Friday Five: Top 5 Pac-12 Wide Receivers
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Welcome to another edition of “Friday Five”. It finally happened, folks. After years of in-fighting and petty behavior, the Mountain West split has actually happened. The “departing five” have left to reform the Pac-12. The Mountain West has added the likes of North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, and UTEP to fill the gaps.
We at the Mountain West Connection intend to cover both conferences going forward. “Friday Five” will feature the five best of, well, anything leading into football season, alternating between each conference week-to-week. Best quarterbacks, stadiums, mascots, who knows. We’re open to your ideas! This week, we start off with the Friday Five wide receivers in the Pac-12 Conference.
5. Josiah Freeman, Fresno State
The show goes on for the 6’4” receiver Soledad! The NCAA granted Freeman an extension of eligibility this past January, surely because Freeman picked up a season-ending injury in 2024. Freeman was an honorable mention All-Mountain West athlete last season, totaling up 642 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 52 catches, all career highs while starting in 12 games. Hopefully the Bulldogs find more consistent quarterback play this fall. If that happens, expect Freeman to breakout even more than he did in 2025.
4. Tony Freeman, Washington State
Yes, another star with the last name of Freeman, Tony will be one of the most dynamic talents in the conference this fall. Named 2025 Pac-12 Conference Top Special Teams Performer, yes yes I know, only two teams to pick from, but Freeman set single-season records for Wazzu averaging 17.3 yards per punt return and 415 punt return yards. On offense, Freeman caught 54 passes for 590 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Look for first-year head coach Kirby Moore to find multiple ways for Freeman to contribute on offense.
3. Chris Dawn Jr., Texas State
You had to figure GJ Kinne’s talent would show up eventually. As long as Kinne remains in San Marcos, the high-flying Bobcats offense figures to dominate the statistical categories. An Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team player from 2025, Dawn Jr. figures to light up the scoreboard again this fall. He tallied 65 catches for 1,007 receiving yards and five touchdowns last fall, including an 82-yard sprint to the house. Against Marshall, he recorded 180 receiving yards! Expect Dawn Jr. to entertain this fall.
2. Beau Sparks, Texas State
An explosive, pass-happy system is bound to have more than one star receiver. Sparks, the El Paso native, arrived to Texas State via Utah Tech and has absolutely dominated. Named All-Sun Belt Conference First Team, Second Team All-Purpose, Sparks finished the season with 1200 receiving yards on 84 catches, 92.3 yards per game which ranked 5th-nationally. According to the Texas State athletics website, he “Holds the NCAA record for highest average gain/punt return in a game (min. 3 rets.) at 66.7 with 3 for 200 (following 2024 season)” With emerging superstar quarterback Brad Jackson back this fall, expect Sparks to dominate again.
1. Jordan Napier, San Diego State
Hat tip to San Diego State for managing to hold onto Napier, a pro prospect some believed would be a candidate to move to a top Power 4 program via the transfer portal. Instead, the 6’2” 205 lbs superstar returns to Snapdragon Stadium. Napier totaled 629 receiving yards last fall despite only playing in 10 games and dealing with injuries in general. Named First Team All-Mountain West as a Punt Returner and Second Team All-Mountain West as a Wide Receiver, Sparks and Dawn Jr. beat him statistically, but I think Napier is the better overall football player. Expect this Aztec to play on Sunday’s.
Others in consideration: As usual, football is not played on paper and breakouts out of nowhere happen all the time. Oregon State’s Xavyion Noland could break out under head coach JaMarcus Shephard. Utah State’s Javon Robinson and Colorado State’s RJ Vick are talents to watch. There is a surprising lack of Boise State Broncos on this list. True freshman Rasean Jones made waves in spring. Is that a sign of a break out, or an indicator of how bad that receiver room is? Time will tell.
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