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Ranking the 10 best wide receiver single seasons in college football history

By David Creekmur

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Randy Moss #88, Wide Receiver for the Marshall University Thundering Herd during the NCAA Mid-American Conference college football game against the United States Military Academy at West Point Army Black Knights on 6th September 1997 at the Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, United States. The Thundering Herd won the game 35 – 25. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Allsport/Getty Images)
Randy Moss #88, Wide Receiver for the Marshall University Thundering Herd during the NCAA Mid-American Conference college football game against the United States Military Academy at West Point Army Black Knights on 6th September 1997 at the Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, United States. The Thundering Herd won the game 35 – 25. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Allsport/Getty Images) /

1. Randy Moss, Marshall (1997)

Before becoming an NFL Hall of Fame receiver, West Virginia native Randy Moss had quite a two-year career at Marshall. That is actually an understatement. After a few issues leading up to his time at Marshall, Moss simply went off for the Thundering Herd, in a positive way.

Marshall was in the process of transitioning from Division I-AA (now FCS) to Division I-A (now FBS) during the time Moss played. In fact, in 1996, the Herd’s last season in I-AA, Moss caught 78 passes for 1,709 yards along with a whopping 28 touchdowns, nine of which were in the playoffs. That set the stage for what would be an opportunity for Moss to truly show what he could do against Division I-A talent in 1997.

Marshall’s first year in Division I-A was a rousing success, led by Moss at receiver and future NFL star Chad Pennington at quarterback. The Herd went 10-3, including just a three-point loss to the SEC’s Ole Miss in the Motor City Bowl. Additionally, they also defeated Toledo in the first-ever MAC Championship Game. Moss led the way with astonishing numbers. He grabbed 96 receptions for 1,820 yards and an amazing 26 touchdowns for the season. He also returned 25 punts for 271 yards as well as 14 kicks for 263 yards. Certainly, Moss established himself as a beast on the field from game one against West Virginia.

The 26 touchdowns scored by Moss in 1997 still stand as second-most in a season ever, falling just one short of Troy Edwards’ record set the following season. Moss went on to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Also, to no surprise, he was named a consensus All-American for his work, while finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

With the fantastic numbers he put up, coupled with the team success amid Marshall’s transition to D-1, Moss had one of the best wide receiver single seasons in college football history and finishes No. 1 on this list.

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