SEC Statcat's Top5 Best Hands for 2021

Complimenting a receiver's hands generally comes with the territory. Though scouts and casual fans alike take notice when a dude can consistently display sticky fingers, fewer analysts are able to separate these chances based on the situation at… hand. While a favorite method of many, rarely does the good old fashioned eye test account for hauling in inaccurate and contested passes or instances where one goes above and beyond the average player to make a catch. In that sense, allow me to be of some assistance. Glossing over the specifics, all of our qualifiers had field a certain amount of extra targets and relatively standout on the stat sheet. Of course things can change; but based off their 2020 reception skills, here are the SEC’5 top5 pass catchers with the best hands returning for this season. 

5. Barrett Bannister

We start off with one of the SEC’s most reliable underneath receivers in Missouri’s Barrett Bannister. Anchored by a low average depth of target, his per opportunity numbers hardly excite. And while his style of play certainly won’t turn many heads, the Tiger did his damnedest to make sure his targets didn’t hit the ground. Despite failing to create an opportunity for himself, his 5.13% Drop Rate is one of the conference’s 10-best ahead of this fall and his Depth Adjusted Catch Rate beyond six yards downfield sits inside the top-dozen returners. Amongst the qualifiers for this exercise, Bannister proved to be better than anyone hauling in inaccurate targets when omitting uncatchable balls in addition to securing the 5th-ranked Adjusted Contested Catch Rate. 

4. Tauskie Dove

Though typically as unsexy as his teammate in terms of modus operandi, Tauskie Dove showed he could still deliver value with his hands even if he didn’t always field pristine opportunities. Since he was a little bit more potent and downfield-oriented than Bannister, he has the edge entering this season. Among our qualifiers for this list, he’s the only player to don top3 Adjusted Inaccurate and Contested Catch Rates. Plus when applying weight toward his chances beyond six yards downfield, his 75.3% Depth Adjusted Catch Rate is the SEC’s 8th-best ahead of this fall. All the while, Dove cracks the top10 in terms of Creation Rate. But thanks to the aforementioned safe operation in which he ran routes, a lack of pizzaz paired with 2021’s 22nd-ranked Drop Rate keeps him rooted in the 4-spot. 

3. Cam Johnson

As Vanderbilt’s go-to outlet receiver, Cam Johnson generally played pitch and catch on Saturdays. Not that he didn’t run routes downfield, but a good amount of gimmes flooded his profile and allowed him to look rather favorably in this regard relative to his peers. Along with an overall Catch Rate that is the 5th-best amongst conference returners, Johnson’s 1.41% Drop Rate holds the gold medal. The Commodore failed to create an opportunity for himself, but I won’t dock him for that. He finished with our qualifiers’ top Adjusted Contested Catch Rate while sitting inside the top5 in terms of Adjusted Inaccurate Catch Rate. Again, he mostly worked near the scrimmage line. But his weighted Depth Adjusted Catch Rate rounds out his study resume with a top10 clip. 

2. Austin Williams

Following the pattern of all of our previously mentioned top performers on this list, Austin Williams displayed golden hands working short against linebackers. A minuscule 5.17 average depth of target unquestionably lowered his level of difficulty, but his results are hard to discredit all else considered. Williams finished with the 4th-best Drop Rate among our qualifiers. His sure-handedness carried over to both inaccurate and contested chances. Only Bannister topped his 55.6% Adjusted Inaccurate Catch Rate, and his respective output on contested targets shares the 5-spot. With little wasted chances, his weighted Depth Adjusted Catch Rate beyond six yards downfield is identical to his overall clip. No returner bests his 88.2% figure of the former.  

1. Amir Abdur-Rahman

Among the dudes on this list, there’s no question Amir Adbur-Rahman was the most vertically-oriented pass catcher. Of SECers that compiled at least 30 targets last year, his 12.5 average depth of target snuck into the top15. He was just as likely to drop a pass as create a catch for himself. Either way, both of his clips sit inside the conference’s top10 for this season. With that underlying element in addition to testing secondaries often, his 78% Depth Adjusted Catch Rate beyond six yards is the 6th-best ahead of 2021 and only trail’s Williams’ amongst qualifiers. Furthermore, Abdur-Rahman was the only guy who busted through the top4 in terms of Creation Rate as well as his adjusted catch rates on inaccurate and contested targets. Though a subjective premise, I’d put his hands up against any SECers at this point in time.