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Factoid

Wide receivers: final year of college

Davis, Ross prolific scorers

Corey Davis scored 19 total touchdowns at Western Michigan last season. John Ross did too at Washington. Among first-round picks this century, only two wide receivers scored more in their final year of college. Will that production factor into them becoming successful pros?

Looking at the other first-round wide receivers, a lot of the more prolific scorers turned out pretty well. Top of the list is Larry Fitzgerald (22 TDs his final season), and he's great. Corey Coleman scored 20, and his rookie season was marred by injury; too soon to say whether he'll go on to have a good career.

Among the others who scored over 15 TDs, a lot of hits there: Cooks, Hopkins, Cooper, Megatron. Crabtree has turned out well. Justin Blackmon's career went south for off-field reasons. Only a couple out-and-out busts (Rashaun Woods and Mike Williams). Sylvester Morris, but his potential was ruined by injury.

FIRST-ROUND WRS, FINAL YEAR OF COLLEGE (2000-PRESENT)
YearPkPlayerNoYdsTD
20043Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.92167222
201615Corey Coleman, Clev.74136320
20175Corey Davis, Tenn.97150019
20179John Ross, Cin.81115019
200910Michael Crabtree, S.F.97116519
200219Ashley Lelie, Den.84171319
201420Brandin Cooks, N.O.128173018
201327DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.82140518
20125Justin Blackmon, Jac.121152218
20154Amari Cooper, Oak.124172716
200510Mike Williams, Det.95131416
201428Kelvin Benjamin, Car.54101115
20072Calvin Johnson, Det.76120215
20053Braylon Edwards, Clev.97133015
200431Rashaun Woods, S.F.77136715
200021Sylvester Morris, K.C.69128615
201621Will Fuller, Hou.62125814
201622Josh Doctson, Wash.79132714
201220Kendall Wright, Tenn.108166314
200527Roddy White, Atl.71145214
200919Jeremy Maclin, Phil.102126013
20032Charles Rogers, Det.68135113
20018David Terrell, Chi.6399413
20019Koren Robinson, Sea.62106113
201520Nelson Agholor, Phil.104131312
20144Sammy Watkins, Buff.101146412
20147Mike Evans, T.B.69139412
20138Tavon Austin, St.L.114128912
200929Hakeem Nicks, NYG68122212
200723Dwayne Bowe, K.C.6599012
20177Mike Williams, S.D.98136111
201623Laquon Treadwell, Minn.82115311
200727Robert Meachem, N.O.71129811
200625Santonio Holmes, Pitt.5397711
20004Peter Warrick, Cin.7193411
20157Kevin White, Chi.109144710
201529Phillip Dorsett, Ind.3687110
200415Michael Clayton, T.B.78107910
200213Donte Stallworth, N.O.4182110
200130Reggie Wayne, Ind.4375510

Well down the list (I cropped it at 10 TDs the final year of college) is this year's Mike Williams. The hit rate doesn't look as pretty for players in that TD range, although Mike Evans and Reggie Wayne worked out great.

I think it's a plus for Davis and Ross's NFL outlook (and think they will be the top-2 wideouts out of this class).

--Andy Richardson

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