The Best Wide Receiver in Troy History

Wide Receivers over the past 50 years have changed from being a quarterback’s last ditch effort to now the primary target in a lot of offenses. Troy is no different in this respect.

While the numbers of great wide receivers have increased since the introduction of Tony Franklin’s spread offense back in 2006, Troy has always had a large stable of capable playmakers at wide receiver.

Due to this excess of talent, this is one of the longest lists of potential players at their position. These talented players extend from the Sim Byrd era of the 1960s all the way up until 2018 season.

Of the players listed, they must have won an All-America or All-Conference Honor or have set a record in the Troy record books. No current players are eligible for inclusion either.

Other poll results: QB  RB  TE

 

Honorable Mentions – Tevaris McCormick, Pop Williams, Smokey Hampton, Kenny Edenfield, John Johnson, Billy Dixon, Titus Dixon, Toris Rutledge, Kelvin Murdock

The Players

Jerrel Jernigan (2007-10)

The Number 1 selection on this list should be no surprise for anyone who has followed Troy football. Jerrel Jernigan has long been considered the greatest wide receiver to ever put on the Cardinal, Silver, and Black. Jernigan earned All-Sun Belt Selections three times from 2008-10. He has the most 200+ yard games in Troy history with 2. He is also tied with Kelvin Murdock with the most 100+ yard games with 8. 

Jerrel holds the #4 spot in receiving yards in a game with 209 from 2010. He also holds both the #2 and #5 spots for receptions in a game with 13 (2009) and 11 (2007) respectively.

Jernigan’s single-season numbers put him at #2 in receiving yards off of his 1,101 yard season in 2009. He is #1, #3, and #5 in receptions in a season with 84 (2010), 77 (2008), and 71 (2009). This helped him to secure the #1, #2 and #7 marks for receptions per game with 6.46 (2010), 6.42 (2008), and 54.9 (2009).

Jernigan is Troy’s only 3,000 yard receiver in their career with 3,128, easily earning him the #1 spot in receiving yards. He is also #1 in receptions (262) and in receptions per game (5.24). Jernigan’s only non #1 spot in career records is receiving touchdowns. He placed #5 in that category with 18 in his Troy career.

Danny Grant (1966-69)

If Jerrel Jernigan is the clear cut #1, then Danny Grant is the clear #2. Grant became a prolific receiver in the 1960s Billy Atkins’ Troy teams. Grant was Sim Byrd primary receiver on those Red Wave teams and it shows in his numbers. Grant had both a 100+ and 200+ yard game in his career. 

He is #1 in three different single-game categories: Receptions (16, 1968), Receiving Yards (225, 1968), and Points Scored (30, 1968).

In a single-season, Grant is #5 in receiving yards (1,002, 1968) and #4 in Receptions (72, 1968), He is both #1 and #6 in receiving touchdowns, 14 twice in 1966 and 1968 and 10 in 1967. He is also #4 in receptions per game with an even 6 in both 1966 and 1968.

The only Troy receiver to get past most of Grant’s career marks is our #1 player. He is #2 in Receiving yards (2,907), Receptions (215), and receptions per game (5.12). He is #1 in Receiving Touchdowns (44).

These numbers helped propel the 1968 Red Wave team to the NAIA National Championship.

Eric Thomas (2010-13)

Eric Thomas was a dynamic receiver for Corey Robinson during the lean, post-Sun Belt streak years for Troy. He earned an All-Sun Belt selection each year from 2011-13. He also had 6 100+ yard games. 

Thomas ranks #5 in receptions with 11 in a game. He also is #8 in points scored in a game with 18.

Over the course of a season, Thomas’ numbers earned him the #7 spot in receiving yards with 993 in 2013. He also is #7 in receptions with 67 in 2011. That 2013 season also helped him get the #3 mark in receiving touchdowns (12) and the #6 mark in receptions per game (5.50).

When looking at the career numbers, Thomas is the clear #3 receiver. He is #3 in receiving yards (2,655), receptions (197), and receptions per game (4.29). His only non #3 spot is a #2 ranking behind Grant in receiving touchdowns with 29 over his career.

 

Vince Green (1967-70)

• Accolades
  • All-America Selection, 1970
  • 4 100+ yard games 
• Single-Game Records
  • #3 Receptions – 13, 1970
  • #7 Receiving Yards – 193, 1970
• Single-Season Records
  • #4 Receiving Yards – 1,030, 1970
  • #6 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 10, 1970
  • #8 (tie) Receptions per Game – 5.45, 1970
• Career Records
  • #4 Receiving Yards – 2,281
  • #6 Receptions – 160
  • #3 Receiving Touchdowns – 27
  • #6 Receptions per Game – 3.72

Damion Willis (2017-18)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection 2017, 2018
  • 1 100+ yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • #5 (tie) Receptions – 11, 2017
  • #2 Receiving Yards – 213, 2018
• Single-Season Records
  • #6 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 10, 2018
• Career Records
  • #19 Receiving Yards – 1,496
  • #19 Receptions – 98
  • #14 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 13
  • #4 Receptions per Game – 4.08

 

Heyward Skipper (2000-02)

• Accolades
  • 5 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • #9 Receiving Yards – 169, 2001
• Single-Season Records
  • #6 Receiving Yards – 995, 2001
  • #9 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 9, 2001
  • #8 (tie) Receptions per Game – 5.45, 2001
• Career Records
  • #10 Receiving Yards – 1,800
    • #12 Receptions – 112
    • #14 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 13
    • #14 Receptions per Game – 3.20

 

Orlando Parker (1993)

• Accolades
  • 3 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • #10 Receiving Yards – 168, 1993
  • #7 (tie) Points Scored – 18, 1993
• Single-Season Records
  • #8 Receiving Yards – 983, 1993
  • #9 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 9, 1993
  • #9 Yards per Reception – 20.91, 1993
• Career Records
  • #4 Yards per Reception – 20.91
  • #12 Receptions per Game – 3.36

 

Perry Griggs (1973-76)

• Accolades
  • All-American Selection, 1976
  • Gulf South Offensive Player of the Year, 1974
  • All-Gulf South Selection, 1974, 1976
  • 2 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • #6 Receiving Yards – 196, 1974
  • #7 (tie) Points Scored – 18, 1974
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #8 Receiving Yards – 1,975
  • #13 Receptions – 110
  • #4 Receiving Touchdowns – 19
  • #14 Yards per Reception – 17.95
  • #20 Receptions per Game – 2.75

 

Gary Banks (2004-07)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection, 2004, 2006, 2007 (1 non-WR)
  • 1 100+ yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • #7 (tie) Points scored – 18, 2006
• Single-Season Records
  • #6 Receptions – 68, 2006
• Career Records
  • #14 Receiving Yards – 1,600
  • #7 Receptions – 155
  • #14 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 13
  • #11 Receptions per Game – 3.37

 

Deondre Douglas (2015-18)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • 2 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • #5 Receptions – 11, 2016
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #7 Receiving Yards – 2,012
  • #4 Receptions – 177
  • #6 Receiving Touchdowns – 17
  • #8 Receptions per Game – 3.61

 

Chip Reeves (2008-10, 12)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection, 2012
  • 5 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #3 Receiving Yards – 1,050, 2012
  • #9 Receptions – 65, 2012
  • #10 Receptions per Game – 5.41, 2012
• Career Records
  • #9 Receiving Yards – 1,968
  • #10 Receptions – 121
  • #11 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 14

 

Jason Samples (2001-04)

• Accolades
  • 3 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • #7 (tie) Points Scored – 18, 2003
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #5 Receiving Yards – 2,224
  • #5 Receptions – 161
  • #11 Receiving Touchdowns – 14
  • #10 Receptions per Game – 3.43

 

 

Emanuel Thompson (2014-17)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection, 2016
  • 1 100+ yard game 
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #2 Receptions – 80, 2016
  • #3 Receptions per Game – 6.15
• Career Records
  • #15 Receiving Yards – 1,567
  • #8 Receptions – 149
  • #15 Receptions per Game – 3.10

 

Robert Kilow (1991-94)

• Accolades
  • 1 100+ yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #10 Receiving Yards – 933, 1993 
  • #3 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 12, 1993
• Career Records
  • #12 Receiving Yards – 1,663
  • #15 (tie) Receptions – 106
  • #8 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 15

 

Rufus Cox (1982-84)

• Accolades
  • 1 200+ yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • #3 Receiving Yards – 212, 1984
• Single-Season Records
  • #1 Receiving Yards – 1,169, 1984
  • #10 Yards per Reception – 20.88, 1984
• Career Records
  • #6 Yards per Reception – 19.74

Teddy Ruben (2014-15)

• Accolades
  • 3 All-Sun Belt Selections (2 non-WR)
  • 3 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #10 Receptions – 63, 2015
  • #9 (tie) Receiving Touchdowns – 9
• Career Records
  • #13 Receptions per game – 3.20

 

 

Chandler Worthy (2011-14)

• Accolades
  • 2 All-Sun Belt Selections, 2014 (Non-Receiver positions)
  • 2 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #11 Receiving Yards – 1,767
  • #9 Receptions – 137
  • #20 Receiving Touchdowns – 11
  • #18 Receptions per Game – 2.91

 

Jonathan Carter (1998-2000)

• Accolades
  • All-Southland Selection, 2000
  • 3 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #2 Yards per Reception – 34.80
  • #7 Receptions per Game – 3.67

 

Tebarius Gill (2009-10)

• Accolades
  • All-Sun Belt Selection, 2009
  • 1 100+ yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • #7 (tie) Points Scored – 18, 2010
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #18 Receptions – 99
  • #17 Receiving Touchdowns – 12
  • #5 Receptions per Game – 3.81

 

Virgil Seay (1978-79)

• Accolades
  • All-Gulf South Conference Selection, 1979
  • 1 100+  yard game
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • #3 Yards per Reception – 22..93 (1978)
• Career Records
  • #9 Yards per Reception – 19.74

 

Mareno Philyaw (1996-99)

• Accolades
  • All-Southland Selection, 1998, 1999
  • 2 100+ yard games
• Single-Game Records
  • None
• Single-Season Records
  • None
• Career Records
  • #10 Yards per Reception – 19.04

Let me know what you think in the comments or, as always, you can reach me at @BenOnSports. Don’t forget to fill out the poll for your Top 5 Wide Receivers! Results will be out on Tuesday of next week.

Poll – https://forms.gle/Jj5RxyGeX7LL9R2aA