To date, we have covered quarterbacks, linebackers, centers/guards and defensive ends in the Four Kings series. This week, we put the spotlight on the players who can break games open with a single play: Wide receivers. Good luck selecting the four receivers in Ohio State's history who you believe are the best in school history.
To help you out, we've listed 22 of Ohio State’s most accomplished wide receivers with a description of their storied careers. How deep is Ohio State’s all-time receivers’ room? Cedric Anderson, Chris Sanders, Ken-Yon Rambo, Brian Robiskie and Terry McLaurin didn’t even make the cut (though you can write in any of them if you’re so inclined.)
Note: Ends from earlier years of Ohio State football such as Bob Grimes, Billy Anders and Jan White are considered to be tight ends by Ohio State, so they will be available to vote for when we cover tight ends. Paul Warfield was a running back when he played for Ohio State and will be among the many greats to choose from at the running back position.
Doug Donley (1977-80)
Two-All-Big Ten honoree who led the team in receiving for three consecutive seasons. When Donley was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft, he was Ohio State's all-time leader in career receptions, receiving yards, average yards per catch and receiving touchdowns.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | 2,252 | 21.2 | 16 | 154 | 6.4 | 0 |
Gary Williams (1979-82)
The captain holds the school record with 48 consecutive games with at least one catch and led the team in receiving in back-to-back seasons. His 220 receiving yards against Florida State in 1981 stood as the single-game record until 1995. Williams is third on the all-time career receiving yards list and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1983 NFL Draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | 2,792 | 18.1 | 16 | 109 | 18.2 | 0 |
Cris Carter (1984-86)
Following his three seasons with Ohio State, Carter left with nine records including being the program's career leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns. He was named to two All-Big Ten teams and was the first receiver in program history to earn All-American honors.
Carter was named to the Ohio State All-Century Team and is in the Ohio State Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168 | 2,725 | 16.2 | 27 | 23 | 7.7 | 0 |
Jeff Graham (1988-90)
The captain of the 1990 team was also the team MVP and an All-Big Ten honoree. He led the team in receiving as a junior and finished his Ohio State career fourth on the all-time career receiving yards list (he is now 17th).
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 1,809 | 18.3 | 12 | 531 | 13.0 | 3 |
Joey Galloway (1991-94)
An All-Big Ten selection as a junior, Galloway tied Cris Carter for the then-school record 11 touchdowns in a season. When Galloway was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the eighth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, he was second on Ohio State's career list for receiving touchdowns and fourth on the career receptions and receiving yards list.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108 | 1,894 | 17.5 | 19 | 765 | 14.2 | 1 |
Terry Glenn (1992-95)
Glenn had one of the all-time great seasons in 1995. He led the nation in yards per catch and set the then-school record for a single season with 1,435 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns and seven 100-yard receiving games. Glenn's 17 touchdowns in 1995 are still the program record for a season.
The consensus All-American is also the only Buckeye to win the Biletnikoff Award.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 1,677 | 21.2 | 17 | 427 | 18.6 | 0 |
Dee Miller (1995-98)
Miller finished his career fifth on the program's career receptions and receiving yards list. His 981 yards in 1997 were, at that point, the fourth-highest receiving yard total for a Buckeye in a season. Miller is one of 11 Ohio State players to have over 2,000 career receiving yards.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 2,090 | 15.8 | 8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
David Boston (1996-98)
During his three seasons in Columbus, Boston broke or tied 12 receiving records including most receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in a career. He had 14 100-yard receiving games during his three seasons, including eight 100-yard games in 1998. Boston was an All-American in 1998 and two-time All-Big Ten honoree. The Arizona Cardinals selected Boston with the eighth overall pick of the 1999 NFL Draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 191 | 2,855 | 14.9 | 34 | 959 | 9.8 | 2 |
Michael Jenkins (1999-03)
Ohio State's all-time career leader in receiving yards led the team in receiving for three straight seasons and is tied for third by recording 100 or more yards in 10 games. In 2002, Jenkins became the fourth Ohio State player to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season.
The national champion is revered for his “Holy Buckeye” game-winning touchdown catch against Purdue in 2002. Jenkins was team MVP and captain as a senior and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165 | 2,898 | 17.6 | 16 | 197 | 9.0 | 1 |
Santonio Holmes (2003-05)
Holmes led the Buckeyes in receiving during his final two seasons with the team. When he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the Super Bowl XLIII MVP ranked third on Ohio State's all-time career touchdown receptions list and fifth on the career receptions and receiving yards lists.
His 30 yards per catch average against Michigan State in 2005 was a school record and his 224 receiving yards against Marshall in 2004 were the second-most by a Buckeye in school history.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 2,295 | 16.4 | 25 | 810 | 14.2 | 1 |
Ted Ginn Jr. (2004-06)
Ginn broke the Big Ten conference record for punt return touchdowns with four during his freshman season of 2004. He led the team in receiving with 781 yards and nine touchdowns in 2006.
The All-American and All-Big Ten team honoree finished his Ohio State career with a school-record six punt return touchdowns and was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the ninth overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135 | 1,943 | 14.4 | 15 | 1,912 | 18.7 | 8 |
Dane Sanzenbacher (2007-10)
Led Ohio State in receiving during his senior season and tied the school record with four touchdown catches against Eastern Michigan in 2010. The team MVP finished his time in Columbus ranked in the top 10 on Ohio State’s all-time career receptions and receiving yards list.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124 | 1,879 | 15.2 | 19 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
Corey Brown (2010-13)
Ohio State's leading receiver in 2012 and 2013, Brown became the fourth Buckeye in school history to have 12 receptions in a single game when he accomplished the feat against Michigan State in 2012. A captain of the 2013 team, Brown’s 145 career receptions are the seventh-most in school history.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | 1,750 | 12.1 | 15 | 504 | 10.3 | 2 |
Devin Smith (2011-14)
The speedster from Massillon left Columbus ranked second on the all-time touchdowns list and fifth for all-time career receptions and receiving yards. During Ohio State's national championship season of 2014, Smith averaged a program-record 28.2 yards per catch. His four catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game paved the way for the Buckeyes to make the inaugural College Football Playoff.
The Jets selected Smith in the second round of the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, but several knee injuries hampered his pro career.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | 2,503 | 20.7 | 30 | 258 | 14.3 | 0 |
Michael Thomas (2012-15)
Led the Buckeyes in receiving during his final two seasons with the team and is remembered for his toe-tapping 13-yard touchdown reception from Evan Spencer against Alabama in the 2015 Sugar Bowl. He has since gone on to lead the NFL in receptions twice, breaking the league record for most receptions in a single season (149) in 2019, with the New Orleans Saints, who selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | 1,602 | 14.2 | 18 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Parris Campbell (2015-18)
The All-Big Ten honoree set a then-school record with 90 receptions during his senior season. He averaged 32 yards per catch against Michigan in 2018, which is the second-highest per-catch average (minimum five catches) for a single game in school history.
Campbell's 143 career receptions are tied for eighth on the school's all-time career list. He is one of seven Buckeyes to record 190+ receiving yards in a single game and one of nine players in Ohio State history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 | 1,768 | 12.4 | 15 | 913 | 30.4 | 0 |
K.J. Hill (2016-19)
Hill is the only player in Ohio State history with over 200 career receptions. He led the team in receiving as a sophomore and senior, and in 2018, Hill became the fifth Buckeye to catch at least 70 passes in a single season. Against Penn State in 2017, he caught 12 passes, making him one of nine Buckeyes to have at least 12 receptions in a single game.
Hill was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 2,332 | 11.6 | 20 | 418 | 7.7 | 0 |
Chris Olave (2018-21)
The two-time All-Big Ten honoree led the team in receiving in 2020 and finished his Ohio State career ranked fourth on the all-time receiving yards list. Had he played a full schedule in 2020, Olave could have been the first player to reach 3,000 career receiving yards. His average of 7.1 receptions in each of the seven games in 2020 tied David Boston for the program record for a single season.
Olave holds the school record with 35 receiving touchdowns and is the only player in Ohio State history to have two seasons with 12 or more receiving touchdowns (12 in 2019 and 13 in 2021). Olave is also second on the career list with 11 games of 100+ receiving yards.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 175 | 2,702 | 15.4 | 35 | 37 | 12.3 | 0 |
Garrett Wilson (2019-21)
During his sophomore season, Wilson became the second player in Ohio State history to eclipse 100 receiving yards in four consecutive games. As a junior, Wilson had four 100-yard receiving games again and became the sixth receiver in Ohio State history to top 1,000 yards in a single season, when he also became the sixth receiver in school history with 12 or more receiving touchdowns in a year.
The first-round NFL Draft pick of the New York Jets in 2022 finished his Buckeye career seventh on the career touchdowns list, tied for eighth on the all-time career receptions list and 10th for career receiving yards.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 | 2,213 | 15.5 | 23 | 209 | 6.0 | 0 |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2020-22)
Smith-Njigba closed out his junior season with five consecutive 100-yard games to join Cris Carter as the only players in Ohio State history to accomplish this feat. Smith-Njigba also became the third Buckeye to record seven 100-yard receiving games in the same season.
The 2021 season was one for the record books for the receiver from Texas. He set the school records for the most receptions in a game (15), most receptions in a season (95), most receiving yards in a game (347), most receiving yards for a season (1,698) and highest receptions per game average for a season (7.3).
The Seattle Seahawks selected Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft despite the receiver only appearing in three games due to a hamstring injury during his final year in Columbus.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 1,698 | 15.4 | 10 | 71 | 6.5 | 0 |
Emeka Egbuka (2021-23)
Recorded 1,151 receiving yards last season and has a chance to become the first receiver in school history to have back-to-back years with 1,000 receiving yards. He is one of five Buckeyes to have at least six 100-yard receiving games in the same season.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83 | 1,342 | 16.2 | 10 | 680 | 21.3 | 0 |
Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23)
Ohio State's only unanimous All-American at wide receiver is one of four Ohio State players to have seven 100-yard receiving games in a single season. Harrison's 1,263 receiving yards in 2022 ranks fourth on the all-time school record list for a single season, while his 14 receiving touchdowns last year are tied for the second-most in a year.
Harrison has another season to improve on his impressive stats and is already a virtual lock to be a top-10 NFL Draft pick, if not the first player selected in 2024.
| Receptions | Yards | Avg. | TDs | Return Yards | Return Avg. | Return TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 1,402 | 15.9 | 17 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
