As college football programs across the Centennial State gear up for the 2026 campaign, offensive coordinators are licking their chops at the wealth of proven talent returning to the gridiron. A comprehensive review of 2025 receiving statistics highlights a dynamic group of playmakers—ranging from explosive deep threats to reliable, chains-moving possession targets—ready to pick up right where they left off.

From NCAA Division I powerhouses to competitive Division II ranks, Colorado’s collegiate gridirons will feature an abundance of experienced hands this fall.

The Headliners: Proven Production Across the Board

Leading the statewide returnees in total yardage is Pierce Richards from Colorado Mines, who caught 56 passes last season for 553 yards and seven touchdowns to pace the Orediggers receiving corps and finished as the third most productive pass catcher in the Centennial State last season.

Western Colorado’s Caden Measner was a second-team all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pick after leading the Mountaineers with 55 receptions for 731 yards and 8 touchdowns over 12 games.

Meanwhile, Colorado Mesa’s Trek Keyworth was on the Centennial State’s top 10 receiver list last season, as the native snagged 38 passes for 645 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Mavericks.

CSU Pueblo features a dynamic duo on the outside led by  Dedrek Taylor-Akins and Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. Taylor-Akins used his 6-foot-4 frame to secure 35 catches for 514 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Honeycutt proved to be a yards-after-catch menace, turning 29 receptions into 564 yards and 6 scores.

Depth and Efficiency in the Big XII and Mountain West

In the FBS ranks, the University of Colorado Buffaloes return notable targets led by junior Joseph Williams, who paced the Buffs’ returning wideouts with 37 catches for 489 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is joined by versatile tight end Zach Atkins, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior anchor who pulled in 20 receptions last year, alongside sophomore Quentin Gibson.

Up north, Colorado State brings back experienced weapons in Tommy Maher (32 receptions, 358 yards) and Lavon Brown (22 catches, 244 yards), both of whom look to command larger shares of the Rams’ passing game in 2026.

More Depth and Efficiency in the RMAC

Colorado School of Mines will showcase a loaded receiving corps in 2026 anchored by Richards and Nick Stone (37 catches, 412 yards, 7 TDs), alongside contributors Josh Best, Blake Smotherman, and Aksel Richard.

Led by Keyworth, Colorado Mesa also boasts a crowded room with Alex Turpin, Noah Greer, and Colton Mills-Younger returning to bolster the Mavericks’ playbook.

Western Colorado complements Measner with reliable senior Ramon Ruiz (33 catches, 405 yards, 4 TDs), while Fort Lewis pairs Zachary Gaumont with Solomon Latimer.

Here is a list of the top wide receivers and tight ends featuring players that caught 10 or more passes at their Colorado college or university during the 2025 season.

• Pierce Richards, Colorado Mines, 5’ 11, 190, R-Jr., Kingwood, Texas (9 games, 56 catches, 553 yards, 7 TDs)
• Caden Measner, Western Colorado, 6’ 1, 195, R-Sr., Greeley, Colo. (12 games, 55 catches, 731 yards, 8 TDs)
• Trek Keyworth, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 3, 185, R-Jr., Windsor, Colo. (11 games, 38 catches, 645 yards, 5 TDs)
• Joseph Williams, Colorado, 6′ 2”, 200, Jr., Arlington, Texas (11 games, 37 catches, 489 yards, 4 TDs)
• Nick Stone, Colorado Mines, 6’ 2, 195, R-Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (11 games, 37 catches, 412 yards, 7 ths)
• Dedrek Taylor-Akins, CSU Pueblo, 6’ 4, 200, Sr., Fontana, Calif. (12 games, 35 catches, 514 yards, 7 TDs)
• Ramon Ruiz, Western Colorado, 6’ 1, 180, Sr., Madera, Calif. (13 games, 33 catches, 405 yards, 4 TDs)
• Tommy Maher, Colorado State, Redondo Beach, Calif. (12 games, 32 catches, 358 yards)
• Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr., CSU Pueblo, 6’ 1, 190, Jr., Aurora, Colo. (12 games, 29 catches, 564 yards, 6 TDs)
• Zachary Gaumont, Fort Lewis, 5’ 9, 175, Sr., Mesa, Ariz. (11 games, 28 catches, 577 yards, 4 TDs)
• Solomon Latimer, Fort Lewis, 6’ 2, 175, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (11 games, 23 catches, 295 yards, 3 TDs)
• Lavon Brown, Colorado State, Chatsworth, Calif. (12 games, 22 catches, 244 yards)
• Josh Best, Colorado Mines, 5’ 10, 185, R-Jr., Houston, Texas (10 games, 22 catches, 218 yards, 1 TD)
• Alex Turpin, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 5, 250, R-Jr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (11 games, 22 catches, 180 yards, 4 TDs)
• Noah Greer, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 1, 190, R-Jr., Aurora, Colo. (8 games, 20 catches, 297 yards, 2 TDs)
• Blake Smotherman, Colorado Mines, 6’ 4, 240, R-Sr., Fort Collins, Colo. (11 games, 21 catches, 218 yards, 3 TDs)
• Zach Atkins, Colorado, 6′ 4”, 240, Sr., Olathe, Kan. (12 games, 20 catches, 149 yards)
• Colton Mills-Younger, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 2, 225, Jr., Wellington, Colo. (10 games, 15 catches, 175 yards, 1 TD)
• Quentin Gibson, Colorado, 5′ 9”, 155, So., Fort Worth, Texas (12 games, 15 catches, 71 yards)
• Aksel Richard, Colorado Mines, 5’ 11, 190, R-Sr., Spring, Texas (11 games, 13 catches, 316 yards, 3 TDs)
• Bryson Brown, Colorado Mesa, 6’ 1, 160, So., Amarillo, Texas (7 games, 11 catches, 268 yards, 2 TDs)

Here is a list of wide receivers and tight ends on Colorado collegiate rosters as of August 1, 2026.

Adams State

• Shannon Henry II, 6′ 3”, 210, Sr., Colonial Heights, Va. (8 games, five catches, 37 yards)
• Parker Shreeve, 6′ 3”, 220, So., Woodland Park, Colo. (3 games, 1 catch, 6 yards)

Air Force

• None

Colorado

• Joseph Williams, 6′ 2”, 200, Jr., Arlington, Texas (11 games, 37 catches, 489 yards, 4 TDs)
• Zach Atkins, 6′ 4”, 240, Sr., Olathe, Kan. (12 games, 20 catches, 149 yards)
• Quentin Gibson, 5′ 9”, 155, So., Fort Worth, Texas (12 games, 15 catches, 71 yards)
• Hykeem Williams, 6′ 2”, 220, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (6 games, 9 catches, 81 yards)
• Kaleb Mathis, 5′ 9”, 165, Jr., Arlington, Texas (12 games, 2 catches, 17 yards)
• Quanell Farrakhan Jr., 6′ 1”, 180, So., Houston, Texas (10 games, 1 catch, 17 yards)

Colorado Mesa

• Trek Keyworth, 6’ 3, 185, R-Jr., Windsor, Colo. (11 games, 38 catches, 645 yards, 5 TDs)
• Alex Turpin, 6’ 5, 250, R-Jr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (11 games, 22 catches, 180 yards, 4 TDs)
• Noah Greer, 6’ 1, 190, R-Jr., Aurora, Colo. (8games, 20 catches, 297 yards, 2 TDs)
• Colton Mills-Younger, 6’ 2, 225, Jr., Wellington, Colo. (10 games, 15 catches, 175 yards, 1 TD)
• Bryson Brown, 6’ 1, 160, So., Amarillo, Texas (7 games, 11 catches, 268 yards, 2 TDs)
• Jackson Hansen, 5’ 10, 150, R-So., Arvada, Colo. (3 games, 5 catches, 49 yards)
• Jalen Hankins, 5’ 8, 185, Sr., Bakersfield, Calif. (11 games, 3 catches, 19 yards)
• Ryan Rodieck, 6’ 1, 200, Sr., El Cajon, Calif. (11 games, 3 catches, 26 yards)
• Micah Byrum, 6’ 5, 235, R-Jr., Tabernash, Colo. (11 games, 3 catches, 31 yards)

Colorado Mines

• Pierce Richards, 5’ 11, 190, R-Jr., Kingwood, Texas (9 games, 56 catches, 553 yards, 7 TDs)
• Nick Stone, 6’ 2, 195, R-Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (11 games, 37 catches, 412 yards, 7 ths)
• Josh Best, 5’ 10, 185, R-Jr., Houston, Texas (10 games, 22 catches, 218 yards, 1 TD)
• Blake Smotherman, 6’ 4, 240, R-Sr., Fort Collins, Colo. (11 games, 21 catches, 218 yards, 3 TDs)
• Aksel Richard, 5’ 11, 190, R-Sr., Spring, Texas (11 games, 13 catches, 316 yards, 3 TDs)
• Connor McGrath, 6’ 2, 195, R-So., Frisco, Texas (8 games, 8 catches, 108 yards, 2 TDs)
• Jayden Reyes, 5’ 10, 175, R-So., Seattle, Wash. (8 games, 7 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDs)
• Tyson Mauck, 6’ 1, 195, R-So., Greenwood Village, Colo. (3 games, 6 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD)
• Jake Willis, 6’ 1, 180, R-Fr., Arlington, Wash. (3 games, 4 catches, 24 yards, 1 TD)
• Bryce Lisaka, 5’ 10, 175, R-So., Kansas City, Mo. (6 games, 4 catches, 36 yards)

Colorado State

• Tommy Maher, Redondo Beach, Calif. (12 games, 32 catches, 358 yards)
• Lavon Brown, Chatsworth, Calif. (12 games, 22 catches, 244 yards)
• Kojo Antwi, Suwanee, Ga. (8 games, 8 catches, 48 yards)
• Ryan McConnell, Erie, Colo. (10 games, 2 catches, 22 yards)

CSU Pueblo

• Dedrek Taylor-Akins, 6’ 4, 200, Sr., Fontana, Calif. (12 games, 35 catches, 514 yards, 7 TDs)
• Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr., 6’ 1, 190, Jr., Aurora, Colo. (12 games, 29 catches, 564 yards, 6 TDs)
• Bryce Boyd, 6’ 5, 210, Sr., Shakopee, Minn. (1 game, 4 catches, 34 yards)
• Dominic Cesario-Scott, 6’ 7, 230, Jr., Aurora, Colo. (12 games, 2 catches, 10 yards)
• Nate Gravagno, 6’ 2, 205, Sr., Englewood, Colo. (12 games, 2 catches, 17 yards)
• Colton Rose, 6’ 4, 235, Jr., Castle Rock, Colo. (9 games, 2 catches, 19 yards)

Fort Lewis

• Zachary Gaumont, 5’ 9, 175, Sr., Mesa, Ariz. (11 games, 28 catches, 577 yards, 4 TDs)
• Solomon Latimer, 6’ 2, 175, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (11 games, 23 catches, 295 yards, 3 TDs)
• Michael Collins, 6’ 5, 220, So., Martinez, Calif. (11 games, 8 catches, 122 yards, 3 TDs)
• Kamrin Joyce-Fairley, 6’ 1, 180, R-So., Denver, Colo. (11 games, 7 catches, 59 yards)
• Clayton Godsey, 5’ 9, 175, R-Jr., Whitefish, Mont. (10 games, 2 catches, 13 yards)

Northern Colorado

• Brody Judd, 6′ 4”, 245, Jr., Westminster, Colo. (11 games, 2 catches, 44 yards)

Western Colorado

• Caden Measner, 6’ 1, 195, R-Sr., Greeley, Colo. (12 games, 55 catches, 731 yards, 8 TDs)
• Ramon Ruiz, 6’ 1, 180, Sr., Madera, Calif. (13 games, 33 catches, 405 yards, 4 TDs)
• DJ Allen Jr, 6’ 3, 205, R-Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo. (13 games, 29 catches, 555 yards, 7 TDs)
• Joshua Dixon, 6’ 1, 185, R-So., San Diego, Calif. (9 games, 9 catches, 193 yards, 4 TDs)
• Blake Kramer, 6’ 4, 185, R-Sr., Thornton, Colo. (7 games, 6 catches, 128 yards, 1 TDs)
• Antwuan Jackson, 6’ 1, 185, R-Jr., Saint Louis, Mo. (4 games, 4 catches, 46 yards)
• Yasir Berry, 5’ 10, 185, R-Sr., Staten Island, N.Y. (9 games, 4 catches, 75 yards, 1 TDs.)
• Jaxon Young, 6’ 1, 185, R-Jr., Las Vegas, Nev. (12 games, 1 catch, 15 yards)