Top 10 in receiving yards

With 10 of the top 54 leading receivers in the nation returning to school in the MAC, MWC, Sun Belt, CUSA and Independents, 2015 looks to have an aerial assault like no other. 

1. Rashard Higgins, Colorado State: After an impressive freshman season in 2013 that saw him make 68 catches for 837 yards and 6 touchdowns, Higgins made his name known nationally with a 96 catch, 1,750 yard, 17 TD season in 2014. His receiving yards were first nationally despite nine players making more catches than him. As gaudy as his stats were in 2014, they could have been better if he was able to play in the Hawaii game. After a disappointing season opening game (1 catch, 16 yards, 1 TD), Higgins had over 100 yards receiving in 10 of the next 11 games capped by a 6 catch, 178 yard, 4 TD effort versus Tulsa. Overall, Higgins has 164 career catches for 2,587 yards and 23 TD. 
2. Corey Davis, Western Michigan: The rising junior for the Broncos was able to add to an impressive 2013 freshman season (67/941/6TD) with a 78 catch, 1,408 yard, 15 TD season in leading WMU to the Potato Bowl. Davis missed one game but was able to earn 100+ yards receiving in eight of twelve games with an 8 catch, 176 yard, 3 TD performance versus Air Force in the Potato Bowl. Davis also broke the 200 yard plateau with a 9 catch, 212 yard, 2 TD game versus Ohio. Overall, Davis has 145 catches for 2,349 yards and 21 TD in his WMU career.
3. Tajae Sharpe, Massachusetts: The rising senior and 1st team All-MAC member jumped on the national scene in 2014 after solid freshman and sophomore seasons for the Minutemen. In 2014, Sharpe jumped to an 85 catch, 1,281 yard, 7 touchdown season, an increase of 24 catches and 601 yards and 3 TD from the previous season. Sharpe was monstrous versus BGSU (13/179/2TD), EMU (13/193/0TD), and Ball State (13/239/0TD) with a combined 39 catches in those games. Overall, Sharpe has 166 career receptions for 2,167 yards and 11 TD.
4. Roger Lewis, Bowling Green: Earning a starting spot right out of the gate, Lewis had a very impressive freshman season for the Falcons with 73 catches for 1,093 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2014. Lewis' most impressive game was in a week three win over Indiana that saw him catch 16 passes for 149 yards and 1 TD. The receiver ended the season with six 100+ games out of 13 games played and after struggling in the second half of the season, impressed with four catches for 137 yards and 2 TD in the Cameilla Bowl.
5. Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan: Lining up as a sophomore alongside Corey Davis, Braverman had an incredible 2014 season with  86 catches for 997 yards and 6 touchdowns. Braverman came out of the gates impressive with 10 catches for 130 yards in a season opening loss to Purdue. The sophomore added three more 100+ receiving games versus Idaho, Virginia Tech and Central Michigan for give him four 100+ games in the 2014 season. Braverman added seven catches for 85 yards in the Potato Bowl loss to Air Force. 
6. Devonte Boyd, UNLV: The highly touted wide receiver for the Rebels was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing 2-11 season with 65 catches for 980 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2014. As with any freshman, Boyd was streaky but seemed to step up more versus higher level opponents such as Arizona (6/102/0TD), SDSU (4/86/1TD), Fresno State (7/77/0TD), Utah State (6/128/1TD), and BYU (6/77/1TD). If he can play more consistently from week to week and get good service from the quarterback, he is in store for a huge career at UNLV.
7. Hunter Sharp, Utah State: Never quite able to find the consistency wanted from his wide receiver position, Sharpe was still able to carve out a very nice 2014 season with 66 catches for 939 yards and 7 touchdowns. Sharp started slowly with two total catches in the first two games of the season but game alive from weeks three through six. During that four game stretch, Sharp caught 38 passes for 605 yards and 4 TD. If he can somewhat emulate those numbers are a larger portion of the season, Sharp could have a monstrous senior season in 2015.
8. Teldrick Morgan, New Mexico State: The rising junior was a revelation for the Aggies in 2014 with a 75 catch, 903 yard, 7 touchdown season last fall. Even though the Aggies went 2-11 in 2014, Morgan did everything he could with four 100+ games and an 8 catch, 202 yard, 1 TD game versus rival UTEP. Morgan hit 10+ catches on two occasions with a 10/100/0TD game versus Georgia Southern and a 10/70/1TD game versus Texas State. The junior will not catch anyone off guard in 2015 and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to put up the numbers this fall.
9. Donovan Harden, Georgia State: With a new quarterback and a much better passing attack in 2014, the biggest jump came from rising senior wide receiver Harden. The senior led the team with 60 catches for 885 yards and 7 touchdowns in the 1-11 season for the Panthers. Consistently putting up numbers, Harden exploded in a two game stretch versus South Alabama and Georgia Southern, combining to catch 21 passes for 318 yards and 6 TD. If he can find more of those games and fewer 2/12/0TD games versus Appalachian State, he will get all conference looks.
10. Thomas Sperbeck, Boise State: Sometimes all a player needs is a chance to prove his worth on the field and in 2014, Boise State learned that lesson with Sperbeck. The rising senior looked in the opening four games of the season to be on track to duplicate the 5 catch, 40 yard season from 2013 until an injury came along. Getting the chance to catch some passes for the first time in game five of the season, Sperbeck proceeded to lead the team in receiving yards and put up 100+ yards in three different games that included a 12 catch, 199 yard game in the Fiesta Bowl that earned him Offensive MVP honors. Expect Sperbeck to improve on his 51 catch, 877 yard, 3 TD season from 2014 and contend for all conference honors this fall.