Wide receiver is a skill position in American football, meaning that it requires players in that position to possess several different sets of skills. Not only do you need to be good with your hands, but you also need to be quick and know how to free yourself of coverage. There are a ton of things to consider when evaluating a wide receiver, but today, we’re tackling the athletic aspect of the position — namely, speed.
College Football 26 has no shortage of wide receivers with elite physicals. But who among these wideouts is the absolute fastest in the position?
The 10 Fastest Wide Receivers In College Football 26
Nyck Harbor – South Carolina
- Speed: 99
- OVR: 82
The junior from South Carolina is one of only four players in CFB 26 to have a 99 rating in speed. To go with that, Harbor has 92 agility and 97 acceleration, both of which make him an incredibly elusive WR.
Jordan Anthony – Arkansas
- Speed: 99
- OVR: 76
Though he still has work to do in terms of catching and route running, Jordan Anthony is perhaps the fastest WR in the game when accounting for his agility and acceleration, which are at 95 and 99, respectively. Again, not the best pure receiver, but the junior has blistering pace.
Barion Brown – LSU
- Speed: 99
- OVR: 86
Having transferred out of Kentucky to LSU, Barrion Brown is incredibly quick. But, unlike Anthony, he’s a much more complete receiver, capable of catching and running routes at a high level. He’s also a killer in the open field.
Jelani Watkins – LSU
- Speed: 98
- OVR: 73
Barion Brown isn’t the only speed demon LSU has at its disposal — there is also Jelani Watkins, a highly touted freshman who has all of the tools to develop into a great wide receiver. Being a freshman, Watkins’ skillset is obviously still undeveloped. But his 98 speed, 93 agility, and 98 acceleration provide a great base to build upon.
Che Nwabuko – Pitt
- Speed: 98
- OVR: 71
Che Nwabuko — a sophomore at Pitt — is very much like Jelani Watkins in that he’s an elite athlete, but is still rough around the edges from a receiver standpoint. Yeah, his 98 speed, 90 agility, and 96 acceleration are great starting points. But his ability to run routes and catch under pressure is still very much a work in progress. Then again, he’s a sophomore, so he still has time to work on that aspect of his game.
Jaylen Mbakwe – Alabama
- Speed: 97
- OVR: 76
As a sophomore at one of the most prestigious programs in college football, Jaylen Mbakwe is one of the best project WRs in CFB 26. Like Watkins and Nwaboku, he’s going to need to develop as a wide receiver before his draft stock goes up. But being a sophomore in a program such as Alabama is as good a place as any to develop those skills.
Kendrick Law – Kentucky
- Speed: 97
- OVR: 83
OK, our last few entries have all been young projects. But what about a senior who still needs some development, but is much more well-rounded? Enter Kendrick Law, the senior out of Kentucky. Having transferred away from Alabama to Kentucky in the offseason, Law will likely be the primary target for the Wildcats. Not only is he quick, but he’s got good hands, is a great route runner, and can catch in traffic.
Dazmin James – Cal
- Speed: 97
- OVR: 75
For one, Dazmin is an awesome name! Two, the guy is blindingly fast! A sophomore at Cal, James has great speed, agility, and acceleration. But, like many others on this list, he still needs to develop when it comes to the more technical aspects of being a wideout.
Tank Hawkins – Florida
- Speed: 97
- OVR: 74
The man’s name is Tank. So, one would only assume that he’s an explosive wideout. And indeed, he his. The sophomore out of Florida is rough around the edges, but possesses great speed. I was expecting a bit more strength for a guy named “Tank”, though.
Zachariah Branch – Georgia
- Speed: 97
- OVR: 88
Despite coming in last on our list of the fastest wide receivers in CFB 26, Georgia junior Zachariah Branch is possibly the best on the list from a pure receiver standpoint. He’s got the speed, agility, and acceleration to be considered an elite athlete, but he’s also got great hands and a high football IQ. If there’s one area where he can do with some improvement, it’s catching in traffic. Outside of that, I’d say he’s elite.
These are the top 10 fastest wide receivers in College Football 26. If you’re looking to make sure your quarterback is protected when trying to throw to them, check out our piece on how blocking works. And if you’re looking to improve your experience when playing the game, check out Matt10’s Heisman and All-American sliders!
