Top-10 players outside of the Power Five conferences
By Robert Judin
3. Rashard Higgins – WR, Colorado State
The lone wide receiver on the list goes to Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins. He benefited greatly from having Jim McElwain as his head coach and Garrett Grayson as his quarterback, but don’t take that to mean he isn’t a highly talented individual.
As a freshman, Higgins played in 14 games and compiled six touchdowns and 837 receiving yards on 68 catches.
His sophomore season saw a tremendous leap. Higgins’ 96 receptions led the Mountain West and were good enough to be ranked the 10th most in college football. He stacked up a ridiculous 1,760 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns — both were the most in the NCAA.
He got off to another hot start in 2015 — without McElwain and Grayson — with 209 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first two games.
Higgins doesn’t have elite speed, but his routes are crisp and his hands are strong. If he puts on an extra 15 pounds, he can thrive going over the middle and down the seams. Right now, Higgins’ draft stock is hanging in the balance because everyone wants to see how he finishes the year under head coach Mike Bobo and with sophomore quarterback Nick Stevens throwing the rock.
Stevens had only thrown the ball 25 times prior to this season, so his lack of experience could impact Higgins in a major way. If Stevens can get into a groove and find a way to get the Rams’ best offensive weapon the ball early and often, Higgins will continue to produce.
We know he has the talent.
Next: No. 2 Darian Thompson