“Defense wins championships” is simply just not the case in college football anymore. The game and the rules have slanted too far in the offense’s favor. In the SEC, there are plenty of offensive playmakers that are championship caliber. In fact, the SEC has some of the best running backs in the country. But as the game has shifted to the air more than the ground, having dynamic receivers outside to stretch the field is equally critical to the success of the offense. So who are the best SEC wide receivers coming back for the 2023 season?
Best SEC Wide Receivers Returning In 2023
5. Ainias Smith – Texas A&M
The Aggies’ offensive woes in 2022 were one of the big storylines in college football. Head coach Jimbo Fisher made major news by bringing on Bobby Petrino to be his new offensive coordinator. Petrino should look to get Ainias Smith heavily involved in the passing game. Smith has been an instant contributor since landing in College Station in 2019. After starting all 12 games in 2021 and leading the Aggies in receptions and touchdowns, he suffered a season-ending injury four games into 2022. He currently has a reception in the last 27 games he has played in. Smith has proven to be a great weapon to utilize on offense (has also spent a little time as a running back). If Texas A&M is going to climb back to the top of the SEC, Smith needs to have his best season yet.
4. Ladd McConkey – Georgia
The first of two Georgia Bulldogs makes their appearance with a receiver who excelled in special teams as well. Ladd McConkey finished second on the team in receptions (58) for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has 17 punt returns for a 12.31 average per return. McConkey also showed out in the national championship game against TCU. He secured five passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns in Georgia’s 65-7 thumping of the Horned Frogs. After being selected to the All-SEC freshman team in 2021, McConkey’s development and production earned recognition from the SEC coaches again as he was selected to the All-SEC second team. His experience should guide the wide receiver room in Georgia’s quest for the first three-peat in college football since Minnesota did it from 1934-1936.
3. Malik Nabers – LSU
In Brian Kelly’s first year as LSU’s head coach, the Tigers turned a few heads by winning the SEC West (especially after their wild opening season loss to Florida State in New Orleans). As the Tigers look to defend their SEC West crown, having one of the best SEC wide receivers for Jayden Daniels to throw to will certainly help. Malik Nabers led the SEC with 72 receptions and finished second in the conference with 1,017 receiving yards. Nabers became the tenth 1,000-yard receiver in school history. He capped his season by earning the Citrus Bowl MVP thanks to nine catches for 163 yards and one touchdown. As the clear WR1 heading into 2023, Nabers has a chance to post monster numbers this season for the Tigers.
2. Dominic Lovett – Georgia
One of the top transfers during the off-season happened to be an SEC-to-SEC transfer. Dominic Lovett spent his first two seasons with the Missouri Tigers. Last year, he led the Tigers’ receptions (56) and receiving yards (846). His receiving yard total was fourth-best in the SEC and it landed Lovett on the All-SEC second-team. Now, Lovett has joined McConkey and the two-time defending champions in Athens. He will likely spend most of his time in the slot as lined up there 245 of 292 pass plays last year, according to Pro Football Focus. The Dawgs are hoping that Lovett’s big play ability really elevates the offense to a new level. Last season, he had the fifth most 50+ yard receptions in the nation. The combination of McConkey and Lovett should be a nice one-two punch that Kirby Smart will look to utilize as they break in a new quarterback with the departure of Stetson Bennett.
1. Antwane Wells Jr.- South Carolina
Of all the best SEC wide receivers returning for the 2023 season, the top spot is occupied by someone that did not arrive with very high expectations. Antwane Wells Jr. started his career at James Madison after he did not even have a star rating coming out of high school. But he started his career with a bang, earning a second-team FCS All-American selection in 2021. He transferred to South Carolina and the jump in talent had no impact on his production. Wells had 68 catches for 928 yards and six touchdowns in 2022, landing him a first-team All-SEC selection. His single-season receptions and yards in 2022 both rank as the eighth-best in school history. With Spencer Rattler back at quarterback for the Gamecocks, there is not a more leath Quarterback-Wide Receiver combination coming into the 2023 SEC season than these two.
Photo courtesy: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
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