No one is less impressed than me by a high powered passing offense.  Sorry, but I still pine for Nebraska to bring back the wishbone.  So, I begrudgingly drudge into an article about the best corps of wide receivers and tight ends in the country, and what do I find?  A tight, three team race.  These three are all very close, so I felt inclined to give the two who didn't make the cut a little more attention than I would otherwise.

Almost making the cut first is Southern Cal.  Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are an awesome pair.  Both very much prototypical NFL millionaires.  Dominique Byrd is a solid TE, but not flashy and over the top in terms of skills.  Looking at who USC is using as their third wideout, It's sketchy, but there is talent there.  The problem is, with Jarrett, Smith, and Reggie Bush, being the third wide receiver probably means not seeing many balls.  Smith and Jarrett may be the best 1-2 punch at wideout, but a lack of established depth, and no elite TE hurts them, for this exercise.

Next is LSU, and I almost gave them the crown.  Skyler Green and Early Doucet are both great NFL prospects, and going into the season, penciled in to be the starters, but Craig Davis and Dwayne Bowe had something to say about that.  Xavier Carter mixes in a 5th option at wideout, and although they are underwhelming at TE, and  David Jones and Keith Zinger are OK, having 5 legit starting wideouts is impressive.  If it weren't for problems with being inconsistent at wideout, and average TE play, they might have scored the top spot.

This leaves the one group that did make the cut above the most recent national champs.  There's another group out west, who go 4 deep with NFL-caliber wide receivers, and 2 deep at TE.  In my opinion, they have the top prospect at wide receiver and tight end in the nation.  So I have to give the nod to Arizona State. 

Derek Hagan is the best wide receiver in the country.  There, I said it...I feel better.  There are guys with better measurables, and guys who get more pub, but there's no more complete player at wideout in the nation than Hagan.  6'2" and 200 lbs. with sprinter speed, and the best hands around.  He's considered a big-time deep threat, but there's also no route that he can't run.  Add to those skills that he's a diligent worker who's always looking to improve himself.  NFL teams love work ethic paired with amazing natural ability – that's Hagan.

Across from Hagan is junior Terry Richardson.  He's another big target at 6'1" and 198 lbs., similar in style to Hagan, capable of highlight reel catches.  Some critics knock Richardson's concentration at times, but this spring he really stepped his game up, in anticipation of a big year for Arizona State and his pending role as the go to guy, when Hagan is in the NFL. 

Next on the depth chart is Matt Miller.  He's a long lanky player at 6'2" and 175 lbs., with speed to burn and great hands.  Miller is another deep threat in an already explosive offense.  In many cases Miller is the guy who draws the single coverage with Hagan and Richardson on the outside, and he makes the most of it.

4 deep ya say?  Yep.  Morey Mutz is a 6'2" senior, who relished the opportunity to be the possession receiver to Hagan and Richardson's vertical game, and it works perfectly.  Mutz is a great target for moving the chains and getting the tough yards.

That's quite a unit, but it's not over...not even close really.  Arizona State also has Zach Miller, who just as a sophomore, is the best pro prospect at TE in the country (with Nebraska's Matt Herian still shelved with an injury).  He's not an oversized TE at 6'4" and 255 lbs., but as a receiving threat, he's unmatched at the position.  The way I look at this Miller is Todd Heap version 2.0, but stronger and a better blocker.  His biggest problem may be getting the attention of quarterback Sam Keller with all the other options on the field.

One of those stealing his attention is junior tight end Jamaal Lewis.  Lewis is more of an oversized wide out at 6'4" and 238 lbs. that can split out, overmatch corners and safeties, and outrun linebackers.   He's such a great red zone target, that I can see Lewis being more of a 20-catch for the season target, but half of them go for TDs.  Not bad for being the 6th Sun Devil mentioned here.

I suppose I can't go without talking about Big Lee Burghgraef.  Although some consider him a fullback, he's more H-back than anything, and at 6'5" and 265 lbs., he's a big dude with surprisingly soft hands.  He may not serve any more of a role than as a blocker and dump off target, but he's another ASU weapon. 

So that's 7 guys, 6 Keller can count on, and by my count 5 of them will be big-time NFL players at some point.  Don't think with so many juniors and seniors, the well is dry for Arizona State.  Two redshirt freshmen, Nate Kimbrough and Michael Jones, are waiting in the wings to be the next weapons in the Arizona State offense.  So, 4 deep at wideout, and a Kleinsasser-type target at H-Back, and 2 NFL caliber TEs means that Arizona State is the best receiving corps of the bunch.