Last year as the offense struggled as the wide receivers were not allowed to flourish. The young guys were almost all new and could never get in sync with a quarterback situation that was unsettled.
Starters: Nate Brown, J’Mon Moore, Chris White
Brown was the second leading receiver last year with 27 catches and 326 yards and caught a team high four touchdowns. The Georgia native has seen his role increase gradually throughout his career going from nine games wit five catches as a freshman to 12 games with 27 last year. He has good size at 6-3, 205. I think he will lead the team in catches and yards this season, with around 65 receptions and 700 yards with six touchdowns.
Moore was the leading receiver last season with 29 catches and 350 yards. At 6-3, 190 pounds he is a slender target and is one of the faster receivers on the team. As a redshirt junior he will need to be a leader on the offense once again and should get around 55 catches for 600 yards and a handful of scores.
White was part of the Alabama Crimson Tide for three seasons, racking up 25 catches for 290 yards. A season ending injury last season kept him from being more productive during their championship run last season. Graduate transfer who has speed was largely buried on the depth chart in Tuscaloosa but should get some opportunities this season. Smaller receiver at 6 foot and 192 pounds. Might operate some out of the slot, and will catch around 35 passes for 550 yards and a big play threat.
Backups: Justin Smith, Keyon Dilosa, DeSean Blair
Smith is a redshirt freshman from Georgia, and looks like he could be a forward on the basketball team at 6-7, 200 pounds. In fact, he had an offer to play basketball for the Dawgs but chose to come play football for the Tigers. He was named all-state his senior year of high school and has explosive athleticism for a guy his size. Will be a valuable red zone target but needs to fill out his frame a bit to hold up over the SEC season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he led the team in receiving touchdowns.
Dilosa appeared in 11 games last season, catching 11 passes for 86 yards. The redshirt sophomore from Round Rock, Texas has good size at 6-3, 200 pounds and while he got some chances last season I think he will have a harder time getting snaps this season. But he will be one of the guys that will the coaches will insert into a bigger role in case of an injury.
Blair was awarded the most improved receiver during 2015 spring practice, but he was unable to transfer that to the field as he only appeared in five game last season because of an injury. He caught just two passes for 25 yards, but the Jacksonville, Fla. native is also 6-3 and 200 pounds, giving the Tigers a lot of height at the position. He will be in the middle of a thick competition at receiver this season.