2023 ESPN 300: Top 10 WR Prospects

[BabaYaga]

The final ESPN 300 list has been leaked and we are now taking a look at the Top 10 players by position in the 2023 recruiting class. Currently, there is very little information on the top prospects and how to differentiate them - however, we provide a little glimpse into which prospects might stand out above their peers in the future. Following the fullbacks, we take a look at the Top 10 wide receivers by positional ranking and national ranking.

 

#1 WR - #1 ESPN 300

Brad Pogue - 5'11 189 - B overall - A- potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pogue is the best wideout in the country and is the top-rated prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Pogue starts by running a 4.28 40-yard dash which is insanely fast. He has great hands and can catch almost ball that comes his way. He’s a tremendous route runner as well with the ability to break away. Pogue doubled as a running back and wideout this past year for Clarke County High School in Alabama. He ran for 2,103 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 86 passes for 19 touchdowns. He touched the ball on 78% of the plays for his team. Pogue does not put much emphasis on his academics as he has his sights set on the NFL. He wants to play for a true contender as well and would prefer to play for a recent National Title winner. Could that mean that Tulsa has a leg up on Pogue?

 

 

#2 WR - #2 ESPN 300

Brien Walker - 5'11 195 - B overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Walker is one of the speediest wideouts in the 2023 class and he is a guy who will instantly make any team better. He runs really good routes and is the grandson of Herbert Walker. Walker has a great pedigree and had a great junior season. He caught 77 balls for 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Dallas, PA product has his sights set on playing in the NFL and that is a dream that well well should come true. Walker wants to play for a really good team where he can contribute immediately and he also wants to stay close to home as he is very close to his family. He is very open-minded to hear recruiting pitches though as he knows he will be very sought after.

 

#3 WR - #18 ESPN 300

Jeffrey Bouthillier - 6'2 191 - B overall - C- potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bouthillier is a great option at the wideout position and has taken some big leaps forward recently. He didn’t even play varsity as a freshman and has been able to just dominate in the past two years. He has combined to catch 184 passes for 3,834 yards and 43 touchdowns in the past two years. Standing at 6’2”, he has the ability to go up and get the ball. Bouthillier is one of those guys who project really well at the next level due to his length and strength to go up and get the football. He is one of the best prospects to come out of Maryland in some time. Bouthillier wants to stay close to home for school and is a guy who is the first to come into the gym and the last to leave.

 

#4 WR - #21 ESPN 300

Thomas Daly - 6'1 184 - B overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Daly is another stud wide receiver to graduate out of Alabama and he attends Auburn High School. I love his ability to make the catch and he has also proven himself to be a very good pass catcher. Daly is a guy who has the ability to go up and get the ball at its high point and has caught 60 or more passes in every single year of his career. Daly is the second nephew of John Daly and definitely puts in the work to hold that name high. Daly does not care where he ends up and doesn’t care if he plays early in his career. He puts all of his efforts into football and does not care about academics.

 

#5 WR - #26 ESPN 300

James Harris - 5'10 185 - C overall - B+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Harris is a very nice wideout who plays in the slot for his Glenwood High School team. He has had a very nice high school career the past two years and has won back-to-back state titles. He’s a small wide receiver who gets up the field very quick. Last season he caught 57 passes for 1,294 yards and 17 touchdowns. Harris is one of those players that is just electric each time he touches the football. He has an ailing grandmother and would prefer to stay as close to home as possible. He is also very religious which also might make him seek out a religious institution. However, he will likely not end up at Wheaton College.

 

#6 WR - #30 ESPN 300

William Henry - 6'0 196 - C overall - A potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Henry is part of a loaded class to come out of Alabama this year. While he may have an old-school name, there is nothing old-school about his play. Henry might actually have the most upside of any wideout in the class this year as he has great potential and is still relatively raw. He set the Boaz High School record for receptions and touchdowns this past year as he recorded 132 catches and 32 touchdowns. Henry led his team to a state title as no one could stop him on the field. He wants to go to a school where he can play immediately and where he can be himself. He doesn’t love to work hard and wants to feel open to being himself in the locker room. If his work ethic improves, the #30 prospect in the country could be the best player in the country.

 

#7 WR - #33 ESPN 300

Garry Stevens - 6'0 188 - B overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stevens is one of the top wideouts from California this year and has more than shown the ability to generate yards from different spots on the field. He was used as a running back at times this year and also a return man. Stevens has the ability to get the ball up the field in a hurry and has shown some explosiveness with the ball in his hands. He is statistically one of the best wideouts to ever come out of California as he has caught over 100 passes in each of his first three years in the pass-happy system of Bishop O’Dowd High School. Stevens is open to whoever wants him and has shown the ability to lock in on his academics.

 

#8 WR - #37 ESPN 300

Victor Vigil - 5'10 191 - B overall - B- potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Vigil is one of those football players that you watch and know that he has a very bright future. He is a madman when he touches the ball and has one of the fastest bursts in high school football. Vigil is great in open space and has a knack for making people miss tackles. Hailing from Holy Trinity Episcopal High School, he has led them to a state title appearance in each of the last three years. They have never won the state title but have had a really good opportunity in each of the last three years. Vigil caught 75 passes last year for 12 touchdowns and was able to eclipse the 1,500-yard mark on the season. Vigil is very interested in academics and has his sights set on completing his degree at whatever highly prestigious school he can attend.

 

#9 WR - #47 ESPN 300

George Williams - 5'11 192 - B overall - C potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Williams is one of the top players to ever come from South Hills High School in California. He is a very speedy wideout who has proven to be able to get open in an instant. He is a very good short route runner although he has the ability to fly down the field if he wants to. Williams moved to West Covina, California from Black Hills, Wyoming when he was 13 because his family wanted to put him in a better position for the future. I would say that worked out as he is coming off of a state title with another one likely in his future. Williams is a smart kid and works hard and is very thankful for any opportunity that he may get.

 

#10 WR - #53 ESPN 300

Mark Thomas - 5'11 186 - B overall - C+ potential - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mark Thomas is not your typical Top-50 type player in the country. Thomas is also a very good competitive gamer and travels across the country to participate in tournaments. If Thomas gave football 100% focus he could be one of the best in the country. Thomas led Woodland High School to a Georgia state championship last year but after the season was over, he wasn’t really seen. Thomas does not put much effort into his studies and only puts effort into football…and gaming. Thomas wants to attend a school where he can be free to do as he pleases. However, if you can get him to focus more on football he can be a stud.