5 Greatest Ohio State Wide Receivers in History

It’s very possible your favorite Ohio State receiver in history didn’t make this list.

The five greatest OSU wideouts ever is a tough nut to crack. The guys who rank first and second in school history in receptions didn’t even make it. But we also think you’ll have a tough time arguing against any of these five not making it.

And our No. 1? Well, let’s just say he’s one of the greatest to ever play the position. Let’s take a look.

Honorable Mentions

• Joey Galloway (1991-1994)
• Terry Glenn (1993-1995)
• Santonio Holmes (2003-2005)
• Ted Ginn Jr. (2004-2006)
• Michael Thomas (2012-2015)
• Emeka Egbuka (2021-2024)
• Jeremiah Smith (2024-present)

5. Michael Jenkins (2000-2003)

Only one player in the history of Ohio State football has recorded more yards receiving than Jenkins. Consider all the great wideouts the Buckeyes have fielded. It’s an incredible accomplishment.

Jenkins accomplished the feat even catching passes from Craig Krenzel. Granted, we ranked Krenzel as the fifth-best quarterback in OSU history, but it wasn’t because of his incredible passing talent. Imagine the numbers Jenkins would have put up with any of the other four on that list.

Over three years, from 2001 to 2003, Jenkins caught 157 passes for 2,746 yards with 16 touchdowns.

4. David Boston (1996-1998)

Two players rank in the top five in Ohio State history when it comes to receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns. The other one ranks No. 1 on this list (spoiler).

Boston was a monster on the outside, a hulking 6-foot-2, 228 pounds in an era -- the mid-1990s -- that didn’t produce many players like that.

He led the Big Ten in receptions as a sophomore with 70, led the Big Ten in receiving yards as a junior with 1,330, and led the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns both seasons, picking up 14 and 13 in back-to-back years.

A knee injury cut his NFL career short, but he led the league in yards receiving for a season there, too. An animal.

3. Chris Olave (2018-2021)

Olave comes awfully close to joining Boston and the No. 1 player by ranking top five in all three major receiving categories for the Buckeyes. As it stands, his 35 touchdown receptions are tops in OSU history, three ahead of Boston.

Olave made the All-Big Ten team three times in his four seasons, including two first-team selections. Like Boston, Olave led the conference in touchdowns, only he did it twice. Once as a sophomore and again in his final season in 2021.

His 176 catches rank fourth and his 2,711 yards receiving rank him sixth.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-2023)

Harrison Jr., the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, is the most collegiately decorated wide receiver who has ever played at Ohio State. Only 11 players in the history of the Big Ten earned unanimous All-American honors twice. Harrison is one.

He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting as a junior, his final season with the Buckeyes, in 2021, after leading the conference in yards receiving (1,211), yards per catch (18.7), and touchdowns (14).

He also earned Big Ten Offensive Player of Year, Big Ten Most Valuable Player, and the Biletnikoff Award.

1. Cris Carter (1984-1986)

Simply put, Carter is one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play the game. And we’re not even including his stellar NFL career in ranking him in No. 1.

Carter ranks fifth in Ohio State history in receptions with 165, fifth in yards receiving with 2,725, and fifth in touchdowns with 27. Yes, players rank higher in each. But consider, Carter played in Columbus in the mid-1980s.

The balls weren’t exactly flying through the air at the same rate then as they were when Boston and Jenkins played, much less when Olave and Harrison Jr. did.

It’s hard to imagine anyone arguing with his placement here.

More Ohio State Football Rankings

• 10 Greatest Ohio State Football Players Ever
• 5 Greatest Ohio State Quarterbacks of All Time
• 5 Greatest Ohio State Running Backs of All Time
• 5 Greatest Ohio State Defensive Players of All Time