The game of football is built around many core elements that all come together to allow the game to roll on.

One of those core elements that has the ability to swing a game in one direction is the team’s big play passing attack while having game changers at the wide receiver position.

A clean route that frees open a wide-open receiver for a touchdown or a game changing catch that continues a drive.

As you look at the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings list each of the wide receivers landing on the list have big play potential.

Landing in at the top three spots on the list are three big play wide receivers who have all the potential to be top tier receivers at the next level.

Those three receivers are the Houston Cougars Nathaniel Dell, the Tennessee Volunteers Jalin Hyatt, and the Ohio State Buckeyes Marvin Harrison Jr.

Each of these three receivers topped the 1,200 plus yard mark while finding the end zone at least 14 times over the course of the 2022 NCAA Football schedule.

In addition to those three the list includes Charlie Jones of the Purdue Boilermakers, Xavier Hutchinson of the Iowa State Cyclones, and Rashee Rice of the SMU Mustangs. Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings:

Honorable Mention

Marvin Mims Jr.

School: Oklahoma Sooners

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings list is the Oklahoma Sooners junior Marvin Mims Jr.

Despite losing Caleb Williams to the transfer portal and starting new with transfer Dillon Gabriel, Mims Jr did not miss a beat during the 2022 NCAA Football season.

Mims topped the 1,000 yard mark this season (1083) while pulling in 54 catches while adding six touchdown grabs. A more impressive statistic that is often looked past is the 20.1 yards per catch Mims Jr averaged over the course of the season.

Look for the Sooners wide receiver to be one of the most talked about receivers heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Quentin Johnston

School: TCU Horned Frogs

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

One of the most explosive offenses in College Football remains alive while looking to compete for the National Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. One member of that talented TCU Horned Frogs offense is wide receiver Quentin Johnston.

Johnston, who is expected to be one of the first few wide receivers off the draft board during the 2023 NFL Draft continues to make plays in big situations.

This includes pulling in six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown in the team’s key win in the CFP Semifinal game against the Michigan Wolverines. In the end Johnston finished the season with 59 catches for 1,066 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions.

Top 10 Best College Wide Receivers

10. Malachi Corley

School: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

In at number 10 on the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings list is the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers sophomore receiver Malachi Corley.

Corley, who is just in his second season, will have to wait for the 2024 NFL Draft allowing one of the top producing receivers to return for his junior season during the 2023 NCAA Football season.

While Corley went under the radar playing for a lesser-known football school, that didn’t slow down his big play potential.

Corley finished ranked in the top seven in receptions (101), receiving yards (1,293), and touchdown receptions (11) during the 2022 NCAA Football season.

9. A.T. Perry

School: Wake Forest Demon Deacons

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons junior wide receiver has already declared for the 2023 NFL Draft after topping the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season.

Perry, who finished last season with 1,293 yards finished the 2023 NCAA schedule with 1,096 yards while also reaching double digit touchdowns (11) for the second straight season.

Perry has great speed and size to make him a game changing wide receiver at the next level while becoming a red zone threat from day one.

8. Josh Downs

School: North Carolina Tar Heels 

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

When you look at the list of the top wide receivers on the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings many of them are expected to continue their success at the NFL level.

One of those receivers is the North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs who will be one of the many to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

Downs with freshman quarterback Drake Mayes at quarterback become one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in college football.

Downs finished the season with 94 catches to go with 11 touchdowns and 1,029 receiving yards.

7. Emeka Egbuka

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

While all eyes are on the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft including the top wide receivers around college football, one of those top receivers returning to college football in 2023 is Emeka Egbuka.

Egbuka who is just a sophomore will look to build on his strong second season performance while looking to continue to build one of the most dynamic receiver duos in college football with Marvin Harrison Jr.

Despite having two of college football’s top receivers on the same squad, Egbuka still managed to pull in 74 catches for 1,151 yards to go along with 10 touchdown receptions.

6. Rashee Rice

School: SMU Mustangs

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Possibly one of the best route runners in all of college football, Rashee Rice is expected to be a highly coveted wide receiver during the 2023 NFL Draft.

At 6 foot 2 inches, Rice has tremendous speed while being smooth in and out of his breaks allowing him to find separation and to make big plays.

Rice finished the season 5th in all of college football in receptions (96), 3rd in receiving yards (1,355), and 12th in touchdown receptions (10). 

5. Charlie Jones

School: Purdue Boilermakers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Rounding out the Top 5 wide receivers on the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings list is the Purdue Boilermakers senior wide receiver Charlie Jones.

Jones, who elected to opt out of the Boilermakers Citrus Bowl matchup against the LSU Tigers still finished the season ranked 1st in receptions (110) and second in receiving yards (1,361). Jones was a crafty play making wide receiver who was able to find ways to open himself up within the pass game while also being a big-time red zone threat. The Boilermakers senior finished the season with the 5th most touchdown receptions (12).

4. Xavier Hutchinson

School: Iowa State Cyclones

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

What is there not to like about the Iowa State Cyclones senior wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson? Hutchinson is a strong physical style wide receiver with size and speed as well as being a strong route runner.

His size and speed allowed him to rack up 107 receptions across his senior season to go along with 1,171 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions.

While his average yards per catch dropped in 2022, Hutchinson became a key reliable weapon and a security blanket for Hunter Dekkers. 

3. Marvin Harrison Jr.

School: Ohio State Buckeyes 

NFL Draft Status: Not eligible for 2023 NFL Draft

When it comes to the Top 3 wide receivers on the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings each are well deserving of the top spot.

One of those three is Ohio State Buckeyes sophomore star Marvin Harrison Jr. Yes, you read that correctly Harrison Jr is just a sophomore while turning in one of the best receiving seasons in all of college football.

Harrison Jr who is the son of the great Marvin Harrison finished the season with 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdown receptions.

With the lights shining bright in the team’s loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Harrison finished the game with five catches for 106 yards and two touchdown receptions.

2. Jalin Hyatt

School: Tennessee Volunteers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

One of the top wide receivers in all of college football, Jalin Hyatt turned in an impressive 2022 NCAA season. Hyatt finished the season with 67 catches for 1,267 receiving yards with the 2nd most touchdown receptions (15).

In addition to those strong numbers, Hyatt turned in one of the best single game performances in the history of wide receivers against a great Alabama Crimson Tide defense.

The Tennessee Volunteers receiver finished the game with 207 yards on six catches to go with five touchdown receptions.

1. Nathaniel Dell

School: Houston Cougars

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

In In at number one on the Top 10 College Football Wide Receivers January 2023 rankings list is the Houston Cougars star wide receiver Nathaniel Dell.

Dell is coming off his second straight season topping the 1,300-yard mark (1,398) while posting at least double-digit touchdowns (17).

Overall, Dell finished the season ranked 2nd in receptions with 109, 1st in receiving yards with 1,398, and 1st in touchdown receptions with 17 on one of the top offenses in college football. Despite lacking tremendous size he makes up for it in the open field with solid speed and great vision in his route running. Dell will be an interesting option among the Top NFL Draft wide receivers during the 2023 NFL Draft.

How would you rank these College Wide Receivers in the 2022-2023 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings

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