Spring Preview: The Wide Receivers

AMES, Iowa - In today's spring preview we focus on the wide receivers.

Synopsis
Iowa State will be experienced at the wide receiver position, returning eight of nine position players who recorded a catch in 2020.

The only loss in the group is Landen Akers, who caught 18 passes for 269 yards a year ago and had a solid four-year career with the Cyclones.

Heading into the 2020 season, the concern was finding that consistent target for Purdy. ISU had lost its top-two receivers from the season before (Deshaunte Jones and LaMichael Pettway) and the spot was wide open.

That spot was firmly solidified by Xavier Hutchinson (6-3, 207, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla.), who emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the Big 12 in 2020.

The Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team recipient was second in the Big 12 in catches per game (5.3) and third in the league in receiving yards per game (64.2), ranking 26th nationally in overall receiving yards (771).

Hutchinson corralled in 64 catches a year ago, tying for the fifth-best season total in school history, and was second on the team in touchdown receptions (4).

He quickly became the most reliable wide receiver target for Purdy, racking up five games with 80+ receiving yards, including a 10-catch, 114-yard performance vs. Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.

Hutchinson won't be the only big-play threat returning for the Cyclones. ISU will have a healthy Tarique Milton (5-11, 188, Sr.#, Bradenton, Fla.) back in the lineup.

Milton was injured throughout most of the 2020 campaign, catching 15 passes for 102 yards in only six games played. Milton thrived in his first year as a starter (2019) with the ability to play in the slot and on the outside. He started all 13 games in 2019, ranking second on the team in receiving yards (722) while catching 35 balls.

He proved to be a legitimate playmaker, ranking seventh nationally in yards per reception (20.6), the third-best clip in school history.

Daniel Jackson (6-2, 210, Fr.#, Cibolo, Texas) had a chance to show his skills in 2020, catching five passes for 28 yards in four games played. Unfortunately, Jackson suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the season (Texas Tech).

He's another player to watch this spring coming out of an injury.

Jaylin Noel (5-10, 175, Fr., Kansas City, Mo.), is one of ISU's top recruits in the class of 2021.

Noel is an early enrollee who chose Iowa State over a number of "power 5" offers. He was ranked as a top-100 wide receiver nationally while recording over 1,000 receiving yards in his final season as a prep.

On the outside, three other receivers who have seen extensive action return in Sean Shaw Jr. (6-6, 212, Jr.#, Jones, Okla.), Joe Scates (6-2, 191, Jr.#, Dayton, Ohio) and Darren Wilson Jr. (6-3, 206, Sr., Alpharetta, Ga.).

Shaw Jr. started eight games last year, catching 21 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown. He came up big in the win at No. 20 Texas, recording five receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Shaw Jr. will enter his third season as a key contributor.

Scates is one of the fastest players on the team. He had six catches for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season.

Wilson had two receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown in 2020.

Other players who will fight for reps are Ezeriah Anderson (6-5, 208, So.#, Seffner, Fla.), Darien Porter (6-4, 180, So.#, Bettendorf, Iowa) and Aidan Bitter (6-2, 182, So., Tampa, Fla.).

Campbell On The Wide Receivers
"We are excited about who we have back at receiver. It was a joy for us watching the growth out of a unit I thought was a really young group a year ago. Xavier Hutchinson really grew right before our eyes. Tarique Milton, it was really tough to lose him to injury. I think a lot of credit goes to him to be able to fight back and work himself onto the field. I think we are excited for him to get back to his groove, 100% healthy and prove the playmaking-ability he has. You talk about Sean Shaw Jr., Darren Wilson Jr., and Daniel Jackson. Daniel Jackson was in a great groove and gets injured and Sean Shaw battled injuries most of last year. Same thing for Darren Wilson. To get that group healthy and consistent, there is a lot of guys that can do a lot of things with the ball in their hands. I think we are all excited to see where that group grows from now until August, and I think there is a lot of talent and a lot of mobility in that room."

Players Mentioned

Landen Akers

Ezeriah Anderson

Aidan Bitter

Xavier Hutchinson

Daniel Jackson

Deshaunte Jones

Tarique Milton

Jaylin Noel

Darien Porter

Joe Scates

Sean Shaw Jr.

Darren Wilson Jr.

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