April 24, 2017
THE FLATS – In a study released on Monday, ESPN has tabbed Georgia Tech as college football’s “Best Wide Receiver Factory.”
The study, conducted by author Luke Knox, compared the weighted draft values and overall performances in the National Football League for players from every college program since 2002. Schools with the highest percentage of overall performance over weighted draft values at any given position are considered the best “factory” for NFL talent at that position.
With a 5.55-percent overall performance rating and 1.49-percent draft value at the wide receiver position over the past 15 years, Georgia Tech easily earned the title of “Best Wide Receiver Factory,” with its 4.05-percent differential nearly doubling the next-closest program, Alabama.
Six Georgia Tech wideouts have been drafted since 2002, including a pair of first-round picks in Calvin Johnson (No. 2 overall, 2007, Detroit Lions) and Demaryius Thomas (No. 22 overall, 2010, Denver Broncos). Those six receivers have combined to make 10 Pro Bowl appearances while catching 1,343 passes for 20,120 yards and 142 touchdowns over 24 combined NFL seasons.
Also in ESPN’s “The Best NFL Factories” feature, Georgia Tech is tied for eighth among all college programs in the “Long-Term Starters” category, as 9.1 percent of the Yellow Jackets’ draft picks since 2002 have gone on to be NFL starters for eight or more seasons.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTAthletics), Facebook and Instagram or visit us at Ramblinwreck.com.
