30 best college football wide receivers of the 21st century

14. Julio Jones – Alabama Crimson Tide

Julio Jones is one of the best talents that have ever graced Tuscaloosa. He walked onto Alabama and immediately started, the first freshman wide receiver to start in the season opener. That freshman season was a lot of fun to watch and Jones was used to blowing the top of the defense when the Crimson Tide sorely needed it. He had big games against Georgia, LSU and Florida. Those were the moments Alabama needed him to step up. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year for a reason.

His sophomore season wasn’t great, but when breaking it down into moments Jones was as reliable as anyone. Alabama relied heavily upon Mark Ingram. He was the workhorse. However, look at the biggest moments of the season. Jones was the catalyst for a lot of them.

In a huge win against rival LSU, Jones caught a game-winning 73-yard touchdown with 10 minutes left in the game. Alabama was struggling to score, but Jones made sure they got the touchdown they needed. Then against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, he caught three third-down passes in a fourth-quarter drive that sealed Alabama’s victory. These two wins were crucial as Alabama soared to an undefeated season and National Championship.

In the 2010 season, Jones’ last with the Crimson Tide, his stats finally came with his talent level. He had 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. Alabama was still relying on the running game, but Jones had huge games against Auburn, Tennessee and South Carolina. This was a different time for Nick Saban, but if Jones was on the team now, he’d easily be in the top ten.