Ohio State Receiving Corps Ranked No. 1 in CFB

After the return of Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka, the Ohio State Buckeyes boast one of the top receiving corps in all of college football.

After the return of both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes boast arguably the most lethal one-two punch at the receiving position. 

Yet, you may be even to take that statement a step further. ... With both Harrison and Egbuka recently being revealed as players on the preseason watchlist for the Biletnikoff Award, which is annually given to the most "outstanding receiver" in college football, it is no surprise that the Buckeyes' receiving corps was ranked No. 1 by Athlon Sports. 

"The Buckeyes return their top three receivers from last season, as Emeka Egbuka (74 grabs for 1,151 yards and 10 scores) should join Harrison Jr. on postseason All-America ballots," Athlon Sports writes about the Buckeyes receiving corps. "Julian Fleming (34 receptions) rounds out the starting trio, with depth coming in the form of Xavier Johnson and five-star freshman Carnell Tate. Tight end Cade Stover is back after catching 36 passes for 406 yards last year."

Harrison and Egbuka combined for 2,414 yards and 24 touchdowns on 151 receptions last season, each totaling over 1,000 yards. Yet, as Athlon Sports mentions, the Ohio State passing game could get even better with the emergence of a third option.

Julian Fleming is the obvious pick to become that other option to make a trio after the former Pennsylvania native was rated as a five-star prospect and No. 1 receiver coming out of high school in the 2020 class, according to the 247Sports' composite rankings.

Now, heading into his senior season, Fleming is fresh off a career year where he totaled 533 yards and six touchdowns on 34 receptions; he'll have the opportunity to make good on that five-star rating. 

From one former highly-rated prospect to another, the freshman Carnell Tate is a name that has been mentioned around Columbus this offseason. Tate garnered serious praise from Ohio State coach Ryan Day during spring practice due to his work on and off the field.

While many could view Tate's situation of playing behind Harrison and Egbuka as a potential drawback, it could also be a positive, as he'll be able to learn first-hand from the duo.

Even if the Buckeyes don't get great production out of their third option, the duo of Harrison and Egbuka alone will keep them near the top of Athlon Sports' list.

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