The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2020 2020 FOOTBALL ANALYSIS.. WIDE RECEIVERS 50th Michigan's national rank in pass- ing yards per game last season. It's a measure of how pass-happy the game has grown, since the Wol- verines averaged 250.8 yards per game through the air, among its better efforts in the 2000s. 131 Combined receiving yards for Bell against Ohio State and Alabama last year, meaning he played some of his best football at the end of the season versus the toughest competition. He led U-M with six catches and 78 yards against OSU. 146 Receiving yards by Collins against Indiana last season, marking a ca- reer high for the lanky veteran. 3,261 Passing yards by U-M in 2019, marking its best effort in that area since 2003. That was despite U-M completing only 55.6 percent of its throws through the air as a team, one of Michigan's lower figures during that span. WHO'S GONE Donovan Peoples-Jones The one they call "DPJ" left The Big House a year early. A third-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2018, Peoples-Jones finished with 34 catches for 438 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. His departure also removes the team's top punt returner, after he averaged 7.2 yards on 24 tries in 2019. Tarik Black Black went through two foot injuries and some dissatisfaction in his years at Michigan, the latter prompting his transfer. His redshirt sophomore campaign featured 25 catches for 323 yards and a lone TD, along with countless recitations of his untapped potential. WHO'S BACK Senior Nico Collins C o l l i n s k e e p s delivering on his potential, finishing second on the team in catches (37) and receiving yards (729) in 2019, and first in touchdown grabs (seven). His length and athletic ability should again make him Michigan's top downfield target in 2020, after U-M named him its Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. Junior Ronnie Bell Bell tolled and toiled for Michigan in a breakout season last fall, leading the Wolverines in recep- tions (48) and receiving yards (758). He'll likely boost his TD total (one) this season. Sophomore Giles Jackson Jackson came on strong for U-M in the latter portion of his true freshman year, both as a re- ceiver and returner. He made nine catches for 142 yards with one TD grab. He also averaged 25.9 yards on 24 kick returns, with a 97-yard touchdown at Maryland. Sophomore Mike Sainristil Sainristil became Michigan's other compact speedster. He secured eight catches for 145 yards, averaging 18.1 yards per reception. He also secured a touchdown pass. TOP NEWCOMER Freshman A.J. Henning The product of Frankfort, Ill., might be the most talked about player in Michigan's 2020 recruit- ing class. The 5-10, 183-pound speedster gives Gattis another turbo-charged chess piece in the offensive attack, one who scored 29 touchdowns as a prep senior. "We're going to be faster. There's going to be a huge focus on catching the football, and we'll have great big-play ability." — Michigan All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH The biggest position battle here revolves around who emerges as the third receiver. Is it Jackson, Sainristil, a coup by Henning or a bigger receiver like sophomore Cornelius John- son, who showed flashes of great talent as a true freshman last season? BY JOHN BORTON L ast year 's spring preview spoke about one of the top wide receiver groups in the nation forming. It didn't piece together exactly as planned, but U-M's wideouts showed potential past the "big three." That's good, because only one of those three — senior Nico Collins — remains. He's far from the Lone Ranger when it comes to re- ceiving talent, though, with some stepping up last season and Josh Gat- tis continuing the influx of speed-burning talent. In year two of Gattis' "Speed In Space" offense, there should be more of both, spread among a host of receivers. BY THE NUMBERS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL NICO COLLINS