The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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70 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW WIDE RECEIVERS big, he's limited in what he can do," Bel- lamy said. "Luckily for Nico he has one of the best receiver coaches in the game in Josh Gattis. He poses a lot of problems for defensive backs because he can go over the top and also go by you." He has come a long way in just three years, the informed observer added. "When I watch the film and cutups, one thing I said was big guys always like to be the bully early in their careers … they're not going to really work on technique so much as I'm bigger and stronger than you, and I'm going to rely on that," Bellamy explained. "You could tell his first couple years in col- lege that was the case. This past year I saw more curl routes, more slants, routes where he actually has to stop his momentum sud- denly and come back to the football. "That's a hard thing for a big guy to do. You watch the film and see over the course of the year that improvement with Nico." Either Collins or Bell will likely lead the team in receiving, and both should be among the Big Ten's best. Bell's breakout season earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades from the media only two years after he passed on a basketball scholarship when Michigan offered for football. He emerged last fall as one of the most dangerous slot receivers in the land — per PFF's numbers he ranked 18th nationally with an average of 2.63 yards per slot route run (minimum 200 slot snaps). Now, the former two-star recruit is on the verge of an NFL career. "One thing I like about Ronnie is he can play all over the football field," Bellamy said. "The best receivers are the ones that can move around. Ronnie is a guy who has established himself as a vertical threat. "When you think Ronnie Bell you think 'big-play receiver,' and what's impressive with Ronnie is the fact that he played with all those guys last year who will be in the NFL. He essentially came in as the fourth option and eventually became the No. 1 option." In only his second year, too, which speaks volumes of his potential. There is still room for improvement after he dropped eight balls last year and managed only one touchdown reception, but he is still maturing and de- veloping. He'll be a first- or second-team all-conference selection this year, Bellamy predicted. "He's just scratching the surface," he said. As far as the drops go, he added, it's all about focus and technique or a combina- tion of the two. He believes Bell has the potential to be a 60- or 70-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown guy in 2020. "He's a complete player right now. What's scary, in a good way, is he doesn't know Pair Of Freshmen Have Opportunities To Contribute Few might have guessed that three of four freshman wide receivers would have seen the field last year at Michigan, but that is exactly what happened when Giles Jackson, Mike Sainristil and Cornelius Johnson arrived on campus. They all earned the right behind four players many believe will all be in the NFL someday. This year's freshman duo should get the same opportunity. A.J. Henning (5-10, 183) of Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois after totaling 29 total touchdowns, while Roman Wilson (6-0, 175) of Honolulu St. Louis was explosive in his own right, notching 61 receptions for 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns. "A.J. is a dynamic playmaker, a state champion in the 100 meters," noted former Michigan receiver Ron Bellamy, now the head coach at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School. "They say Roman is a 10.5, 10.6 100-meter guy, too." Bellamy has attended Ohio State practices with their freshmen, noting they don't look like first-year guys. But neither have Michigan's the last several years, something the coaches have been emphasizing on the recruiting trail. "Michigan has the same thing," Bellamy insisted. "People just don't talk about them as much." Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis does, though, and he's excited. "Real excited," Gattis emphasized. "A.J. and Roman, those guys play with some speed. They bring a skill set that's different. Roman's a guy … I'm so excited about his athleticism. "Had he been playing in the [Continental United] States, I firmly believe he'd be one of the most talked- about players in the country." Henning, too, has the athleticism to contribute early, the offensive coordinator noted. He'll also have an opportunity to return punts. "We're going to throw those guys in the mix," Gattis said. "Obviously, we don't have a ton of depth at receiver. Last year we played two freshmen at receiver in significant roles. "I think we'll start this year out with seven scholarship wideouts, which is very low under the number of receivers we want to be at." But they'll make it work, he insisted. "We've got the talent there; we've got all the different pieces," Gattis said. "Most importantly, we've got the room." He has made it clear to them that the best will play regardless of class, something that should bring out the best in everyone in 2020. — Chris Balas A.J. Henning was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois after reeling in 52 receptions for 815 yards and 13 touchdowns while also rushing for 808 yards and 15 scores to lead Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East to a state championship. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND