2028 Rankings Update: Wide Receivers

The <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/2028-rankings-update-tailbacks-with-potential-to-run-wild/">running back class of 2028 is saturated with talent</a> that suggests that, even once the rising seniors are gone, pounding the rock will remain a priority for at least another season.   But that doesn't mean South Carolina is a "three yards and a cloud of dust" kind of state. Plenty of programs play more than just a little bit of pitch and catch, and their production is just as dependent on the quality of players on the field as it is a well-crafted scheme to get them open.   That's where this next group comes in to play. While the Class of 2027 is loaded with receiving threats who are also on the receiving end of major college attention - and several of them will have their names in various record books not long after the season comes to an end - the guys a year behind them are hot on their heels, in some cases challenging them for top-line reps and in others reaffirming their spots atop the depth chart.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE   [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] Midland Valley   Gleaton had a hot start to last season and finished the year as the Mustangs' leading receiver. He's got the size, strength, speed, leaping ability, hands and pretty much anything else that can make a receiver a matchup nightmare, and when Midland Valley's cooking on offense opposing defenses can't afford to pay Gleaton much extra attention. Few are built better than him to exploit said situations.   [player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] James Island   The Trojans have been racking up double-digit win seasons in the last few years, and Puiu (pictured) is a big reason that streak reached four such seasons in a row. He averaged 100.6 yards per game last season, finishing with 1,409 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns. He had six multi-score games, and his presence will be even more crucial at James Island breaks in a new starting quarterback.   [player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis'] Summerville   Davis had a pretty tidy sophomore season, averaging 22.2 yards per catch while finishing the year as the Green Wave's second-leading receiver. The run game should still be stellar, which should set the table for continued success in the passing game even with a new face under center.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter'] Seneca   Hunter had a monster sophomore season, leading the Bobcats' receivers with 70 catches for 985 yards and 14 touchdowns. The speedster is just as dangerous on the quick-hitters as he is on deep balls, and even at 5-foot-9 he showed he was more than capable of getting up and over defensive backs to make contested catches. Needless to say, he's also a terror returning kicks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] Hartsville   Hickmon can flat-out fly, and his straight-line speed helped him rack up 780 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns during an All-Region sophomore season. Opposing defenses couldn't stop him from getting behind the secondary to haul in deep passes, his work in the screen game was just as deadly, and he made his fair share of contested catches. The tool belt is full, and here's the scariest part: He only lined up at receiver in nine games last season.    SLEEPERS NO MORE   [player_tooltip player_id='1822729' first='Sam' last='Strum'] Hilton Head Christian   Strum's receptions nearly doubled from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign, peaking with a seven-catch, 131-yard performance against Georgia's Bulloch Academy. That upward trajectory should continue for the three-sport athlete, especially with a rising senior quarterback slated to return and some senior receivers departing.   [player_tooltip player_id='1633095' first='Curtis' last='Bell'] Woodruff   Woodruff did a lot of good things when it had the ball last year during an 11-win season, and a lot of that had to do with the Wolverines' balance on offense. Bell factored into that, finishing the campaign second in both receptions and yards in a senior-heavy receiver group. The production lost due to graduation will have to be replaced, and Bell should be a big part of that as the top returner.   [player_tooltip player_id='2177579' first='PJ' last='Deveaux'] Crescent   Crescent put the ball in the air a decent bit last season, averaging nearly 20 pass attempts per game. Deveaux was No. 3 in a three-receiver passing game, and with Nos. 1 and 2 graduating it's his time to jump to the top of the list.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822507' first='Kenneth' last='Wilson'] Indian Land   Indian Land torched opposing secondaries last year, averaging just shy of 250 passing yards per game to fuel an 11-win season. The Warriors graduate four of their top six most productive receivers but are still poised to return a potent one-two punch of familiar targets for a prolific young quarterback. We expect Wilson to significantly improve his numbers from a 30-catch, 447-yard sophomore season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818985' first='Tay'Shawn' last='Johnson'] Blythewood   Blythewood wasn't shy about putting the ball in the air last season, and the Bengals are slated to return a host of talented players on offense. One area hit hard by graduation, however, will be wide receiver, and Johnson is their top returner on paper after catching 35 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns last season.    PRIMED TO RISE?   [player_tooltip player_id='1651200' first='Peyton' last='Stevenson'] Riverside   Stevenson turned in a big season as a sophomore, leading the Warriors in receptions (53), receiving yards (667) and touchdowns (six). Riverside is set to return nearly all of its top skill guys on offense, and there's no reason to think that continuity won't help Stevenson and the rest of the unit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1016577' first='Elijah' last='Mitchell'] Berkeley   The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder showed glimpses of good things to come last season, pulling down 18 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Berkeley ran the ball more than 70% of the time last season, but Mitchell could make a compelling case for the Stags to air it out a little bit more.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822754' first='Desiray' last='Christian'] Emerald   Christian has a deep skillset that will have the Greenwood transfer playing both receiver and safety at Emerald, but he's already seen plenty of quality reps at receiver and capitalized on his opportunities. He surpassed 500 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore, averaging more than 11.5 yards after the catch, and those opportunities should continue in an Emerald offense that threw it more than 20 times per game last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1615112' first='Semaj' last='Parker'] South Florence   Parker looked to be settling in nicely for a well-oiled offensive powerhouse, averaging 16.3 yards per reception despite being one of the team's youngest receivers in a juggernaut of a rushing attack and being limited to seven games due to a broken collarbone. Three of the top six receivers were seniors, meaning the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder should be in line for plenty more targets and opportunities to make up for lost time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819541' first='Ky'Dre' last='Wright'] North Augusta   North Augusta had a senior-heavy passing attack last season, with six of the Jackets' top seven receivers set to cross the stage for graduation. The outlier? The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Wright, who should be a go-to threat over the middle, in the screen game and downfield as North Augusta transitions from a two-quarterback offense to a QB1-run unit.

The running back class of 2028 is saturated with talent that suggests that, even once the rising seniors are gone, pounding the rock will remain a priority for at least another season.