Ranking the 32 best duos in college football modern history

College football duos: Ranking the 32 best dynamic duos in modern history

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 05: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a touchdown by DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on December 05, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

3 of 33

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

31. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey, West Virginia

There have been some running back duos, some defensive duos and plenty of wide receiver-quarterback connections. This is the only wide receiving duo on the list. Is this the best wide receiving duo of all time? It’s hard to compare anyone to the numbers these two put up with Geno Smith.

Tavon Austin was an instant playmaker. Whether he was catching a deep ball, breaking off a 70-yard run, or returning a punt for a touchdown, Austin was the most dangerous player on the field during his time at West Virginia. He had touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning punts and kicks in his final season in Morgantown. The kid had a nose for the endzone.

Then, there’s Stedman Bailey. He hasn’t sustained the same legacy as Austin because his highlight tape doesn’t look the same, but it actually isn’t too bad. If you put the ball within three feet of Bailey in any direction, he was going to catch it. His hands were amazing. His ability to get a foot in bounds on those sky-high catches was severely underrated. To catch as many touchdowns as he did, you have to have a knack for the ball and an ability to get open in the red zone (or at least jump yourself open).

Only 10 people in college football history have more receiving touchdowns than Bailey does. Only four have done it playing in a Power 5 conference. No receiver in college football history has more than 41 touchdowns while playing in a Power 5 conference while only playing three seasons in their careers. Bailey is wildly underrated.

Austin opened things up for Bailey because defenses went all out to stop him. Bailey opened things up for Austin because he made the passing game a threat. Smith was the glue that kept that whole offense together. It’s a wonder they played three full seasons together. Their defense kept them off the biggest stages in the country, which was unfortunate. Seeing that WVU offense fighting for a National Championship would have been special.

Home/College Football