The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1460661
14 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2022 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Ronnie Bell Will Return With A Vengeance By Chris Balas In the past, you never knew how a guy would recover from a major knee injury or if he'd be the same guy he was before a surgery. That's changed with medical advancements and technology, one of the reasons fifth-year senior Ronnie Bell is already running and expected back to full health by the start of fall camp. And what a year he should have. Bell has always been be- yond steady, the most dependable receiver on a group that included future NFL talents Tarik Black, Donovan Peoples- Jones and Nico Collins. It says here he would have broken the 1,000-yard barrier last year had he remained healthy. He looked like a player who had taken his game to the next level with a 76-yard touchdown grab against Western Michi- gan, another long ball called back on a sketchy pass interfer- ence flag and a long punt return on which he hurt his knee. Bell notched 758 yards as a sophomore and 401 in only six games in 2020, despite inconsistent quarterback play. He's averaged more than 15 yards per reception in each of his seasons, is an underrated athlete and is a relentless blocker. In short, as head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to say, he's a "football player." He's also a deep threat, having notched receptions of more than 50 yards in each of his four seasons, including a pair over 70. He'll be one of the team's stars in 2022. I'm Taking The Field By Clayton Sayfie While Ronnie Bell's return is significant and his impact will be felt on the offense, taking the field is the safer bet because of the glut of talent the Maize and Blue have at wideout. Junior Cornelius Johnson led U-M with 627 receiving yards last season, and he's got a chance to repeat as the top re- ceiver this season. He's proved to be reliable, earning himself more snaps (801) and targets (66) than any other U-M player at the position last season, per Pro Football Focus. At the same time, there are two candidates who are ready to take the next step in their development, too. Sophomores Andrel Anthony and Roman Wilson, who is entering his third collegiate season, have the chance to break out and become the Wolverines' top pass catcher. Anthony made 12 catches for 248 yards and three scores while bursting onto the scene late in his freshman campaign. The East Lansing, Mich., native admitted at one point that it took him some time to adjust to the college game, meaning another offseason in the program will serve him well. Wilson, on the other hand, battled a midseason injury in 2021 but still finished third on the squad with 420 receiving yards and scored three times, despite playing less than half as many snaps as Johnson. Both may be destined to make a big jump and solidify themselves as the team's best. Bell enters his fifth-year senior season with 83 catches, 1,380 receiving yards and five touchdown grabs in his U-M career. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL POINT ❙ COUNTERPOINT WHO WILL LEAD THE MICHIGAN RECEIVERS IN 2022, RONNIE BELL OR SOMEONE ELSE?