It’s time to roll out our 2025 SEC preseason wide receiver rankings, and as always, the results sparked some disagreement among our panel of Caleb, Craig, and Matt. The process is straightforward: each of us ranks the league’s receiving corps from 1–16, with the top spot earning 16 points and the bottom spot just 1 point. We then tally the scores to create the composite rankings you’ll see at the bottom of this page. While we agreed on a few teams, others sparked plenty of disagreement — and that’s where the fun comes in.
At the top, though, there was no debate. For the first time in this series, we were unanimous, with Alabama receiving all three first-place votes. The Tide’s mix of established stars and emerging talent made it an easy choice. Auburn and Texas weren’t far behind, with two of us ranking both of those units in the top three. Georgia and LSU also clustered near the top in each of our ballots, showing that there’s a fairly clear upper tier in the SEC this season. Things got a little more chaotic toward the bottom, however. Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Kentucky were all bunched together, and ties in our point system left Kentucky and Mississippi State knotted at 15th and Arkansas and Vanderbilt locked just above them.
Where we diverged most was in the middle of the pack. For example, Caleb was much higher on Missouri’s wideouts than either Craig or Matt, while Craig gave South Carolina more credit than the rest of us. Conversely, Matt ranked Tennessee’s receivers as a more stable group than his co-writers did, while Caleb and Craig were more skeptical of the Vols’ youth. These splits highlight the uncertainty surrounding some programs with upside but unanswered questions. Overall, though, our rankings give a snapshot of where the SEC’s receiver units stand heading into 2025. Scroll down to see the full list and where each team landed in our composite poll.
Heartland Sports Consensus SEC Receivers Rankings
| RANKING | POINTS |
|---|---|
| 1. Alabama | 48 |
| 2. Auburn | 44 |
| 3. Georgia | 40 |
| 4. Texas | 38 |
| 5. LSU | 37 |
| 6. Ole Miss | 35 |
| 7. Florida | 29 |
| 8. Missouri | 25 |
| 9. Texas A&M | 23 |
| 10. Oklahoma | 21 |
| 11. South Carolina | 17 |
| 12. Tennessee | 13 |
| 13. Arkansas | 11 |
| 13. Vanderbilt | 11 |
| 15. Kentucky | 8 |
| 15. Mississippi State | 8 |
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. Alabama | Ryan Williams had a great freshman year in 2024 with 48 catches, 865 yards and eight TDs, the most yards by a SEC freshman since 2016. Germie Bernard averaged 15.9 yards a catch last season on 50 catches for 794 yards a year ago. The one two punch of these two should be a lot for teams to handle.
2. Georgia | The Bulldogs invested plenty in the position by signing Noah Thomas from Texas A&M and Zachariah Branch from USC. They also have Dillon Bell coming back who had 43 catches for 466 yards last season.
3. Auburn | Cam Coleman, lived up to his hype as the top receiver recruit in the class of 2024 by catching 37 passes for 598 yards and eight TDs and he has a host of talented receivers around him including Georgia Tech transfer receiver Eric Singleton, one of the most coveted wideouts available this offseason.
4. Ole Miss
5. LSU
6. Florida
7. Texas
8. Texas A&M
9. Oklahoma
10. Missouri
11. Arkansas
12. Vanderbilt
13. Tennessee
14. South Carolina
15. Mississippi State | Fifth-year senior Jordan Mosley is the only returner from last season, so the bulldogs will have to lean on transfers like, Brenen Thompson Anthony Evans III and a few others who didn’t have a big impacts for their former teams.
16. Kentucky | Kentucky doesn’t have a lot of proven talent. Ja’Mori Maclin, who was a star at North Texas in 2023 but he struggled to find consistency in his first season with the Wildcats. They will have to look to freshman to step up and make plays.
Craig
1. Alabama | The Tide returns Ryan Williams who recorded 865 yards as a freshman. Alabama also returns their leading pass catcher in Germie Bernard. As if they needed anymore weapons they brought in Isaiah Horton from Miami who brought in over 600 yards in 2024.
2. Auburn | The Tigers feature two of the most talented wide receivers in the conference in Eric Singleton and Cam Coleman. The duo brought in over 1,300 yards last season. With a quarterback that has an arm like Jackson Arnold, these guys could be some serious weapons in 2025.
3. Texas | The Longhorns will be led by Ryan Wingo who had a great freshman season with 472 yards. Arch Manning will also have returning starter DeAndre Moore Jr. and Emmett Mosley who transferred in from Stanford.
4. LSU
5. Georgia
6. Ole Miss
7. Missouri
8. South Carolina
9. Florida
10. Oklahoma
11. Kentucky
12. Texas A&M
13. Vanderbilt
14. Mississippi State
15. Tennessee | The Vols are extremely young at the wide receiver position. They have some promising talent, but it is unproven talent.
16. Arkansas | The Razorbacks will feature a completely rebuilt wide receiver room which is why they come in at the bottom of my rankings. All four projected starters transferred in this year.
Matt
1. Alabama | The Tide’s wide receiver group enters 2025 with the potential to be one of the SEC’s most explosive units, blending elite talent with valuable depth. Sophomore Ryan Williams headlines the corps as a dynamic playmaker who is expected to elevate his role and showcase his game-breaking ability in a more natural fit at flanker. He’ll be complemented by Miami transfer Isaiah Horton, whose size and experience at a high level give the Tide a reliable target on the outside. Redshirt freshman Aeryn Hampton adds even more intrigue, as the highly touted prospect is poised for a breakout after a developmental year. With this combination of proven ability and untapped upside, Alabama’s receivers are positioned to be a driving force of the offense in 2025.
2. Auburn | The Tigers’ wide receiver unit enters 2025 as one of the most talented and promising groups in the SEC, blending proven playmakers with high-upside newcomers. Sophomore Cam Coleman headlines the corps after tying for the team lead in touchdown receptions as a freshman, though avoiding a sophomore slump will be key to his development. He’ll be joined by Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr., whose speed and versatility should provide an immediate boost to the passing attack. Perry Thompson, a prized recruit, and Malcolm Simmons, another returning sophomore who flashed as a freshman, add even more depth and potential. Wake Forest transfer Horatio Fields rounds out a group that gives Auburn both size and explosiveness on the perimeter. With so many options at their disposal, the Tigers have the flexibility to rotate personnel and create matchup problems across the field. If this group lives up to its potential, Auburn could see multiple receivers emerge as 1,000-yard threats, making the unit a centerpiece of the offense’s success in 2025.
3. Texas | The Longhorns enter 2025 with a receiver unit that should be both balanced and dangerous, blending proven production with breakout potential. Junior DeAndre Moore Jr. returns as the steady leader of the corps after a 39-catch, 495-yard, 7-touchdown season, bringing toughness and consistency to the passing game. Across from him, sophomore Ryan Wingo looks poised to take another step forward after an impressive freshman year, already displaying strong chemistry with new starting quarterback Arch Manning. Behind the established names, redshirt freshmen Parker Livingston and Aaron Butler provide youthful depth and playmaking ability, ensuring the Longhorns have both immediate contributors and long-term weapons.
4. Georgia
5. LSU
6. Ole Miss
7. Florida
8. Texas A&M
9. Missouri
10. Tennessee
11. Oklahoma
12. South Carolina
13. Arkansas
14. Mississippi State
15. Vanderbilt | The Commodore receiving corps enters 2025 with some stability but limited proven production, placing it near the bottom of the SEC rankings. Junior Sherrill Jr. and Tre Richardson Jr. return as projected starters, while veteran Trent Hudson adds experience, yet none have established themselves as consistent playmakers against top-tier competition. The group lacks a true go-to option and must rely on unproven depth pieces, including transfers and potential position switches like Martel Hight moving from cornerback. While there is some intrigue with newcomers, the overall lack of star power and tested depth keeps Vanderbilt’s receivers behind most SEC units heading into the season.
16. Kentucky | The Wildcats’ receiver group enters the 2025 season ranked last in the SEC after losing its top two playmakers, Barion Brown and Dane Key, to the transfer portal. Those departures leave the Wildcats without proven star power or reliable production, forcing the offense to rely on untested options and the leadership of returnee Ja’Mori Maclin. While the unit is motivated to prove itself, the lack of established depth and game-changing talent puts Kentucky at a clear disadvantage compared to the rest of the conference.
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