-michigan-football-pull-recruiting-coup-with-alabamas-top-recruit-nico-collins

Alabama isn’t a recruiting hotbed for Michigan, and it’s no surprise why. Plucking recruits from the Deep South and Nick Saban isn’t easy.

“I think for most kids in Alabama, if Auburn or Alabama offers you,” Floyd said, “it’s pretty much expected that you’re going to one of the two.”

The Crimson Tide wanted Collins, especially. Of course, that’s where Simmons had just enrolled in the fall of 2016, and pressure to follow suit crowded Collins.

“I vividly remember seeing his face in the early part of the season just being really worn down,” Hood said. “T.J. was at Alabama at the time, and everybody was talking about Alabama.”

So how did Michigan land Nico Collins?

So Collins asked the Clay-Chalkville coaching staff to send Michigan his tape. The Wolverines had never heard of Collins, but just days after watching his tape, they flew staff down to Alabama.

“Nico actually recruited Michigan,” Floyd said. “It wasn’t Michigan going after him originally, truth be told.”

Collins liked Coach Harbaugh:

Collins first met Jim Harbaugh with a bag of Dairy Queen in his hands. It wasn’t long before the coach wanted some of his own.

“Harbaugh just stuck his hand right in Nico’s bag, grabbed some fries out and started eating them,” Hood said. “(It) was like they had known each other for forever, which was pretty awesome.

“He just had himself a good old Jim Harbaugh time.”

Collins must not have minded the sacrifice in fries. For all the odd anecdotes Harbaugh has created on the recruiting trail, he left a folksier impression in Birmingham. Collins would take multiple unofficial visits to Ann Arbor before committing in February of his senior year.

“(Harbaugh) was very, very down to Earth,” Floyd said. “He and I talked about emojis just because we wear similar glasses. … He’s pretty cool, man. He’s not like a lot of coaches, and Nico liked that.”

https://www.michigandaily.com/section/football/nico-collins-feature 

 

Nico Collins isn't the #1 WR at Michigan. That's DPJ. And scouts like DPJ more too. But I think he's the #1 WR. And if I was a GM at a NFL team there's no way I'd pass up drafting him next year if I needed a WR.