Sports
Sports

ESPN names Georgia Tech ‘Best Wide Receiver Factory’ for NFL

Tech's Demaryius Thomas (8) runs past Duke's Scott Elder (24) for a touchdown in the 4th quarter during the Georgia Tech vs. Duke game on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Credit: JOHNNY CRAWFORD

Credit: JOHNNY CRAWFORD

Tech's Demaryius Thomas (8) runs past Duke's Scott Elder (24) for a touchdown in the 4th quarter during the Georgia Tech vs. Duke game on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
By Juliakate E Culpepper
April 25, 2017

Georgia Tech has been named the NFL's Best Wide Receiver Factory by ESPN.

The Yellow Jackets ranked in front of Alabama and Pittsburgh respectively.

“Georgia Tech’s duo of Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas have a combined 10 Pro Bowls in their 16 total NFL seasons, giving the Yellow Jackets the top spot ahead of Alabama,” the list said.

Johnson, a retired Detroit Lion, played at Georgia Tech from 2004-2006 and totaled 2,927 receiving yards and 29 total touchdowns. Thomas, a Super Bowl winning Denver Bronco, played at Tech from 2007-2009 and accounted for 2,339 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

The bottom three schools for producing NFL wide receivers were Oklahoma, Southern California and Michigan State, according to ESPN.

Some of the other “Best Factories” for the NFL include:

  • Best Quarterback Factory- Southern California
  • Best Running Back Factory- Oklahoma
  • Best Tight End Factory- Miami
  • Best Offensive Line Factory- Wisconsin
  • Best Defensive Line Factory- North Carolina
  • Best Linebacker Factory- Southern California
  • Best Defensive Back Factory- Miami

About the Author

Juliakate E Culpepper
More Stories

Keep Reading

“Our confidence is not going to waver because we didn’t shoot well tonight,” said Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard, shown here last month with Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Dream go ice cold in loss to Wings

Atlanta’s dismal night from 3-point range, dominant interior play from Dallas lead to lowest offensive output of the season.

Chase Elliott’s ties to kids with cancer go beyond race car paint scheme

Chase Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver and a Georgia native, will have a paint scheme designed by young cancer patient Rhealynn Mills for the 2025 race in Atlanta.

Georgia football primed to go on a major tear on the recruiting trail

It's generally the new norm to see many top prospects come off the board in July after official visits have dominated the month of June, but that timeline has been sped up.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) celebrates his solo home run against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Credit: AP

Atlanta TV sports listings

33m ago

Dream go ice cold in loss to Wings

Sports Daily: Pre-draft Porzingis party

Featured

Bumper to bumper traffic travels northbound on the I-85 just past the I-285 overpass, also known as Spaghetti Junction, in Doraville. In late May and June of this year, several drivers have pulled out weapons and fired guns at other motorists on metro Atlanta roadways. (Jason Getz/AJC 2023)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Metro Atlanta road rage: Routine drives can quickly turn violent, experts say

‘Power mad’: Why a far-right Georgia GOP faction is splintering

Defections from a far-right faction within the Georgia's Republican Party show it is losing influence in state politics.

Jake Paul’s $39 million Georgia property is fit for a ‘big kid,’ broker says

Social media influencer and professional boxer Jake Paul said much of the $39 million he paid to buy a massive South Georgia property in April came from fighting Mike Tyson