The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1094509
36 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2019 2019 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. WIDE RECEIVERS BY THE NUMBERS 1 Year that has featured a Michigan 1,000-yard re- ceiver since 2007 (Jeremy Gallon in 2013). In the 10 years between 1998 and 2007, the Wolverines show- cased a 1,000-yard wideout nine times. 18 Touchdown catches by U-M wide receivers last fall, which doubled the team's overall scoring grabs from 2017, when wideouts ac- counted for just three touch- downs. 47 Grabs by Donovan Peo- ples-Jones to lead the team in 2018, the second fewest by Michigan's leading re- ceiver since the 2011 season. 2,804 Passing yards posted by the Wolverines in 2018, rep- resenting the second most by U-M with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, behind only the Jake Rudock-led 3,090-yard effort in year one under the coach. All but 873 yards (31.1 percent of last year's total) and four touchdowns (16.7 percent) receiving return. WHO'S GONE GRANT PERRY Perry wound up Michigan's fourth-leading pass catcher in 2018, making 20 receptions for 147 yards and no touch- downs. A complementary performer for four years, he fin- ished with 72 catches for 765 yards and three touchdowns. WHO'S BACK JUNIOR DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES Peoples-Jones earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from conference coaches following a sophomore season in which he led U-M with 47 catches, which gained 612 yards and eight touchdowns. The 6-2, 208-pounder also served as Michigan's top punt returner, averaging 10.0 yards per return with one 60-yard TD bolt. JUNIOR NICO COLLINS The 6-4, 218-pounder stepped forward in a big way when Tarik Black suffered an injury early. He finished with 38 catches for a team-high 632 yards plus six touchdowns. He'll be looking for more with his 2018 experience in a revamped offense. REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE TARIK BLACK Black endured a foot injury for the second straight season, playing in only six Michigan games. The 6-3, 215-pounder might be the most dangerous of the trio, if he gets the chance to prove it, after making only four catches for 35 yards last year. REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE OLIVER MARTIN Martin should give Michigan plenty in Perry's absence, after catching 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman. SOPHOMORE RONNIE BELL Bell looked explosive at times as a freshman, making eight catches for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 18.1-yard average led all wideouts. TOP NEWCOMER CORNELIUS JOHNSON Johnson comes in as another big (6-3, 199) target for Patterson and Michigan's other quarterbacks. Also keep an eye on speedy Giles Jackson (5-9, 179) among the smaller rookies. Rivals listed both as four-star prospects among the top 233 overall recruits in the land. "They're in their third year right now, with Ronnie Bell going into his second. They have played for two years now, for the most part. It's time to start seeing explosive plays down the field, and I think Josh Gattis will produce them." — Former U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Provided Tarik Black stays healthy, this one's all about who emerges as the fourth man beyond the redoubtable third-year trio — who are all at least 6-2. Ronnie Bell proved potent at times as a freshman, with Oliver Mar tin look ing sure-handed and capable in his first opportunity. Also, most coaches like to break in at least one freshman wideout. In a class of several potential contributors, first man in among the rookies could mean plenty. BY JOHN BORTON N ew offensive coordinator Josh Gattis tweeted after his hiring that the building blocks for an offense he oversees will feature the following: explosiveness, ball security/blocking and aggressiveness with scoring. His best chance to accomplish all of that — especially items one and three — might rest with a potentially potent connection. Senior quarterback Shea Patterson has a trio of third- year wideouts that could be the most lethal Michigan threesome since NBA All-Stars Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard and Chris Webber roamed the basketball court. The extent to which Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black (technically a redshirt sophomore) are unleashed, stay healthy and become in sync with Gattis and Patterson will determine plenty about Michigan football in 2019. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES