Generation Wideout

Along with Roy Williams these four superstar receivers are changing the college game

LARRY FITZGERALD, Pittsburgh
6'3", 225, Soph.
2003 stats: 32 catches, 583 yards, 9 TDs
The son of a Minnesota sports editor, Fitzgerald learned to run crisp routes from Cris Carter and Randy Moss as a ball boy for the Vikings. Unstoppable on the fade, he leads the nation in receiving yards per game (145.75) and has caught at least one touchdown pass in 10 straight games. He keyed Pitt's victory at Texas A&M last Saturday with three spectacular TDs, the last a 49-yard over-the-shoulder catch in the midst of three Aggies. "He's as good as it gets," says Miami coach Larry Coker. "He's got size and smarts. If there's a ball in the air, he's going to get it."

REGGIE WILLIAMS, Washington
6'4", 225, Jr.
2003 stats: 28 catches, 415 yards, 4 TDs
A former high school triple jumper, the Huskies' Williams can outleap and outmuscle opposing defensive backs. He's also one of the best around at catching balls in traffic. In his first two seasons Williams set Huskies career records for catches and receiving yards. After a somewhat slow start this year, he broke out last Saturday for 10 receptions, 138 yards and two scores against Stanford. Says Washington State coach Bill Doba, "He's like a defensive back playing receiver, because he'll hit you and drive into you, and he'll block. I had a pro scout tell me that he's not just the best receiver in the Pac-10, he's the best player."

RASHAUN WOODS, Oklahoma State
6'2", 190, Sr.
2003 stats: 30 receptions, 502 yards, 9 TDs
Sure-handed and lethal in the open field, Woods is the most explosive wideout in the nation. Against SMU on Sept. 20 he set an NCAA record with seven touchdown catches in a 52-6 win. With 246 career catches, he's within sight of the alltime NCAA mark of 300, set by Arnold Jackson of Louisville from 1997 to 2000. An avid fisherman, Woods dreams of someday joining the pro bass tour; in the foreseeable future, though, he'll be otherwise engaged. "This guy is a cut above," says Wyoming coach Joe Glenn. "He just goes up over everybody. He's a can't-miss guy."

MIKE WILLIAMS, USC
6'5", 230, Soph.
2003 stats: 27 catches, 394 yards, 4 TDs

Williams honed his skills by catching 100 tennis balls a day over the summer. Though not blazing fast, he has a knack for big plays and catches anything thrown in his direction. Rangy and muscular, he racks up heaps of run-after-the-catch yards—a single DB trying to tackle him in the open field is a sorry sight. On one screen against Cal last Saturday, Williams caught the ball behind the line, was hit almost immediately and still dragged five defenders with him for a nine-yard gain. Oregon coach Mike Bellotti says, " Roy Williams is the fastest, Reggie Williams is the most physical, and Mike Williams might end up being the best of the three."