Ranking the Big Ten: Wide receiver

As the 2018 season draws nearer by the day, it’s time to start taking a look at some of the top players to watch in the Big Ten Conference.

We continue our Ranking the Big Ten series today with the wide receivers, which have a heavy Husker flare this season.

Previous rankings: QB | RB

After posting one of the best receiving seasons in Nebraska football history last year, Morgan had a strong opportunity to make an early jump to the NFL.

But with Scott Frost bringing his high-powered offense to Lincoln, the New Orleans, La., native couldn’t help but come back for his senior campaign. Now he’s poised to move his name even higher up the NU record books.

Morgan caught 61 passes for a school-record 986 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017, and he returns as the top receiver in the Big Ten and could be even better under Frost.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder currently ranks sixth in NU history with more than 1,700 career receiving yards, and with 946 more, he would pass Kenny Bell as the school’s all-time career leader.

New Husker offensive coordinator/receivers coach Troy Walters has produced a number of record-breaking receivers during his coaching career, and he already thinks Morgan could end up ranking as of his best players yet when all is said and done.

At 6-4, 195, Davis gives Michigan State a true big-bodied wideout who can also stretch the field for the big play, and he did plenty of that last season.

Davis ranked third in the Big Ten and 25th nationally with nine touchdown catches as a junior while also hauling in 776 receiving yards on an average of 4.2 grabs per game.

All of that was good enough to earn him second-team all-conference from the media and third-team honors from the league’s coaches.

He led the Spartans in nearly every receiving category in 2017, and now entering his second season with standout quarterback Brian Lewerke, Davis has a chance to emerge as one of the Big Ten’s elite wide receivers.

As quarterback Trace McSorley put together another breakout passing season in 2017, Johnson was one of the clear benefactors.

Not only did the 6-4, 229, Johnson snag 54 catches for 701 yards, he emerged as one of McSorley’s go-to targets when the Nittany Lions needed a crucial play.

Of his 54 catches, 38 of them (70 percent) went for a first down. His first career touchdown reception also happened to be the game-winner as time expired in PSU’s dramatic comeback win over Iowa.

With Penn State likely having to lean on its passing game more than ever following the departure of star running back Saquon Barkley, Johnson could be for his biggest season yet as a junior.

Not that it needed it, but Ohio State got another nice boost this offseason when Campbell announced he would be returning for his senior year in Columbus.

Despite battling nagging injuries late in the regular season, Campbell hauled in 40 catches for 584 yards and three touchdowns in 2017.

A versatile piece in head coach Urban Meyer’s offense who can line up as a true wideout or at H-back, the 6-1, 208, Campbell was a top target under former quarterback J.T. Barrett on an offense that racked up 42.5 points per game.

Now with first-year starter Dwayne Haskins at the helm, the Buckeyes are expected to shift a bit more towards a traditional pocket-passing scheme, which could create even more opportunities for Campbell down the field.

In a 2017 season that was pretty much a disaster for Nebraska in almost every aspect, Spielman served as one of the lone bright spots.

The standout wide receiver ended up ranking second on the team with 55 catches for 830 yards and two touchdowns while leading all Huskers with 1,572 all-purpose yards.

Not only did he put up impressive final numbers, he also broke the school’s single-game receiving record (200 vs. Ohio State) as well as the freshman season marks for receptions, receiving yards, and all-purpose yardage.

Spielman was tabbed a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association and USA Today and was a third-team All-Big Ten pick.

A versatile weapon who took reps both at receiver and in the backfield this spring, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound native of Eden Prairie, Minn., is a player Frost thinks could be a perfect fit in his system.