The most valuable commodity I know of is information.
– Gordon Gekko, Wallstreet (1987)
You can find a full report on 77 WRs this spring here.
CJ Daniels, Miami
There was virtually no one left in the Miami WR room at the onset of the 2025 offseason. Daniels enters as a formerly productive G5 player but a guy who struggled to make hay at LSU in 2024. I just like the opportunity that presents itself here for Daniels, with QB Carson Beck coming in as well. As a refresher, Xavier Restrepo takes with him 100 targets, Jacolby George 80 targets, and Isaiah Horton 79. Please find me a situation where a WR is walking into a room with more vacated targets.
Louis Brown, Colorado State
There seems to be a trend of players returning to their former teams after disappointing transfers. Brown began his career at CSU and looked pretty good as a sophomore. His production continued to increase at SDSU (620 yards, three scores) this season, but evidently, he decided to rejoin Coach Norvell in Colorado. The Rams are looking for a replacement for Tory Horton and are returning their starting quarterback from a year ago.
Jack Hestera, Utah State
Utah State’s new HC is Bronco Mendenhall, who’s been an air raid wizard since his days at BYU. Utah State will also be looking for someone to replace Jalen Royals, who was averaging over 24 PPG (full PPR) in an injury-shortened season. Hestera’s in year two with the Aggies and should have a capable passer in Bryson Barnes at QB. A major plus is that Kyrese White, the starting slot receiver to open the year, is out of eligibility, though it’s not predetermined that Hestera will be in the slot again in 2025.
Deion Burks, Oklahoma
Burks decided to come back this season after he could have easily left for the NFL, so you know what that means: $$$ signs and targets are in order for 2025. You don’t make this decision without a game plan and a mutual understanding between coach and player of what’s to come in 2025.
More importantly, OU received an upgrade at QB and OC this offseason, bringing in the WSU connection in John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle. We already know that Arbuckle loves his slot receivers (think Lincoln Victor at WSU in 2023 and Malachi Corley at WKU in 2022). Burks averaged 15 PPG in an injury-shortened five-game season in 2024, averaging 8.8 targets per contest.
Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic
Easton Messer (FAU) — There is a simple line of thinking regarding Messer’s appeal: former WKU and Texas Tech OC Zach Kittley is now his new head coach. Kittley’s 2021 WKU offense is the stuff of legend, as his slot receiver, Jerreth Sterns, led CFB in all three receiving categories. Kittley also joins forces with former WKU QB Caden Veltkamp, who will also be familiar with Messer, who is transferring from WKU. Messer was solid but not great last year as he averaged 11.6 PPG with Veltkamp as his QB.
The idea here is that maybe Kittley will be able to finally recreate that 2021 magic at a lower level after disappointing his fans during his Texas Tech seasons. I checked whether Messer overlapped with Kittley’s time at WKU, and it turns out he did not; however, being a 2022 arrival, is it a stretch to suggest Kittley probably recruited Messer to WKU?
