The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Junior Cornelius Johnson He led Michigan in catches (40) and receiving yards (627), and tied for the team lead with three touch- down grabs in 2021. He's to- taled 942 receiving yards and seven scores in his career. BY CLAYTON SAYFIE DEPARTURES Daylen Baldwin The Jackson State transfer declared for the NFL Draft after one season in Ann Arbor. He hauled in 17 receptions for 256 yards with two touchdowns in a winged helmet. RETURNERS Senior Ronnie Bell He tore his ACL, ending his campaign a quarter and a half into the season opener against Western Michigan, but decided to return for 2022. The former two-star recruit led the Wolverines in receiving yards in both 2019 and 2020, combining for 1,159 yards on 74 catches in those two years. Junior Mike Sainristil The starting slot receiver hauled in 21 catches for 305 yards and two scores last season. Sophomore A.J. Henning He caught 10 passes for 79 yards and was also used in the end-around game, rushing nine times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Roman Wilson He made 25 catches, slotted third on the team with 420 receiving yards and tied for first with three scoring grabs. The deep threat topped the squad in re- ceptions on balls that were thrown 20- plus yards in the air with six. Sophomore Andrel Anthony He notched 12 receptions for 248 yards and three touch- downs during his freshman campaign, highlighted by a 155-yard, two-score perfor- mance in his hometown at Michigan State. Redshirt freshman Cristian Dixon In one appearance while redshirting, he caught a seven-yard pass. NEWCOMERS Freshman Darrius Clemons The 6-3, 205-pounder was ranked the No. 47 overall player and No. 5 wideout in the country and regarded as Oregon's top prospect by On3.com. The early en- rollee clocked a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time last year. Freshman Tyler Morris The No. 142 overall prospect in the country, 27th-best wide receiver and fourth-ranked player in Illinois per the On3 Consensus missed his senior prep season with an injury, but is expected to be healthy for spring practices after enrolling early. Freshman Amorion Walker The former Notre Dame commit is a four-star prospect per the On3 Consen- sus, and regarded as the No. 448 player and 68th-best wideout in his class. 2022 LOOK AHEAD 2022 ANALYSIS With everyone but Baldwin return- ing, the wide receiver corps is over- whelmingly likely to improve in 2022. The Wolverines return their top three wideouts in terms of production — Johnson, Wilson and Sainristil — and the likes of Anthony will only get better. On top of that, the return of a team captain in Bell cannot be overstated in both the talent and leadership depart- ments — the former two-star recruit has proven to be a five-star in both cat- egories and has been as reliable as they come since joining the program in 2019. Michigan can improve at hitting on more big plays in the passing game, after having just 44 gains of 20-plus yards through the air last season. Some of that is on the quarterbacks, but the Wolverines had just 21 contested catches on 55 such targets, showing there's still room to grow. Wilson, An- thony and Bell can all stretch the field, and Clemons should help in that area as well, so the potential for more ex- plosiveness is there. WIDE RECEIVERS FEBRUARY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 27 PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL