Let’s examine the Bull and Bear Market for the pass-catchers heading into spring practices.
STOCK UP
Matthew Coleman, SJSU
Rarely does it become so abundantly clear of a succession plan like the one the SJSU staff had in mind for Nick Nash handing the coveted Spartan slot WR baton over to Coleman. The bowl game told us everything we need to know. Coleman had played seven snaps in the slot all season until the bowl when he played 53 snaps there in the absence of Nash. Coleman went 12-117-1 on 14 targets.
Deion Burks, Oklahoma
Assuming good health, Burks is in a great spot to be a post-hype sleeper for 2025. Arbuckle had a hand in the success of slot receivers like Jerreth Sterns and Lincoln Victor. The passing offense should be improved and Burks is likely the biggest beneficiary given the lack of proven options around him. The Sooners stepped up the NIL offer to keep him around, so expect him to be peppered with targets.
Makai Lemon, USC
I know. I know. We have reached the point where it is challenging to justify investing in Lincoln Riley WRs. However, Lemon had a solid showing in 2024 and the transfer of Zach Branch and Deuce Robinson vacating close to 350 slot snaps could raise the ceiling for Lemon. USC failed to land any high profile transfer WRs in the winter window, so Lemon and Lane will remain the top options for Maiava in year two. Lemon had a gaudy 3.03 yards/route run and moves like a RB when he has the ball in space.
Arlis Boardingham, Bowling Green
Honestly, I don’t think Boardingham is a particularly good tight end. But I really don’t know that it matters. The advanced metrics on the former Gator aren’t exactly pretty, but it’s clear the BG staff sold him on the idea of being a featured option in the offense needing to replace Harold Fannin. Now, making this list doesn’t necessarily mean he will come cheap. Many in the CFF community also recognize the value of an experienced SEC TE transferring down to Bowling Green. But it doesn’t change the fact that his stock has gone from unable to be rostered to a consensus pre-season top 10 ranked TE.
STOCK DOWN
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
It is safe to say that KCC was a massive disappointment for 2024, but his prospects for a bounce back campaign in 2025 hinge on the arm of Marcel Reed….so….nope. OC Collin Klein will never be confused for a WR Kingmaker. His bread is buttered with running QBs and running backs. Add in the fact that Terry Bussey Jr and Concepcion are essentially clones of each other that will potentially be fighting for cookies from the very limited Marcel Reed cookie jar. I could just as easily included other Aggie transfers like Micah Hudson and Mario Craver here as well.
Chrishon McCray and Omari Kelly, Michigan State
This duo is the epitome of the portal era where we lose G5 stud WRs to the P4. These two happen to be pairing up together in East Lansing and it is hard to imagine a worst case scenario (well, maybe Devonte Ross to Penn State). Not only are McCray and Kelly leveling all the way up to the B10, but they are doing so in an offense that has enough trouble supporting one CFF WR, let alone two. Not to mention the probability that they both take a back seat to Nick Marsh as the primary option.
Johntay Cook, Portal
I’ve been sounding the alarm on Cook for a couple years now, but hope still remained at the conclusion of 2024 that he could become a relevant player in the Horns’ WR rotation or hit the reset button with a solid portal landing spot. Just when we thought that might happen with a transfer to Washington, Cook was arrested, dismissed from Washington, and then promptly arrested again. He now resides in the portal until further notice and hope is all but lost on this, once promising, receiver.
Cayden Lee, Ole Miss
I had to include at least one non-transfer option here. Lee came on strong to finish 2024 and it masde sense to think he was in line for the WR1 role with Harris, Watkins, and their 144 targets moving on. However, no Rebel slot WR has finished top two in receiving since Jeff Lebby left in 2021. Ole Miss adds De’Zhaun Stribling, Harrison Wallace III, Traylon Ray, and Deuce Alexander from the portal to compete for targets. Lee is a really solid player but he is no longer the clear WR1 in Oxford.
Max Klare, Ohio State
Unlike Boardingham, the talent is undeniable for Klare. The pie is certainly bigger at Ohio State with potential for more scoring opportunities, but the slice of that pie Klare receives could be smaller given the other mouths to feed in Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and other talented options. Klare had eight games of six or more targets as Purdue’s top option in 2024. OSU played four more games than Purdue and still didn’t have a single game where a TE had 6+ targets.
