Although they have primarily been recognized for their success in molding quarterbacks and linebackers at the next level, the USC Trojans have had their fair share of elite wide receivers in the NFL as well – particularly in recent years.
In fact, USC has produced a pair of the best slot receivers currently playing professionally in Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster and LA’s Robert Woods.
A recent graphic from Pro Football Focus highlighted the slot receivers who average the most yards after the catch, and Smith-Schuster and Woods rank first and third, respectively, since 2018.
It's all about that slot YAC 💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/3zHpy0Ul62
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) July 17, 2020
Although Smith-Schuster had a down 2019 season, thanks in part to injuries and also the absence of Ben Roethlisberger, he has totaled 1,978 yards since 2018 – an average of 12.9 yards per reception.
Woods is entering his seventh NFL season, and his fourth with the Rams. He has been a very solid performer throughout his career, but he really turned things on the past two years – topping 85 receptions and 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2018, and doing it again in 2019.
Assuming health, both Smith-Schuster and Woods should be among the league’s best wide receivers in 2020, and will no doubt be near the top of the leaderboard in yards after the catch out of the slot once again.
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