Welcome back to The McShay Report! Today, I’m running through my top wide receiver prospects heading into the 2025 college football season, with grades and detailed reports for the top five players at the position and scouting notes with draft projections for the additional six.
Next week, we’ll wrap up the first half of the Summer Scouting Series with my early evaluations of the top draft-eligible defenders in college football. And after that, we’ve got a big August planned with an “appropriately early” mock draft, my preseason big board, college and NFL season previews, a rookie minicamp check-in, and more. Keep an eye on this space—we’re only 34 days from the college football season kick-off in Ireland!
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
Antonio Williams, Clemson (Grade: 91)
Background
Williams is about to take his game to another level. He’s an average-sized (listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds) playmaker who led the Tigers with 75 catches for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024. He also averaged 9.7 yards per punt return. I liked his tape a lot and could definitely see him being in the first-round conversation after a season of development in 2025.
Scouting Report
He’s an outstanding route runner on all three levels!!! Ranks in the 95th percentile in separation. He’s also crisp off the LOS and tempos and stems his routes beautifully. Love his ability to drop weight and get in and out of breaks in a flash.
He has good ball skills, but he had too many concentration drops last season, with a catch rate that ranked in the 27th percentile. The stats are lying a little bit, though. He shows a consistent ability to track, adjust, and pluck. He’s also a hands catcher, not a body catcher. My biggest knock here is that he has just an average catch radius.
He’s sudden and shifty with the ball in his hands but doesn’t run away from DBs in space. He’s quicker than he is fast (estimated 4.45 40 time). I want to see more YAC this year.
Gives effort as a blocker on screens, etc. Not great at sustaining his blocks but has the will and takes good angles.
Tape Room Takeaways
UGA 3:27 1Q: Love the way he stems his routes so fluidly yet intentionally/sharply. Clean off the LOS, drives the DB to the inside before breaking for the corner route. Uses subtle hand contact to generate separation, and then tracks the ball beautifully to the LT sideline (over his shoulder with DB draped over him). Fingertips catch along the sideline.
FSU 3:30 1Q: Like seeing him go up and high-point the deep ball (which hung in the air). Makes the tough grab, despite two FSU DBs converging on him. Absorbs the hit, bounces off, and takes it to the house.
Germie Bernard, Alabama (90)
Background
Bernard is listed at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds and runs an estimated 4.50 40. He spent his first two seasons at Michigan State and Washington, respectively, before transferring to Alabama in 2024. He had just seven catches as a freshman for the Spartans in 2022 but made a big leap at Washington in 2023, finishing with 34 receptions for 419 yards and four total touchdowns (two receiving, two rushing). In his first season at Alabama in 2024, he led the Tide with 50 catches, averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Bernard grades out as a versatile, inside-out no. 3 rookie receiver with potential to elevate to a no. 2 in the NFL.
Scouting Report
Bernard doesn’t have top-line speed, but he’s a tough receiver who has a knack for uncovering. Scouts are high on his potential.
Ranked in the 94th percentile in PFF receiving grade but was better versus zone than single coverage.
Has really reliable hands. Plucks on the run and makes tough catches over his head. Is strong and reliable in traffic. Takes hits and holds on—just two drops (85th percentile) in 2024!
He runs savvy routes and does a good job selling fakes at the tops of stems.
Really shifty and heats it up quickly after the catch.
Tape Room Takeaways
WISC :27 2Q: TD catch back corner EZ. You just see the suddenness in his game. Gets on top of DB in a hurry. Contact getting out of break, but it doesn’t slow him down. Tracks ball for TD.
S. Carolina 13:20 1Q: Plucks on run. Really heats it up quickly. Good vision. Weaves in and out. Creates YAC. Makes the first defender miss, breaks a tackle, and then reaches top speed again. MAKES 5-YD catch and TURNS IT INTO 30-YD GAIN!
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (89)
Background
Tyson began his career at Colorado before transferring to Arizona State in 2022. He led the Sun Devils across the board—and nearly doubled the next-best WR—in receptions (75), receiving yards (1,101), and receiving TDs (10) last season after redshirting in 2023. I see some Deebo Samuel in his game. Tyson is a thickly built and physical receiver who’s listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. His ball skills need to improve, but he’s a crafty route runner with a challenging set of skills for DBs to deal with after the catch. I think Tyson is a better natural route runner than Deebo, but Deebo has more reliable hands and is a bigger factor in the run game. Both players excel after the catch, in contested-catch situations, and as blockers.
Scouting Report
10.5 percent drop rate through three years in college. Improved slightly to 8.5 percent in 2024 (seven drops).
Is an elite separator (94th percentile last year). TAPE MATCHES UP! Tempos his routes well and will slow-play the DB before exploding out of breaks. Quick (estimated 4.47 40) for his sturdy build.
FAR TOO MANY DROPS ON TAPE! Easy stuff too. Fights the ball too often. Just not as natural as you’d like to see at times. But then there are times when he plucks it away from his frame and on the run effortlessly. It tells me he just needs to make his hands a point of emphasis this offseason and spend a lot of time on the Jugs machine.
Big, strong, and sturdy receiver after the catch! Not fast, but plucks, makes one cut, and makes the first defender miss frequently. Tough to bring down and will break tackles/drag defenders.
Physical, with good effort as a blocker.
Tape Room Takeaways
CIN 2:18 1Q: Really like how he tempos his route, and then how SHARPLY he flattens it to the inside. Creates just enough separation on an underneath slant and then races upfield with very quick transition skills (and covers up the football in traffic). Just does a lot of LITTLE THINGS well.
CIN 14:52 3Q: 15-12 out route to the RT sideline. Just watch his sharp but subtle move to the inside at the top of the stem before breaking it to the outside. VERY SAVVY. Creates enough separation before exploding out of his break.
OKST: Two bad drops in this game. One focus and the other on the backside fade.
KSU 14:40 2Q: Great job getting off press on deep seam route. Then tracks it perfectly to the back of EZ and makes a tough outstretched catch while keeping his feet in bounds. Big-time catch here!
Carnell Tate, Ohio State (84)
Background
Tate was overshadowed last season by future top-three pick Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka (who went 19th to the Buccaneers), but he grew as a player throughout 2024. His seven catches for 87 yards in the CFP semifinals were just a glimpse of what’s to come for the 6-foot-3, 191-pound rising junior. On the season, he finished with 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdown catches. Tate’s a big, physical, and savvy receiver who knows how to separate and has reliable hands. He projects as a possession no. 3 receiver in the NFL and should quickly elevate to a no. 2.
Scouting Report
Apparently does not run well, with an estimated 4.58 40 time. Will be interested to see how (or if) he runs during the pre-draft process. Ohio State chose him for a reason, though!
Much quicker and more fluid than he is fast. Does a nice job getting off the LOS. Very good body control and leverage on stems as a route runner.
Excellent versus zone. Finds soft spots and knows how/where to sit to make himself available for the QB. And still very good vs. single coverage. Has elite separation skills (93rd percentile) overall.
Strong and confident hands. Plucks confidently in traffic. Only three drops last season (5.4%).
Great effort as stalk blocker. Good positioning, clearly coached extremely well. Strong to sustain!
Tape Room Takeaways
ORE 1:23 1Q: Good leverage on stem. Sturdy route runner. Climbs ladder and makes TOUGH overhead catch along LT sideline.
REALLY COOL TWO-PLAY SEQUENCE vs. IU:
IU 1:19 1Q: Works back to QB on “scramble rules.” Uncovers. Another tough overhead catch. Third-and-35! Picks up 25 yards and gives OSU options on fourth down!!
On fourth-and-10 (next play): Uncovers along the RT sideline and makes an easy catch, but then makes the first defender miss and rumbles for 8 more yards for an 18-yard gain and first down!!
Denzel Boston, Washington (82)
Background
Boston is listed at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds and is entering his fourth season at UW. He totaled just seven receptions over his first two years (2022-23) behind future NFL WRs in Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, but in 2024 had a breakout season and finished second on the team in receptions (63) and receiving yards (834) while ranking first on the team with nine touchdown catches. With last year’s leading WR, Giles Jackson, gone, it’s Boston’s year to step up as the go-to-guy for Demond Williams Jr. in his first year as a full-time starter. Boston grades out as a no. 3 possession WR as an NFL rookie with the potential to elevate to a no. 2. He can play outside and in the slot and shares similarities with Pat Bryant from last year’s draft, whom we compared to Michael Thomas.
Scouting Report
Grades out well vs. single coverage. Average separation percentage versus zone.
Only three drops last season (4.5 percent).
Is a big, strong receiver who uses quick feet and physicality to separate.
Not a burner (estimated 4.52 40) and not much of a vertical threat. Not a huge YAC guy, either. But will drag defenders and generate extra yards with his strength.
He’s a very reliable route runner who is tough for DBs to defend when the ball is in the air.
Uses his strong frame and strong hands to excel when the ball is in the air. Makes a LOT of catches in traffic and with DBs hanging off of him.
Tape Room Takeaways
WSU 4:30 3Q: Just a simple QK slant but shows quick feet to get off press and then uses his massive frame to box out DB and make a tough contested catch with DB draped over him.
Best of the Rest
Makai Lemon, USC (Day 2)
Limited as a freshman in 2023 (six receptions), but had a breakout season in 2024. In 12 games last season, he led the team with 52 catches for 764 yards (14.7 per catch) and three TDs. Also averaged 27 yards per kickoff return!
Undersized, shifty, and fast. Elusiveness with the ball in hands is a special trait.
DeAndre Moore Jr., Texas (Day 2)
Limited action on special teams as a freshman in 2023. In 2024, he notched 39 catches for 456 receiving yards (11.7 per catch) and seven touchdown catches.
With Matthew Golden, Gunnar Helm, and Isaiah Bond all gone, Moore will have more room to show his talent. He's a difference maker who is fluid in his routes and productive after the catch.
Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn (Day 2)
Honor roll student in HS. Also a state champion in the 100, 200, and 400 meters in track and field.
Georgia Tech transfer (two seasons). Led GT with 754 receiving yards last season on 56 catches (13.5 per catch). Also scored four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing). Was highly productive as a freshman in 2023 as well.
Known as one of the fastest players in CFB! Runs an estimated 4.28 40.
Pint-sized slot receiver. Separates with quickness and speed—but has not had to show refinement, which I’ll be looking for at Auburn this year.
Solid hands. Just four drops last season (6.1 percent and 61st percentile).
Nyck Harbor, South Carolina (Day 2-3)
Showed flashes of potential with 19 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns in his final eight games last season.
Physical freak. Rare combination of height-weight-speed. Blazed a 10.11-second 100-meter speed at a listed 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. Drawing comparisons to DK Metcalf.
Uses frame and speed to separate (82nd percentile).
Runs mostly deep routes. Still very much a work in progress as a wide receiver.
Had only one registered drop last season, but I saw trouble judging the ball and tracking it in the air.
Creates almost no additional yards after the catch.
Ja’Kobi Lane, USC (Day 3)
Bit of a polarizing prospect. Inconsistent but has a LOT of potential.
Second on the team with 525 receiving yards (12.3 yards per catch). Finished with 43 catches and 12 TDs—incredible ratio!
Was held below 50 yards in eight of USC's 13 games, which points to some of the inconsistency issues.
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana (Day 3)
Totaled 53 catches for 987 yards and eight TDs last season.
Big, physical. Bodies defensive backs.
Strong in traffic and has really good hands.
Lacks speed and not very sudden.
Playing with Fernando Mendoza this year! Excited to see what he can do with a big-time quarterback.
