AFL/NFL 1,000 Yard Receivers State by State Rank: Installment 4

This is the final installment of state by state rank for 1,000 yard receiver production in AFL/NFL history. This section of the database analyzes states ranking from 19-37, lists non-U.S. born 1,000 Yard receivers, and the states who have not yet produced a player who has broken the 1,000 yard receiving barrier.

For those of you more interested in an overview of all states, a table can be found in installment 1 of this database. A link to installment 1 and all other installments is available in the box to your right and via links at the bottom of the page.

For those of you interested in other football production related state by state rankings, they can be found by clicking the Larry Rankin profile in the upper right hand corner or at the bottom of the page.

The information for this database was compiled using the following sources: Profootballreference.com, NFL.com, and Wikipedia.com.

Feel free to help: If you find any of the information contained within this database to be misplaced or inaccurate, feel free to let the author know in the comments section. Not only is it not an annoyance, it is appreciated.

Per Capita Score: 166

1,000 Yard Performances: 9

Larry Fitzgerald has had a wonderful career, and Eric Decker is coming into his own. Michael Floyd had his first thousand yard season in 2013. It is a reasonable assumption that Minnesota’s score will continue to rise.

Per Capita Score: 144

1,000 Yard Performances: 3

Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald was one of the best of his era, but 5 decades later, New Mexico is due another thousand yard receiver.

Per Capita Score: 138

1,000 Yard Performances: 1

North Dakota has so few people that a single tight end who gained just under 1,200 yards in 1965 places them above 29 other states.

Per Capita Score: 136

1,000 Yard Performances: 1

No, it’s not a mistake. This is another Steve Smith, and he was born in Anchorage, Alaska, though his family would eventually move to California.

Per Capita Score: 111

1,000 Yard Performances: 4

Joe Horn was a fine receiver and the state of Connecticut’s only thousand yard receiver.

Per Capita Score: 104

1,000 Yard Performances: 6

Crazylegs Hirsch had almost 1,500 yards receiving in 1951, a feat that is impressive in any era.

Per Capita Score: 101

1,000 Yard Performances: 6

Steve Watson from the 80s and Antonio Freeman from the 90s make up Maryland’s list.

Per Capita Score: 85

1,000 Yard Performances: 11

The Sharpe brothers are the main contributors to Illinois’s list. Had it not been for Sterling getting injured, they’d probably both be in the Hall of Fame.

Per Capita Score: 76

1,000 Yard Performances: 5

Mark Clayton was a favorite target of Dan Marino in the 80s and a 5 time 1,000 yard receiver.

Per Capita Score: 69

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

Kansas has produced some of the greatest running backs to ever play the game, but this is a receiving list.

Per Capita Score: 65

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

Roger Craig is one of only three running backs to receive for over 1,000 yards in a season. The other two: Marshall Faulk and Lionel James. And with Marshall Faulk, Craig is one of only two running backs to rush and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Per Capita Score: 62

1,000 Yard Performances: 4

Jason Witten is one of the finest tight ends to ever play the game. For those of you who like obscure stats, he is also the only player in NFL history to receive for over 1,000 yards and average less than 10 yards a catch.

Per Capita Score: 56

1,000 Yard Performances: 11

Hall of Famer Art Monk is the most notable name among New York receivers to go over 1,000 yards.

Per Capita Score: 51

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

The only Oregon born receiver to ever go for over 1,000 yards would later become a basketball commentator.

Per Capita Score: 34

1,000 Yard Performances: 1

Kevin Curtis’ 1,000 yard campaign in the 2007 season marked Utah’s entrance into the field of states with a 1,000 yard receiver.

Per Capita Score: 30.2

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

Tim Smith’s two 1,000 yard seasons put Arizona on the list.

Per Capita Score: 29.9

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

Had it not been for knee injuries, Mark Bavaro would probably have made this list at least a couple more times.

Per Capita Score: 29

1,000 Yard Performances: 2

Eric Metcalf spent most of his time in the NFL as a premier return man and running back. It was later in his career that he was moved to wide receiver and proved he could do that, too.

Per Capita Score: 23

1,000 Yard Performances: 1

The only thing worse than being last on the list, being one of the 13 states that didn’t make it at all.

Tom Fears, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, is the only non-U.S. born player to have a 1,000 yard receiving season, a feat he accomplished twice.

States yet to have a player reach the 1,000 yard receiving milestone are Colorado, Delaware, Hawai’i, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.