Editors note: This is the third in the eight-part “YPS Top 40” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 40 of the top returning football players for the 2024 season.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The YPS Top 40 is an eight-story series highlight 40 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.

The series started with quarterbacks on Monday and highlighted running backs on Tuesday.

Now the attention shifts to pass catchers with a look at the top wide receivers and tight ends in the Your Prep Sports area.

In the next few days five other position groups – offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back and special teams – will all be featured.

Here is a look at six of the top returning receivers in the area.

Dallas Miller

Senior, Liberty High

A breakthrough junior season saw Miller establish himself as one of the most productive pass catchers in the state ranking in the top 10 in Class 5A in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

In his first season as a starter Miller excelled earning first-team all-district and all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors after catching a team-high 60 passes for 804 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The 12 touchdown catches for Miller were the most in 5A, his 60 receptions were third most and the 804 yards were eighth among 5A pass catchers.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Miller is a precise route runner and showed an ability to get separation from defenders while averaging 13.4 yards per reception.

Liberty High will be breaking in a new quarterback this season but whoever is behind center will have a reliable safety net in Miller who showed a knack for finding open space last fall.

Mason Woods

Senior, West High

One of the most physically imposing pass catcher in the state, Woods has a unique blend of size, strength, speed and ball skills that makes him a nightmare for opposing defenders.

An Iowa commit, Woods has caught 54 passes for 925 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons and is coming off a breakout junior campaign in which he led the Trojans in receptions and was second in receiving yards.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Woods was simply uncoverable at times last season, catching a team-high 35 passes for 535 and three touchdowns.

A standout two-way player each of the past two season, Woods also had 17.5 tackles with three tackles for loss and two interceptions last season and is a big play threat any time he steps on the field.

Owen Rosenberg

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

After getting a taste of varsity action as a sophomore Rosenberg made his big jump last season leading the Clippers in receptions and receiving yards while earning all-district honors.

Now Rosenberg will look to build on that success as the leader of the returning Clear Creek Amana pass catchers.

Rosenberg caught 26 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown as a junior, averaging 13 yards per reception.

Expect all of those numbers to climb this fall as Rosenberg enters his third season of varsity action.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Rosenberg is a smooth athlete with good speed and has the ability to go up and make contested catches.

Connor Cross

Senior, City High

City High must replace its top three pass catchers from last season but returns a steady top option in Cross who has caught 26 passes over the past two seasons.

An underrated piece of a City High offense that averaged 38.4 points over the final eight games last season, Cross quietly put together a stellar junior season.

Cross caught 18 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns last season and will take over as a leader in the City High receiver group.

The 6-foot, 165-pound Cross is a solid route runner with good speed and strong hands which helped him average 20.6 yards per reception last season.

Parker Sutherland

Senior, City High

A uniquely talented pass catcher, Sutherland has a combination of size and speed that makes him one of the top tight ends in the state.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Sutherland has long arms that give him an impressive catch radius and make him a dangerous target in the red zone.

Sutherland also showed the hands, speed and athleticism to be a threat in the opening field last season catching 18 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns.

Similar to Cross the expectation is for Sutherland to take another step forward this season and emerge as a top threat in the City High passing game.

With his frame and ability to block Sutherland provides City High a unique piece in the running or passing game.

Collin Decker

Senior, Liberty High

Pass catching teammates Dallas Miller and Sutton Koller got a majority of the headlines and a bulk of the targets last season as the duo combined for 119 receptions, 1, 620 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Even with both Koller and Miller returning expect Decker to be a big part of the Liberty High offense this fall after putting together his own impressive junior season.

Decker ranked third on the team behind Koller and Miller in receptions and receiving yards last season and brings a different skill set to the Lightning receiving corps.

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Decker is a long, physical outside receiver with excellent athletic ability that is capable of stretching the field and is a perfect compliment to Miller and Koller.

Decker caught 26 passes for 415 yards and two touchdowns last season and should be a strong red zone option for Liberty High this season.

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