SEC Football by the Numbers: 1,000-yard receivers

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers will have the opportunity in 2023 to become the 13th SEC player with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Two SEC players had 1,000 receiving yards in the 2022 season. After catching 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is in training camp with the NFL’s New York Giants. Nabors returns for LSU after having 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns in 2022.

If Nabers could accomplish the feat, he’d become the second LSU player with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining Josh Reed, who did so in 2000 and 2001.

In the SEC’s 90 previous football seasons, there have been 83 1,000-yard receiving seasons accomplished by 71 players.

Last season was a return to normal after the SEC had a record seven 1,000-yard receivers in 2021. The SEC also had exactly two 1,000-yard receivers in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 (with three in 2019).

Despite the concentration of 1,000-yard receivers in the most recent third of conference history and the record number in 2021, three SEC programs are at least 20 seasons removed from their most recent such performance. Auburn hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 1999, and Florida and Georgia haven’t had one since 2002.

All but eight of 83 1,000-yard performances occurred in the past 28 seasons. Since 1995, only in 2004 and 2008 did the SEC fail to produce at least one 1,000-yard receiver.

More recent pass-catchers have benefited from a scoring change by the NCAA. Before 2002, statistics from bowls were not included in a player’s official totals.

Does that make a difference?

Here’s an example: In 1987, Wendell Davis caught 72 passes for 993 yards as LSU compiled a 9-1-1 regular-season record and earned an invitation to the Gator Bowl. In the Tigers’ 30-13 victory over South Carolina in Jacksonville, Davis caught nine passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

But Davis’ 1987 season isn’t included among the SEC’s 1,000-yard receiving campaigns. His official total for the season is 993 receiving yards, not 1,125, which would be the case today. Instead of Davis owning the honor as the first SEC player with two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Tennessee’s Joey Kent holds that distinction for his 1995 and 1996 seasons.

LSU’s Tony Moss in 1988 and Tennessee’s Tim McGee in 1985, Carl Pickens in 1990 and Peerless Price in 1998 would have been 1,000-yard receivers, too, if their bowl stats were part of their official records.

Here are the SEC players who have had 1,000 receiving yards in a season (using the official totals):

Alabama wide receiver John Metchie holds on to a touchdown reception against Georgia during the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 4, 2021, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Alabama: 13 1,000-yard seasons by nine players

1993: David Palmer 1,000 yards on 61 receptions

2006: DJ Hall 1,056 yards on 62 receptions

2007: DJ Hall 1,005 yards on 67 receptions

2010: Julio Jones 1,133 yards on 78 receptions

2012: Amari Cooper 1,000 yards on 59 receptions

2014: Amari Cooper 1,727 yards on 124 receptions

2015: Calvin Ridley 1,045 yards on 89 receptions

2018: Jerry Jeudy 1,315 yards on 68 receptions

2019: DeVonta Smith 1,256 yards on 68 receptions

2019: Jerry Jeudy 1,163 yards on 77 receptions

2020: DeVonta Smith 1,856 yards on 117 receptions

2021: Jameson Williams 1,572 yards on 79 receptions

2021: John Metchie 1,142 yards on 96 receptions

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks carries the football during an SEC game against Missouri on Nov. 26, 2021, at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.(AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)

Arkansas: Four 1,000-yard seasons by four players

1998: Anthony Lucas 1,004 yards on 43 receptions

2011: Jarius Wright 1,117 yards on 66 receptions

2012: Cobi Hamilton 1,335 yards on 90 receptions

2021: Treylon Burks 1,104 yards on 66 receptions

Auburn wide receiver Ronney Daniels catches a touchdown pass against Appalachian State on Sept. 4, 1999, in Auburn.(AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Auburn: Two 1,000-yard seasons by two players

1970: Terry Beasley 1,051 yards on 52 receptions

1999: Ronney Daniels 1,068 yards on 56 receptions

Florida wide receiver Taylor Jacobs catches a touchdown pass during an SEC game against LSU on Oct. 12, 2002, in Gainesville, Fla.(AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

Florida: 11 1,000-yard seasons by 10 players

1969: Carlos Alvarez 1,329 yards on 88 receptions

1995: Chris Doering 1,045 yards on 70 receptions

1995: Ike Hilliard 1,008 yards on 57 receptions

1996: Reidel Anthony 1,293 yards on 72 receptions

1997: Jacquez Green 1,024 yards on 61 receptions

1998: Travis McGriff 1,357 yards on 70 receptions

1999: Darrell Jackson 1,156 yards on 67 receptions

2000: Jabar Gaffney 1,184 yards on 71 receptions

2001: Jabar Gaffney 1,191 yards on 67 receptions

2001: Reche Caldwell 1,059 yards on 65 receptions

2002: Taylor Jacobs 1,088 yards on 71 receptions

Georgia wide receiver Terrence Edwards makes a leaping catch during an SEC game against Tennessee on Oct. 12, 2002, in Athens, Ga.(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Georgia: One 1,000-yard season

2002: Terrence Edwards 1,004 yards on 59 receptions

Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson makes a reception during an SEC game against Tennessee on Nov. 6, 2021, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)AP

Kentucky: Six 1,000-yard seasons by six players

1998: Craig Yeast 1,311 yards on 85 receptions

1999: James Whalen 1,019 yards on 90 receptions

2006: Keenan Burton 1,036 yards on 77 receptions

2007: Steve Johnson 1,041 yards on 60 receptions

2010: Randall Cobb 1,017 yards on 84 receptions

2021: Wan’dale Robinson 1,334 yards on 104 receptions

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers runs after making a reception against New Mexico on Sept. 24, 2022, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

LSU: 10 1,000-yard seasons by nine players

1983: Eric Martin 1,064 yards on 52 receptions

1986: Wendell Davis 1,244 yards on 80 receptions

2000: Josh Reed 1,127 yards on 65 receptions

2001: Josh Reed 1,740 yards on 94 receptions

2003: Michael Clayton 1,079 yards on 78 receptions

2013: Jarvis Landry 1,193 yards on 77 receptions

2013: Odell Beckham Jr. 1,152 yards on 49 receptions

2019: Ja’Marr Chase 1,780 yards on 84 receptions

2019: Justin Jefferson 1,540 yards on 111 receptions

2022: Malik Nabers 1,017 yards on 72 receptions

Mississippi State wide receiver Makai Polk catches a touchdown pass during an SEC game against Vanderbilt on Oct. 23, 2021, at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Mississippi State: Three 1,000-yard seasons by three players

1978: Mardye McDole 1,035 yards on 48 receptions

2015: Fred Ross 1,007 yards on 88 receptions

2021: Makai Polk 1,046 yards on 105 receptions

Missouri wide receiver J’Mon Moore runs after making a reception against Connecticut on Oct, 28, 2017, in East Hartford, Conn.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Missouri: Three 1,000-yard seasons by two players

2014: Bud Sasser 1,003 yards on 77 receptions

2016: J’Mon Moore 1,012 yards on 62 receptions

2017: J’Mon Moore 1,082 yards on 65 receptions

Missouri’s list includes only those players who have had 1,000-yard receiving seasons since 2012, when the Tigers joined the SEC. Overall, Missouri has had nine 1,000-yard receiving seasons by seven players. The Tigers’ other 1,000-yard receivers have been Victor Bailey with 1,210 yards on 75 receptions in 1992, Justin Gage with 1,075 yards on 82 receptions in 2002, Jeremy Maclin with 1,055 yards on 80 receptions in 2007 and 1,260 yards on 102 receptions in 2008, Danario Alexander with 1,781 yards on 113 receptions in 2009 and T.J. Moe with 1,045 yards on 92 receptions in 2010.

Ole Miss wide receiver Dontario Drummond leaps ahead during an SEC game against Mississippi State on Nov. 25, 2021, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Ole Miss: Six 1,000-yard seasons by five players

2009: Shay Hodge 1,135 yards on 70 receptions

2015: Laquon Treadwell 1,153 yards on 82 receptions

2017: A.J. Brown with 1,252 yards on 75 receptions

2018: A.J. Brown with 1,310 yards on 85 receptions

2020: Elijah Moore with 1,193 yards on 86 receptions

2021: Dontario Drummond with 1,028 yards on 76 receptions

South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper catches a touchdown pass against The Citadel on Nov. 21, 2015, in Columbia, S.C.(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

South Carolina: Four 1,000-yard seasons by three players

2005: Sidney Rice 1,143 yards on 70 receptions

2006: Sidney Rice 1,090 yards on 72 receptions

2010: Alshon Jeffery 1,517 yards on 88 receptions

2014: Pharoh Cooper 1,136 yards on 69 receptions

South Carolina’s list includes only those players who have had 1,000-yard receiving seasons since 1992, when the Gamecocks joined the SEC. Before its SEC era, South Carolina had one player reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season — Sterling Sharpe with 1,106 yards on 74 receptions in 1986.

Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt catches a touchdown pass against UT Martin on Oct. 22, 2022, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Tennessee: 10 1,000-yard seasons by nine players

1995: Joey Kent 1,055 yards on 69 receptions

1996: Joey Kent 1,080 yards on 68 receptions

1997: Marcus Nash 1,170 yards on 76 receptions

2001: Kelley Washington 1,010 yards on 64 receptions

2006: Robert Meachem 1,298 yards on 71 receptions

2007: Lucas Taylor 1,000 yards on 73 receptions

2011: Da’Rick Rogers 1,040 yards on 67 receptions

2012: Justin Hunter 1,083 yards on 73 receptions

2021: Cedric Tillman 1,081 yards on 64 receptions

2022: Jalin Hyatt 1,267 yards on 67 receptions

Texas A&M wide receiver Josh Reynolds catches a touchdown pass during an SEC game against Ole Miss on Nov. 12, 2016, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.(AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Texas A&M: Four 1,000-yard seasons by three players

2012: Mike Evans 1,105 yards on 82 receptions

2013: Mike Evans 1,394 yards on 69 receptions

2015: Christian Kirk 1,009 yards on 80 receptions

2016: Josh Reynolds 1,039 yards on 61 receptions

Texas A&M’s list includes only those players who have had 1,000-yard receiving seasons since 2012, when the Aggies joined the SEC. Before its SEC era, Texas A&M had two players reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season — Jeff Fuller with 1,066 yards on 72 receptions in 2010 and Ryan Swope with 1,207 yards on 89 receptions in 2011.

Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews catches a touchdown pass against Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4, 2014, at Legion Field in Birmingham.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Vanderbilt: Six 1,000-yard seasons by five players

1967: Bob Goodridge 1,114 yards on 79 receptions

1988: Boo Mitchell 1,213 yards on 78 receptions

2001: Dan Stricker 1,079 yards on 65 receptions

2006: Earl Bennett 1,146 yards on 82 receptions

2012: Jordan Matthews 1,323 yards on 94 receptions

2013: Jordan Matthews 1,477 yards on 112 receptions

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.