The Top 10 Marshall Wide Receivers of the FBS Era

Editor’s Note: This list consists of Wide Receivers that played only during the FBS Era, which is 1997 – Present! All-time greats like Troy Brown, Mike Barber, Andre Motley, and others that played before 1997 are not eligible to be ranked because they did not play in this timeframe that Trace Johnson is using for the rankings. This is part of a series where Trace Johnson is ranking all positions from 1997 through now. Here are links to the Quarterbacks and Running Backs lists.

Marshall has historically been strong at the wide receiver position for many years. Some of the greatest receivers in college football history have resided in Huntington over the years and these players have rewritten the Marshall and, in some cases, college football record books as well. The Herd has had many standout receivers in the FBS era, but which ones stand out above the rest? Here are the top 10 wide receivers in the FBS era of Marshall football based on a mixture of career numbers, personal accolades, impact on the program, longevity, and sustained success.

#10 – Corey Gammage

One of the best receivers in recent memory for the Herd must be considered Corey Gammage. From 2019-2022, Gammage led the charge at that position and helped give Marshall’s quarterbacks a reliable target to throw to. As a freshman in 2019, he accounted for 13 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown.

Gammage’s role in the offense grew from there, racking up 35 receptions for 409 yards and four touchdowns in 2020. His best season as a member of the Herd came in 2021, snagging 78 receptions for 869 yards and two touchdowns while earning an all-conference honorable mention honor. And in his final season as a member of Marshall in 2022, Gammage had 52 receptions for 774 yards and a career-best six touchdown catches while earning another all-conference honorable mention honor.

Gammage finished his Marshall career with 178 receptions (ninth all-time in program history) for 2,239 yards and 13 touchdowns. He transferred following the 2022 season, but his efforts for four years in Huntington should not go unnoticed and Gammage certainly made the Marshall offense better in his time with the program.

#9 – Antavious Wilson

You could make the argument that Antavious Wilson was an underrated and sometimes underappreciated contributor to the Marshall offense in his four years with the program. But when you look at his body of work, there’s nothing underrated about it. Wilson was a strong contributor for the Herd for a long time. He had a strong freshman season in 2009, accounting for 60 receptions for 724 yards and three touchdowns while earning a spot on the all-conference freshman team.

He was limited to only eight games in 2010 due to injury, but he still racked up 29 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson also added another 29 receptions in 2011, this time for 462 yards and one touchdown. He went out with a bang in 2012, putting up career-best numbers across the board. Wilson had 69 receptions for 741 yards and nine touchdowns while earning an all-conference honorable mention honor.

All in all, Wilson had 187 career receptions (eighth all-time in program history) for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 13 catches against Southern Miss in 2009 is tied for eighth all-time in program history for a single game. Wilson seemingly quietly put together a stellar four-year career for Marshall football that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

#8 – Denero Marriott

Marshall had a lethal trio of wide receivers in the early-2000’s that helped make superstar quarterback Byron Leftwich’s job easier. The one in that trio that gets slept on more than any other is Denero Marriott, but there should be no sleeping on what he was able to accomplish for the Herd. Marriott kept getting better and better during his time in Huntington after playing in only one game in 2000.

His 2001 season was a big step in the right direction, racking up 56 receptions for 800 yards and nine touchdowns on the year while earning second-team all-conference honors. However, Mariott’s final season with Marshall in 2002 was special. He snagged 86 receptions for 993 yards and eight touchdowns, all career-best numbers, while helping lead the Herd to an 11-2, MAC Championship and GMAC Bowl victory season. Marriott had 143 receptions for 1,805 yards and 17 touchdowns in basically two years with the program and his 86 receptions in 2002 are good for a tie for eighth all-time in program history for a single season.

Marriott’s 15 receptions for 234 yards in the epic GMAC Bowl comeback win against East Carolina in 2001 are good for a tie for third and sixth all-time respectively in program history while his four touchdown receptions against Toledo in 2001 are good for a tie for second all-time for touchdown receptions in a single game. In a relatively short amount of time, Marriott made a huge impact on Marshall football that still resonates to this day.

#7 – Tyre Brady

It had been a few years, by 2017, since Marshall had a true number one threat at receiver. However, that changed drastically with the arrival of Miami Hurricane transfer Tyre Brady, who had a marvelous two years with the Herd. Brady wasted little time bursting onto the scene when he put up an 11-catch, 248-yard and one touchdown performance on the road at NC State in Week 2, which is tied for fourth in Marshall history in terms of receiving yardage in a single game.

Outside of just that game, Brady shined throughout the rest of 2017, racking up 62 receptions for 942 yards and eight touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors. His senior season in 2018 was even better with 71 receptions for 1,002 yards (Marshall’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2014) and nine touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors again.

Brady finished his two years in Huntington with 133 receptions for 1,944 yards and 17 touchdowns. In only two years, Brady emerged as one of Marshall’s best receivers in the FBS era and left a legacy in Huntington that won’t soon be forgotten.

#6 – Aaron Dobson

It didn’t happen immediately, but towards the latter stages of his freshman season in 2009, Aaron Dobson emerged as the Herd’s top threat at wide receiver. Dobson was sparingly used up until Week 11 against SMU, but from that point on, he was on the rise. He finished his freshman season with 15 receptions for 362 yards and four touchdowns. Dobson’s sophomore season in 2010 saw stronger numbers, accounting for 44 receptions for 689 yards and five touchdowns while earning an all-conference honorable mention honor.

He put the nation on notice in 2011 due to one of the greatest catches of all-time against ECU in Week 12, but he had a stellar season outside of that with 49 receptions for 668 yards and 12 touchdowns, which was good for second in C-USA in terms of touchdown receptions in 2011. Dobson also earned another all-conference honorable mention honor. His senior season in 2012 saw him snag 57 receptions for 679 yards and three touchdowns while earning second-team all-conference honors. Following his successful Marshall career, Dobson was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft and spent several seasons in the league.

Dobson finished his Marshall career with 165 receptions for 2,398 yards and 24 touchdowns and finished tenth all-time in program history in receiving yards, tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns, and tied for eighth in touchdown receptions in a single season (12 in 2011). Dobson made national splashes for Marshall, had sustained success over a four-year period, and remains just as involved with the program now as he did over a decade ago, so you can’t ask for much more than that out of an all-time great.

#5 – Nate Poole

The late-90’s era of wide receivers for Marshall was defined by Randy Moss, there’s no question about that. However, it didn’t take long to notice a deep crop of talented receivers that all contributed, none more than Nate Poole. From 1997-2000, Poole helped lead the Herd to major success while putting up big numbers along the way. As a freshman in 1997, he immediately impressed, racking up 23 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns while also adding a rushing touchdown as well.

Poole got better from there, adding 48 receptions for 616 yards and three touchdowns in 1998. He made a massive jump in 1999 to lead all Herd wide receivers during an undefeated season. Poole accounted for 71 receptions for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns to earn first-team all-conference honors. His senior season in 2000 was nothing to sneeze at either, finishing with 70 receptions for 818 yards and four touchdowns, earning another first-team all-conference honor.

During his four-year career, Poole tallied a total of 212 receptions for 2,785 yards and 18 touchdowns. Those 212 career receptions are good for number six all-time in Marshall history while his 2,785 career receiving yards are good for seventh all-time. Marshall won the MAC Championship every season that Poole was with the program and his impact on the Herd cannot be overstated.

#4 – Josh Davis

By 2004, there were two players in FBS college football with 300 or more career receptions. One of those players was Josh Davis, a four-year standout receiver for the Herd that rewrote the record books in Huntington at that time. Davis broke out in a huge way as a freshman in 2001, racking up 79 receptions for 961 yards and five touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors as well as being named a freshman All-American.

He picked up right where he left off during the 2002 season with 75 receptions for 1,191 yards and five touchdowns, with an additional rushing touchdown as well, while earning second-team all-conference honors. Davis had another strong season in 2003, accounting for 66 receptions for 823 yards and six touchdowns along with another rushing touchdown. His senior season in 2004 saw him post a career-high 86 receptions, this time for 914 yards and seven touchdowns while earning second-team all-conference honors.

At the time he graduated in 2004, Davis was number one in program history in receptions with 306 career receptions, which was also good for second in NCAA history at that time. Those 306 career receptions are still good for tied for 14^th in FBS history and second all-time in Marshall history. His 86 receptions in 2004 is good for tied for ninth all-time in program history for a single season while his 15 receptions against Akron in 2001 is good for tied for third all-time in program history for a single game.

Davis is also number three all-time in Marshall history in receiving yards (3,889), number nine in receiving yards in a single season (1,191 yards in 2002), number two in receiving yards in a single game (264 yards vs. Appalachian State in 2002) and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns with 23. Davis was a superstar of the highest caliber for the Herd, and he left behind an indelible legacy in Huntington.

#3 – Tommy Shuler

When Tommy Shuler signed with Marshall, it’s safe to assume not many knew what the team had with him. But what would follow over the next four years would blow every expectation out of the water, and then some. Shuler snagged 14 receptions for 122 yards as a freshman in 2011, but he took things to another level in 2012. As a sophomore, he tallied 110 receptions for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors. It was more of the same in 2013 with 106 receptions for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors again.

Shuler went out in style as a senior in 2014 with 92 receptions for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns, earning first-team all-conference honors for the third straight season. His dazzling career ended with 322 career receptions for 3,563 yards and 25 touchdowns, good for number one, number four, and number five respectively in Marshall history. Those 322 career receptions are good for sixth all-time in FBS history. He’s also number one, tied for second, and number six all-time in Marshall history in receptions in a single season by himself while also holding number one, number two, and tied for sixth all-time in receptions in a single game.

He is also tied for 13^th in FBS history in receptions in a single game with 19 receptions vs. Purdue in 2012. He was eight catches short in 2014 from becoming the first player in FBS history to have three straight seasons of 100 or more receptions. The level of production that Shuler gave the Herd in his four years with the program is unheard of and it will be difficult to find another receiver to ever duplicate what he was able to accomplish.

#2 – Darius Watts

He drew comparisons to Randy Moss quickly during his time in Huntington, but Darius Watts worried about becoming the best version of himself. And four years later, after a ton of success, Watts accomplished that to the fullest degree. As a freshman in 2000, Watts showed what he was capable of, snagging 36 receptions for 616 yards and six touchdowns. You could see how strong his upside was, and as a sophomore in 2001, he took his game to another level with 91 receptions for 1,417 yards and 18 touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors.

Watts picked up right where he left off in 2002, accounting for 71 receptions for 1,030 yards and 12 touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors again. His senior season in 2003 was, unsurprisingly, another strong one for Watts as he finished with 74 receptions for 968 yards and 11 touchdowns while earning first-team all-conference honors for the third straight season. All in all, Watts finished his marvelous Herd career with 272 receptions for 4,031 yards and 47 touchdowns, good for third, second (most for any WR that only played in the FBS), and second respectively all-time in Marshall history.

Those 4,031 receiving yards are good for 21^st all-time in FBS history while his 47 career touchdown receptions are good for fourth all-time in FBS history. In terms of Marshall history, his 91 receptions, 1,417 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns in 2001 are good for seventh, fifth, and third all-time respectively for a single season. The man they called spider had a phenomenal run with Marshall football and many could argue, over the course of an entire four-year career, it’s the best in program history for the FBS era.

Before we talk about #1, here are the honorable mentions. . .

Darius Passmore

He was only in Huntington for two years, but Darius Passmore was the Herd’s top target from 2007-2008. In a down period for Marshall, Passmore made a name for himself as one of C-USA’s best. His 2007 season saw 45 receptions for 660 yards and five touchdowns while also adding 56 yards rushing. Passmore had an even stronger final season in 2008, accounting for 56 receptions for 945 yards and seven touchdowns along with 195 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown while earning second-team all-conference honors. There was no denying Passmore was a star for the Herd in an era when they were harder to come by.

Davonte Allen

There were injuries along the way that slowed him down a bit, but Davonte Allen made a big difference for Marshall from 2012-2015. He was sparingly used in 2012 and 2013, combining for 20 receptions for 346 yards and four touchdowns, but he continued to get better from there. Allen finished 2014 with 22 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns despite being sidelined with an injury for part of the season. His senior season in 2015 would be his best, finishing with 58 receptions for 715 yards and five touchdowns while earning an all-conference honorable mention honor. Allen was a key contributor that was able to make a real difference.

LaVorn Colclough

A guy that was always reliable for Marshall during a period in which the program transitioned from FCS to FBS was LaVorn Colclough. He introduced himself as a viable threat during the FCS era, but his final two seasons with the program when it became an FBS member were even more memorable, accounting for 66 receptions for 862 yards and eight touchdowns and earning first-team all-conference honors in 1997. Colclough had another stellar season in 1998 with 48 receptions for 535 yards and six touchdowns, again earning first-team all-conference honors. You can’t talk about late-90’s Herd receivers without Colclough being in the mix.

#1 – Randy Moss

Was there ever any doubt? He’s the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game, he’s a legend, he’s a transcendent talent, he’s Randy Moss. The greatest athlete ever produced in the state of West Virginia had an interesting turn of events that led him to Marshall, but when he made it to Huntington, the sports world was never the same again. Moss’s two years with the Herd were unlike anything the college football world had ever seen before, and since.

As a freshman in 1996, he helped lead Marshall to a 15-0 record and FCS National Championship. Moss’s numbers were ridiculous, racking up 78 receptions for 1,709 yards and a still-standing program record 28 touchdown receptions while also being the leading kickoff returner in the FCS in 1996 with 612 total return yards that were good for a 34-yard average per-return. When Marshall made the move up to the FBS in 1997, Moss took his already sensational game to another level.

Excluding the Motor City Bowl since bowl game stats didn’t count yet, Moss finished the 1997 season with 90 receptions for 1,647 yards and 25 touchdowns (still tied for second in FBS history for receiving touchdowns in a single season), becoming a consensus first-team All-American, winning the MAC Offensive Player of the Year award, winning the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver in college football, and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was drafted 21^st overall in the 1998 NFL Draft where he had a hall of fame career, culminating with a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 2018.

He is number one in program history in receiving touchdowns with 53, receiving touchdowns in a single season with 28 in 1996, and receiving touchdowns in a single game with five against Ball State in 1997. Moss is also fifth in program history in receiving yards, second in single season receiving yards with 1,709 yards in 1996, and first in single game receiving yards with 288 yards against Delaware in 1996. Moss scored a touchdown in every game he played for the Herd and the pro football hall of famer is about to make it college football hall of famer as well in 2024, a fitting way for the most dominant player in college football history to be remembered forever.