Vote: Who was the top wide receiver in Texas high school football in 2023?
The 2023 Texas high school football season is in the rear view, and we're taking a look at the most impactful players across the Lone Star State last fall.
After unveiling our All-East Texas, All-West Texas, All-South Texas, All-North Texas, All-Southeast Texas and All-Central Texas teams and awards, we released our All-Texas high school football team, honoring the best of the best.
Now, we're taking a look at who rose above the rest at each position. After examining some of the best individual seasons at the quarterback, running back, defensive backs and linebackers, we're moving to wide receivers.
Who was the top pass-catcher in Texas this past fall?
We want to hear from you.
Scroll down and reach up on 20 names to consider and cast your vote in the reader poll below. Voting ends on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 11:59 p.m. central time.
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TOP 20 WIDE RECEIVERS IN TEXAS IN 2023
Ashton Bethel-Roman, Fort Bend Ridge Point, sr.
The Arkansas signee hauled I 49 catches for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games this year for the Panthers. He also added a touchdown running the ball and returning a punt 65 yards for a score.
Jude Blanco, El Paso Hanks, Sr.
The Knights finished 6-5, but Blanco put together a special final season of high school by hauling in 72 catches for 1,719 yards (23.8 yards per catch) and 18 touchdowns. He also had six carries for 76 yards and another score. Blanco, the District 1-5A Division I Co-Offensive MVP, is uncommitted.
Miles Coleman, Vandegrift, sr.
Caught for 1,014 yards and 14 touchdowns to cap a marvelous three-year run as a top contributor in Vandegrift's receiving corps.
Jalen Cooper, Cibolo-Steele, jr.
The junior set the record for touchdown receptions in the state this year, hauling 23 TD on 63 total receptions and totaled 1,578 receiving yards to help Steele sweep to a District 27-6A title and 6A Division II state semifinal appearance.
Leo Espinoza, Sharyland Pioneer, sr.
It was no secret who was WR1 in Sharyland Pioneer’s offense this season, with Espinoza coming off a breakout year as a junior. Defenses still had no answers for Espinoza, reeling in 64 catches for 1,259 yards and 19 touchdowns in 12 games this year. The Valley’s leading receiver broke the 100-yard mark four times this year, including a 263-yard, 4-touchdown performance in Week 3.
Quanell Farrakhan Jr., The Woodlands, jr.
He was a jack-of-all-trades for the Highlanders. He had 52 catches for 820 yards and 12 touchdowns — all team-highs. Added 5 touchdowns on 12 carries, while adding a touchdown on a punt return and another on a kickoff return.
Alex Green, Hutto, sr.
The senior Hippo wide receiver and Tulsa commit had an impressive final campaign, hauling in 101 receptions for more than 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was an intricate part of the Hippo' three-game push to clinch a playoff berth.
Josiah Groeneweg, Glen Rose, Jr.
The lightning-fast Groeneweg was a nightmare for opposing defenses. He helped the Tigers have a big 10-5 season by catching 89 passes for 1,669 yards and 19 touchdowns. Groeneweg also rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns. The Tigers made it to the Class 4A Division II state semifinals, where they fell to eventual state champion Gilmer.
Andres Gutierrez, Zapata, sr.
Gutierrez put a ribbon on a decorated three-year career with the Hawks this season, setting personal bests across the board. The 6-foot-1 receiver averaged 123.1 receiving yards per game this year, finishing with 77 catches for 1,354 yards and 14 touchdowns in 11 games played.
Micah Hudson, Lake Belton, sr.
The five-star playmaker showed out in his final season for the Broncos, grabbing 70 balls for 1,370 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hudson, Texas Tech's first five-star, averaged nearly 20 yards per reception and 125 yards per game.
Bradan Manning, Carthage, sr.
Although Carthage’s season did not end with another state title, Manning finished his high school career with a solid campaign that included 53 catches for 944 yards and 12 touchdowns, as the Bulldogs went 13-1. Manning, who transferred in from Elysian Fields after his sophomore season, is uncommitted.
Andrew Marsh, Katy Jordan, jr.
He was a key cog in the passing attack of the Warriors, accounting for 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns. He had more catches, yards and touchdown than the next two targets for quarterback Colin Willetts. Marsh currently holds more than 30 offers but is uncommitted.
Daylan McCutcheon, Lucas Lovejoy, jr.
He has more than 25 offers to play at the next level and even picked up an offer from USC this month. He was the top target for Hondo Franklin, grabbing 92 passes for 1,423 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Dre’lon Miller, Silsbee, sr.
One of the top receivers in the state was committed to Texas A&M but got flipped late by Coach Prime at Colorado. The four-star recruit had 52 catches for 1,010 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Tigers.
Dakorien Moore, Duncanville, jr.
The 6-foot receiver is the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the 2025 class. The LSU pledge had 61 catches for 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had five games with 100 yards or more receiving and four multi-touchdown contests.
Kenny Mosley, Daingerfield, jr.
An electrifying two-way starter who averaged more than 20 yards per reception, Mosley established himself as one of the top players on both sides of the ball in East Texas. He made 53 catches for 1,071 yards with 11 touchdowns to lead the Tigers to an 11-4 campaign.
Christian Saldaña, Laredo United, sr.
Saldaña’s slight frame earned him the nickname “Slim Reaper” on the field, coming in at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. His nickname rang true on the gridiron, terrorizing defensive backs all year long. Saldaña hauled in a team-leading 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games played this year, earning him unanimous District 30-6A first team honors.
Jaydon Smith, Ingleside, sr.
Smith put up videogame like numbers during his final year with the Mustangs, hauling in 84 catches for 1,875 yards, the No. 8 mark in the nation. More impressively, the North Texas commit scored at least once in 12 of his 13 appearances, including 11 games with multiple touchdowns. Smith finished the season with a national high school record tying 39 receiving touchdowns, while averaging 22.3 yards per catch. The two-way athlete also made an impact on the defensive side of the ball, tallying 80 total tackles and four interceptions, while also running back a pair of kickoffs for scores.
Leyton Stone, Wolfforth Frenship, Jr.
Following up a brilliant sophomore season, Stone was at it again for the Tigers. He finished with 94 receptions for 1,658 yards and 23 touchdowns to help Frenship go 9-3 with a playoff win over El Paso Eastwood. Stone, who had 1,177 receiving yards and 14 TDs as a sophomore, is a unanimous First-Team All-District 2-6A pick.
Bryant Wesco, Midlothian, sr.
The No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the country, he had 36 catches for 619 yards and 13 touchdowns before an injury ended his season after 7 games. He signed with Clemson.
-- SBLive Texas staff.
Editor’s Note: Our reader poll features are intended to be fun and generate productive discussion. We do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.