SEC StatCat's Top5 Pass Catchers on Contested Targets for 2021

Most receivers can catch a wide open pass. But, not all of them can hold onto a target zipping through small windows or when a defender is looking to lay some lumber. Of course in a perfect world, pass catchers would never be tested in such a way. But obviously, we know that’s not how it always plays out, and receivers who can consistently win contested battles are more valuable commodities no matter how their physical traits stack up. Though this list could look very different by the end of the year, here are the SEC’s top5 contested target receivers returning for 2021 based on their performance last fall.  

5. Chase Lane

Thanks to a lack of collective speed from its receiver room and a methodical passing game that honed in on short, West Coast staples, Texas A&M pass catchers were quite accustomed to having to field tight window and contested chances. Chase Lane’s personal Contested Target Rate cracked the SEC’s top10 in 2020 and is the 5th-highest amongst returners. While less than half of these throws resulted in completions, every single one of Lanes catches ended in situational success. His 46.1% Success Rate holds a share of the SEC’s 2nd-best figure ahead of this fall. And to further rose-scent his profile, Lane dons a top4 First Down+TD Rate. Though a double-digit Drop Rate and being ranked in the teens in terms of Yards/Target and Depth Adjusted Catch Rate aren’t good optics, Lane is a well-tested tight window option worthy of some acclaim. 

4. Tauskie Dove

Tauskie Dove was a high floor, low ceiling receiver on contested attempts. Already muted by a low average depth of target in these spots, the Tigers experienced an uncatchable throw on over a fifth of his tight window opportunities. Only five returners can lament from a worse clip. With plenty of wasted tries, Dove’s 13th-ranked Yards/Target hardly jumps off the screen. Yet, he came through by hauling in half of his chances and posting the SEC’s 3rd-best Depth Adjusted Catch Rate ahead of 2021. Along with a top5 Drop Rate and Success Rate, only one of his peers produced a preferable First Down+TD Rate than his 42.9% clip.

3. George Pickens

The odds aren’t in George Pickens’ favor to return to UGA’s lineup this fall after suffering a knee injury this spring, but it he ends up suiting up he’ll certainly be one of the conference top contested pass catchers. Pickens saw about a third of his targets occur in tight windows, a figure that only trails seven SECers for 2021. Behind the 4th-best Drop Rate, both of his 42.1% Success Rate and 7.74 Yards/Target stand to be the top5 figures among returning SECers. Though he could’ve been better at tracking down inaccurate targets in this context per his underwhelming 39.1% Depth Adjusted Catch Rate and under half of his chances were caught, every single of of Pickens’ contested catches resulted in either a first down or a score. By a rate basis, his 42.1% clip holds the conference’s bronze medal. 

2. Cam Johnson

Like Texas A&M, Vanderbilt’s receivers tended to have issues creating separation from secondaries. But thanks to a modus operandi that feasted on short throws and operating as an outlet receiver, only three returners can throw out a lower Contested Target Rate than Cam Johnson’s 23.9% clip. Regardless of volume, the Commodore commands the conferences 2nd-best Success Rate and Catch Rate while not logging a single drop in these spots. Sure, working closer to the line of scrimmage helped his degree of difficulty. But his Depth Adjusted Catch Rate and First Down+TD still sit inside the SEC’s top5 for next season. Plus, Johnson was hindered by a 12% Uncatchable Pass Rate. But along with his laudable stat line, he sports a top10 contested Yards/Target with a 6.76 clip. 

1. Ben Bresnahan

Like his teammate, Vanderbilt’s Ben Bresnahan didn’t venture too far downfield in these spots. But as a big-bodied tight end who was expected to bully around coveragemen regardless of where he was thrown the ball, the Commodore more than delivered. Both his Contested Yard and Contested Catch Makeups stand as some of the highest respective clips amongst his contemporaries, which hammers home his degree of difficulty just in case his helmet decal didn’t signify that already. Plus, over a seventh of these targets were deemed uncatchable. Yet, Bresnahan tops all other returners in Success Rate, raw Catch Rate, Depth Adjusted Catch Rate, and First Down+TD Rate. All of his snags resulted in either a conversion or a score. And as you can see, he was the only SECer to see at least half of his targets result in such. Meanwhile, the delivered the 3rd-best Yards/Target despite his bottom5 average depth of target.