2025 Watch List Spotlight: WRs (Pt. 1)
The 2025 Rankings were updated to 125 total players ranked in the class back in January but many more are on the Watch List. These Watch List players will eventually enter the rankings in the future and are names we…
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Continue ReadingThe 2025 Rankings were updated to 125 total players ranked in the class back in January but many more are on the Watch List. These Watch List players will eventually enter the rankings in the future and are names we will be watching closely next season. Here are some WRs not currently in the rankings who you should keep an eye on in the fall.
Just missing the cut in our 2025 Top 125 but still ranking positionally as the #21 WR in the class is Parkersburg South’s Devon Forshey Devon Forshey 6’1″ | 185 lbs | WR Parkersburg South | 2025 State WV . Forshey was an underrated part of the Patriots’ offensive success last season which saw them put up some monster numbers in 2023. Forshey led the way in their receiver group with 29 catches for 556 yards and 5 touchdowns in an offense that liked to spread the ball around to its playmakers. The 6’1 175 junior is primed for a huge breakout senior season after the Patriots graduate 3 of their top 4 receivers this spring. Forshey has a nice combination of size and speed with the frame to be able to fill out even more during the off-season. He can attack all three levels of the route tree, and his nearly 20 yards per catch average suggests he’s a big-play threat at each level. Building on that trait, Forshey is also a good YAC receiver who can make plays after the catch outside of go balls. South will be breaking in a new QB1 in 2024, but if they find someone who can step right in, Forshey will have the chance to flirt with a 1,000-yard receiving season for his senior year and could fly up our 2025 rankings.
The Wayne Pioneers certainly won’t be running a spread offense anytime soon so don’t put too much stock in their passing and receiving numbers. Junior Ronnie Staley Ronnie Staley 6’0″ | 160 lbs | WR Wayne | 2025 State WV was their #1 target in 2023 hauling in 25 passes for just under 400 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 6’0 160 two-sport standout is a super quick and speedy receiver who has the versatility to line up in a variety of spots in their offense. Staley is an athlete who would likely shine in a camp setting but is a bit of an unknown due to their offensive scheme. You can imagine him putting up big numbers in a more pass-happy scheme but flashed last season even in a run-heavy system. Staley is a natural playmaker regardless of what scheme he’s in and a prospect who you should focus more on his film and not as much on the stats he’s putting up.
Linsly receiver Ramello Derr Ramello Derr 5’8″ | 155 lbs | WR Linsly | 2025 State WV unfortunately got banged up last season but when he was healthy he flashed some high-level potential. He’s still pretty slight right now at 5’8 145, but Derr more than makes up for his lack of size with athletic ability. Derr is extremely light on his feet with very good playmaking ability after the catch. He shows a smaller sample size of it due to his injury, but watching his game tapes against Holy Name (OH) and Fort Frye (OH) alone shows you how high of an upside he has. In just 4 games played in 2-23, Derr amassed 16 catches for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns but his 23.5 yards per catch average is what really stood out. I’m expecting Linsly’s offense to continue throwing the ball all over the field next season with the likes of Derr and two Top 100 2026 WRs in Jaxon Murray Jaxon Murray 6’2″ | 170 lbs | WR Linsly | 2026 State WV and Lucca Troullos Lucca Troullos 5’10” | 140 lbs | WR Linsly | 2026 State WV with #2 2026 QB Braden Wade Braden Wade 6’0″ | 190 lbs | QB Linsly | 2026 State WV spreading it around. A fully healthy senior season could propel Derr into our Top 100 with a bigger sample size, and he has a D2 floor in my opinion.
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Another Wayne receiver who’s in the same boat as Staley as someone who may not have the most eye-popping stats due to scheme but is certainly talented is Kade Estep Kade Estep 6’2″ | 165 lbs | WR Wayne | 2025 WV . He’s a longer receiver at 6’2 165 who will only get better the more size he puts on his frame. Touches at receiver were limited in their offense last season but if Wayne can air the ball out more in 2024 they have two very good 2025 receivers that can develop into quite the dynamic duo as seniors. Estep’s sample size right now is limited due to those circumstances but looking at his athletic ability and potential, he still ranks as a Top 25 WR in the 2025 class on his upside alone. He’s an intriguing unknown right now which is not a bad thing, and next season should tell us just how good he can become with more touches.
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The Lincoln Cougars had some talented pass catchers in 2023 but junior Aidan Rice Aidan Rice 6’3″ | 180 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2025 WV was an underrated part of their offense. Rice has very good size for the position at 6’3 180 and earned All-Big 10 honors as a linebacker showing his athletic versatility. The Cougars will lose several of their Top 5 receivers heading into the 2024 season, so Rice has the opportunity to take over that #1 receiver spot for his senior year. He’s a big target on the outside who also flashed quality athleticism to pair with it. Rice is a fluid athlete for a longer receiver and also uses his length well to his advantage with a high catch radius. He also has YAC ability with the speed to be able to get loose in the open field and separate from defenders. Rice is another WR ranked in this 21-25 range who has the chance to boost his ranking next season and may end up in our 2025 Top 100 in the future.