Friedman's East Spotlight: The best WRs I've seen in 2023
National recruiting analyst Adam Friedman scouted more than a dozen high-profile games this season in person. With the playoffs underway in the East Region, now is a good time to take a look at some of the players who shined in those games. Today we look at the wide receivers.
MORE IN THIS SERIES: Quarterbacks | Running backs
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Watkins isn’t a big receiver, but he is an elite route runner with great speed and explosiveness. The Colorado commit does a great job picking up yards after the catch and is a much stronger prospect than defensive backs think, so he can be difficult to get to the ground. Watkins has a knack for making tough catches, but there are times when easy throws can sneak up on him.
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Shipp is a fantastic outside receiver prospect who does a great job making plays down the field and toward the sideline. The North Carolina commit is an excellent route runner with plenty of techniques to create separation from the defensive back. Shipp has impressive short-area quickness and does a great job catching the ball with his hands away from his body. He’ll be an excellent security blanket for his quarterback at the next level.
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There’s a lot to get excited about with Porter because of his straight-line speed and ability to make big catches down the field. He’s tough to bring down once he has the ball in his hands, and he's able to pick up big chunks of yards after the catch. Porter has a big catch radius, and that should allow quarterbacks to get him the ball in a variety of scenarios.
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Gilbert put up monster numbers this season, and it was like that at the beginning of the season, too. The Notre Dame commit has the strength to overpower defensive backs, strong hands to make tough catches over the middle and the overall athleticism to take catches for big gains. Gilbert may not be the fastest receiver on the field, but he makes a lot of big catches down the field and excels in jump-ball situations.
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Peterkin is a very lean receiver, but he has the height and length to make things easy for his quarterback. He can make great leaping catches along the sideline, and uses his big catch radius to haul in passes that seem like they might be overthrown. Peterkin is surprisingly elusive for a 6-foot- 2 receiver, so he’s able to make some impressive plays after the catch.
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Jackson is a polished receiver with very reliable hands and productivity that would catch anybody’s eye. As an outside receiver, the North Carolina commit is able to beat man coverage using his size, strength and route-running abilities. Jackson has good straight-line speed, and that’s easy to see when defenders give him room to get off the line of scrimmage. If Jackson catches the ball in space with a full head of steam there’s a good chance he could score from anywhere on the field.
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Moore was a big riser in the previous rankings update and after seeing him in practice this fall there’s no reason to think that he’ll slide back down the rankings anytime soon. The Florida State commit has a huge catch radius and excellent ball skills. Moore is able to make acrobatic catches along the sideline despite tight coverage. As a route runner, Moore shows solid short-area quickness and he’s able to use his long arms to haul in passes away from his body.
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Taylor is a very solid receiver with a well-rounded skill set. The North Carolina commit is a good route runner with reliable hands and a good sense of timing with his quarterback. Taylor can be productive on crossing routes, out-breaking routes and routes down the field. He has the size and straight-line speed to keep defenders off balance and uses the sharp cuts to break free of tight coverage.
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Anderson is a gifted receiver with plenty of tools. He has great size and length, and he’s become a better athlete over the last year. Anderson is able to make defenders miss in the open field using his agility or just pure brute strength. Anderson is also a threat to score whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
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Dixon-Wyatt is a young prospect but there is a lot to like about his skill set. He has a huge frame and good hands, but his ability to make defenders miss after the catch was surprising. Being able to pick up yards after the catch at that size is a really special quality. With a few more years of high school remaining, it will be fun to watch Dixon-Wyatt's development.
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OTHERS WHO IMPRESSSED: Emanuel Ross, Tyseer Denmark, Channing Goodwin, Donovan Olugbode