and is the guy you go to in big situations even when the other team knows he will be the target. They pull the best defenders and can make things a little easier on the other receivers
It doesn't necessarily have to be a WR either. Pitta and Harline both filled this role. You mentioned Collie and Puka. Obviously Cody Hoffman filled this role for 3 years. Milne became a WR1 (if to a lesser extent) for a year. So did Todd Watkins.
This year...Chase Roberts could be that guy.
Even if he isn't, BYU can still have a great WR corps with the quality of their depth. Think BYU 2015. The Cougars had 5 WR with 37+ receptions and 470+ yards. In 2023 BYU had 1.
This year we return
1) Roberts 573 yards and 11 TDs in 2023
2) Lassiter who had 365 yards and 4 TDS in 8 games (on pace for 548 yards and 6 TD if he'd remained healthy) in 2023
3) Epps had 459 yards and 6 TDs in 8 games (That's 689 yards and 9 TDs in 12 games) in 2022
4) Hill had 572 yards and 7 TDs in 2022
5) Kingston and Marion both had over 200 receiving yards,
6) It sounds as if Jojo Philips could also potentially make some noise as well.
I am hoping Chase is a real #1 guy this year, but if not, we may have enough depth to still have a really good passing attack (if one of our QBs can become at least a mediocre, or even slightly below average, P5 starting QB)