Top College Football Slot Receivers

College football is no longer a game where defenses rule the day. As things ebb and flow with the times, it’s now the offensive side of the ball that more or less moves the needle and separates teams. It’s no different at Ohio State. A program that used to be built on a running game and defense now has one of the best offensive cultures out. Has a college football program ever produced the top two wide receivers selected in back-to-back drafts? Alabama's Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy fit that description this past April, and the. For most of college football's history, receivers were considered split ends who just blocked and caught a few passes all season. Around the 1980s, the job description changed as more offenses.

We are now in Position 8 of 9 in our series examining the highest-paid position coaches in college football, and for just the second time we’ve found a position where the low end does not hit the $400,000 mark. (Running backs being the other.) In fact, at $350,000, we’ve now found the low end of the high end among FBS position coaches.

But, as we’ll explain below, there are reasons for that.

As always, salaries based on publicly-available information, primarily the USA Todaycoaching salary database.

1. Dameyune Craig, Texas A&M — $600,000
2. Cale Gundy, Oklahoma — $535,000
3. David Johnson, Tennessee — $505,000
4. Dennis Simmons, Oklahoma — $460,000
5. Jacob Peeler, Ole Miss — $425,000
6. Kasey Dunn, Oklahoma State — $410,000
7. Darrin Chiaverini, Colorado — $400,000
7. Charlie Fisher, Arizona State — $400,000
9. Cortez Hankton, Georgia — $375,000
10. Kodi Burns, Auburn — $350,000
10. Drew Mehringer, Texas — $350,000
10. Justin Stepp, Arkansas — $350,000

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Notes of interest:

— Coordinators (or co-coordinators) not included in this list (because they’re coordinators or co-coordinators): Clemson’s Jeff Scott ($1 million), Michigan’s Josh Gattis ($900,000), Nebraska’s Troy Walters ($700,000), South Carolina’s Bryan McClendon ($675,000), Mississippi State’s Luke Getsy ($600,000), Florida’s Billy Gonzales ($577,000) and NC State’s George McDonald ($368,000).

— Brian Hartline made $105,000 as Ohio State’s interim wide receivers coach in 2018. Ryan Day has since named him the Buckeyes’ full-time wideouts coach, but his salary is not yet public. You can safely assume it’ll be above $105,000, though.

— Equally worth of mentioning: Alabama does not have a wide receivers coach as of this moment. For what it’s worth, Gattis made $525,000 while coaching the Crimson Tide’s wide receivers in 2018.

— Gundy serves as Lincoln Riley’s co-offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator in addition to coaching Oklahoma’s inside receivers. The former Oklahoma quarterback and GA — who turns 47 in April — has been a Sooner for all but four years of his adult life.

College football is no longer a game where defenses rule the day. As things ebb and flow with the times, it’s now the offensive side of the ball that more or less moves the needle and separates teams.

It’s no different at Ohio State. A program that used to be built on a running game and defense now has one of the best offensive cultures out there. The Buckeyes have almost had a lock on the Big Ten quarterback position, has skill players to burn and can put up points with the best of them. Having Ryan Day as a head coach doesn’t hurt.

So then, it should be no surprise that OSU has attracted some of the best wide receivers as of late. With some of the most dynamic playmakers under center in recent years, coming to the banks of the Olentangy has become awfully appealing for guys that can get open and make plays in space. Add that to one of the young, rising assistant coaches directing the wide-receiver room in Brian Hartline, and Ohio State might be on its way to being known as wide receiver U.

That brings us to the depth chart at the position for this fall. The receiver position is one stocked with youth and unbelievable skill, but where will the pieces fit with so many options out there?

Below is our look at the depth chart of the wide receivers at Ohio State in 2020.

More WR depth charts from the College Wires:

Auburn / Bama / Florida / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC

Wide Receiver (X) starter - Garrett Wilson

Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

6 feet, 193 pounds

39 receptions for 432 yards (14.4 avg.) and 5 TDs

Wilson had a breakout end of the season last year. He came in with a ton of hype and showed speed, game-breaking ability and an uncanny knack for high-pointing the ball in traffic. He’ll take over one of the starting spots on the outside without question, and could push for being the top target for Fields. He’s a highlight-reel waiting to happen.

Wide Receiver (Y) starter - Chris Olave

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

6 feet, 1 inch, 188 pounds

49 receptions for 849 yards (17.3 avg.) and 12 TDs
2 rushes for 5 yards (2.5 avg.)

Olave led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2019 and figures to pick up where he left off. He’s a smooth route runner, can run past the opposition with his breakout speed, and has unbelievable hands. He has Fields’ ultimate trust and figures to attract the opposition’s top corner every week. He’ll most likely be playing football on Sundays in 2021.

Wide Receiver (Slot) starter - Demario McCall

(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

5 feet, 9 inches, 195 pounds

4 receptions for 28 yards (7.0 avg.)
18 rushes for 122 yards (6.8 avg.), 2 TDs

Now a senior, McCall has been like a toy that nobody has figured out how to use. He has special skills that can wiggle free when given the chance, but he’s been unable to elbow his way up the depth chart. We’re banking on this being the year, especially with Jaelen Gill transferring and leaving a hole at the slot position. Look for the coaching staff to use McCall more like Curtis Samuel with spread run and pass options as opposed to shots down the field.

Wide Receiver (X) backup - Julian Fleming

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

6 feet, 2 inches, 200 pounds

N/A – Freshman

One of the jewels of the 2020 class as the country’s top receiving prospect, Fleming has too much talent to keep off the field. He’s unlikely to become a starter in Year 1, but he should be able to work his way into the lineup in the two-deep. He’s tall, strong and has underrated speed to gain separation. He could be the next great wide receiver in Columbus, but there is other competition as well.

Wide Receiver (Y) backup - Jaxon Smith-Njigba

6 feet, 196 pounds

N/A – Freshman

Fleming might have gotten all the hype from the 2020 class, but Njigba is a physical and talented receiver that was also a five-star recruit and top-30 overall prospect. He is technically sound and has an ability to separate and make plays on the ball in flight. He has the potential to develop into a star sooner rather than later and could figure in next season as well.

Wide Receiver (Slot) backup - Jameson Williams

Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

6 feet, 2 inches, 188 pounds

College Football Rankings

6 receptions for 112 yards (18.7 avg.), 1 TD

Williams might be the fastest player on the team. He’s still a little raw, but he could develop into a Ted Ginn type when he figures it all out. He has the ability to lineup on the outside, too, but we like his speed and playmaking from the slot position.

Wide Receiver (X) No. 3 - Gee Scott, Jr.

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

6 feet, 3 inches, 210 pounds

N/A – Freshman

Scott is another talented freshman that comes to Columbus ready to play right out the package. He has strength and a physical presence beyond his years, with a relentless work ethic. For now, we’ll slot him as a reserve, but he could surprise with his ability and break into the two-deep rotation.

Wide Receiver (Y) No. 3 - Kamryn Babb

6 feet, 197 pounds

N/A

Babb is a relative unknown to Ohio State fans largely because of injury, but also because he has been buried on the depth chart. Out of St. Louis, Missouri, Babb came to the Buckeyes as a top-100 recruit and could be a dark horse to get playing time. He may not break into the top of the rotation, but if he can stay healthy, there’s a chance he flashes to be a weapon.

Top College Football Slot Receivers 2019

Wide Receiver (Slot) No. 3 - Mookie Cooper

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

5 feet, 10 inches, 195 pounds

Top College Football Teams

N/A – Freshman

Top College Football Programs

Did we mention this freshman receiver class is special? Cooper is another kid that could find some playing time very early in his career. If there’s a guy made for the slot position, it’s him. He’s got some wiggle to his game and can create mismatches on the outside with screens and quick hitches. He may not be penciled in as the guy there just yet, but might be the future of the position.