Georgia Tech Football: Top 5 Receivers in School History

Georgia Tech, over the past 20 seasons or so, has been known for dominant wide receivers, no matter what offense they happen to be running.  

From the late 1990s through the next decade, the Jackets were able to recruit, develop and utilize a whole host of successful wideouts, many of whom went on to the NFL.  

This list is dominated by the 1990s and 2000s, as you'll soon see, and finding talented receivers was not the hard part. The difficult task for this list was the order, except for No. 1, of course. Enjoy!

Kerry Watkins only had one season with over 1,000 yards receiving, 1,050 in his senior season of 2002; but he played four straight years and put up solid numbers in each.  

From the late-nineties through the next decade, the Yellow Jackets had a ton of great talent at the receiver position, and Watkins shared the load with the likes of Kelly Campbell, Will Glover, Jonathan Smith and Dez White. Perhaps as a lone star receiver, his numbers would have been more flashy; but even still, he finished his career inside the top five all-time at Georgia Tech.  

Career Stats:

171 receptions, 2,680 yards, 15.6 avg., 22 total TDs

Awards/Honors:

Second Team All-ACC, 2002

Jonathan Smith came to Georgia Tech in 2000, eventually working his way into the lineup on a regular basis as a true freshman. He wouldn't even amass 100 receiving yards in that first season, but he would certainly make up for it over the next three seasons.

Smith's best season would be his senior campaign of 2003. He would catch for 1,138 yards at almost 15 yards per reception. His career would be overshadowed by his protege replacement, Calvin Johnson, but Smith's career is solidly entrenched as one of the greatest for a wideout in Georgia Tech history.  

Career Stats: 

174 receptions, 2,248 yards, 12.9 avg., 15 total TDs

Awards/Honors:

Consensus Second Team All-ACC Team, 2003

Signed by Coach Chan Gailey in 2006 to play in a pro-style offense, Demaryius Thomas found himself blocking down field play after play in Paul Johnson's option attack after Gailey was fired after the 2007 season.

When he wasn't knocking over safeties and corners to make way for the rushing game, Thomas was catching passes and was making huge gains per reception. His size and physical ability allowed him to dominate the secondary, often left in single coverage.  

In his junior season of 2009, Thomas averaged 25.1 yards per reception and racked up 1,154 total yards through the air. He would leave after season's end and, along with legend Tim Tebow, would get picked in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.  

Career Stats:

120 receptions, 2,339 yards, 19.5 avg., 15 total TDs

Awards/Honors:

Freshman All-America honorable mention (SN), 2007

Freshman All-ACC (SN), 2007

Preseason All-ACC, 2009

First Team All-ACC, 2009

First-Round NFL Draft Pick, 2010 (22nd Overall)

Along with receiver Dez White, Kelly Campbell had the honor of hauling in the rockets launched by the legendary Joe Hamilton and his predecessor George "The Goose" Godsey while at Georgia Tech.

Before Calvin Johnson came along a few years later, Campbell held nearly every Georgia Tech receiving record across the board. He is still in a close second at career receiving yards at Tech, only 20 yards behind Johnson, with 2,907.  

Career Stats:

195 receptions, 2,907 yards, 14.9 avg., 26 total TDs

Awards/Honors:

3-Time All-ACC, 1999, 2000 & 2001

Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist, 2001

There's no question that Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in Georgia Tech history. If Georgia Tech retired jersey numbers, 21 would be plastered somewhere within the confines of Bobby Dodd Stadium in bold font.  

Johnson is a once in a lifetime talent for any program, and when you get your hands on that type of ability good things happen. The Jackets never won any championships during his three-year career on the Flats, but it could have been due to mediocre play at the quarterback position from the infamous Reggie Ball.  

This is one of the few players that I have seen in person with my own eyes and found it hard to believe how a human being could look so impressive. Johnson was not only one of the best in Tech history but one of the best in history period.  

Career Stats:

178 receptions, 2,927 yards, 16.4 avg., 29 total TDs

Awards/Honors:

ACC Rookie of the Year, 2004

First Team Freshman All-American, 2004

All-American, 2005 & 2006

First Team All-ACC, 2004, 2005 & 2006

ACC Player of the Year, 2006

Biletnikoff Award, 2006

Paul Warfield Trophy, 2006

10th in Heisman Voting 2006

Harvey Middleton (1994-97)

Will Glover (1999-02)

Bobby Rodriguez (1989-92)

John Sias (1966-68)