Can BYU get top WR recruits?

I have seen the idea tossed around that a spread offense can deter top wide receivers from committing to a school. I have also heard it mentioned that BYU's flavor of the spread, using the TE's and RB's as receiving options, goes even further to deter them. Is this line of thinking based on reality or perception?

I'd say a little of both. The spread option makes the defense defend the field more horizontally than vertically. With four receiver sets, lined up from boundary to boundary, the defense must stretch to cover everyone. This creates wide gaps that can be taken advantage of with good route running, crisp passing and a good run game. However, it doesn't take a 6'5, 4.4 wide receiver to make a catch in this type of space. This offense is built around the team effort more than an individual's athleticism.

So can a top wide receiver make a difference? Unequivocally yes. Last year a true freshman, McKay Jacobson, was the 3rd leading receiver in touches and 2nd in yards.

Now to the details. Last year BYU threw 311 completions for 4206 yards and 33 touchdowns. Of those:

Receptions:
132 by wide receivers (42.4%)
99 by running backs (31.8%)
80 by tight ends (25.7%)

This demonstrates how really "spread" this offense really is under Anae. More impressively, 5 wide receivers had over 21 receptions, 2 running backs and both tight ends. On any given play there are 5 targets for the QB.

Yards:
2123 yards by wide receivers (50.5%)
1174 yards by tight ends (27.9%)
909 yards by running backs (21.6%)

Wide receivers accounted for more yards than the other two groups combined. To the running backs defense, the pass game to the running backs is usually more like a run than a true pass.

Touchdowns:
14 TDs by tight ends (42.4%)
11 TDs by wide receivers (33.3%)
8 TDs by running backs (24.2%)

This category is heavily skewed by Harline's 12 touchdown grabs. Remember, these numbers are only through the air. The 8 touchdowns by running backs are typically short flats to the running back that are essentially an overhand toss sweep.

My 3 Cents: Long story short, there is a place for big time receivers to make great numbers and score touchdowns. I believe wide receivers will see they can make an impact and there is hard data, and some great highlight reels, to prove it. Harline throws a wrench in the numbers, because he isn't a true TE. He often lined up split out as a H-back receiver. Most of his numbers should be listed in the receiver bracket. It doesn't take away that he was dominant, but it wasn't accomplished as a TE in the traditional sense. I think this year we might see the receivers get about 55-60% of the receptions, 60% of the yards and 45-50% of the TDs as this group of wide receivers is quite talented (Allen, Collie, Reed) and there are some great WR's arriving in the fall. Someone will have to take Harline's % of catches and I'd expect it to be a wide receiver.

My prediction: BYU will have a 1,000 yard receiver this year. With the quality of athlete's BYU is attracting, I hope we get a couple more great WRs to continue the winning tradition.

Names of recruits to watch for:
O'Neill Chambers (6'2.5. 205 lbs, 4.65 - Harmony, Florida)
Kendrick Moeai (6'4, 195 lbs, - Copper Hills, Utah)
William Jenkins (6'0, 177 lbs, 4.5 - Ranco Verde, California)
Jake Murphy (6'5, 215 lbs, 4.7 - American Fork, Utah)