The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
[ W I D E R E C E I V E R S ] 64 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BIOS POSITION COACH Ron Bellamy is in his third year coaching at his alma mater, where he played wide receiver from 1999-2002. This will be his sec- ond year with the wideouts after spending the 2021 season coach- ing U-M's safeties. Bellamy's group had 142 catches for 1,948 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2022 season, averag- ing 139.1 yards per game. U-M had 9 receptions of more than 40 yards last year, 26 receptions over 20 yards and 14 over 30 yards. Bellamy previously worked at West Bloomfield High School from 2010-20, winning a state cham- pionship at the end of the 2020 season. He helped 165 players earn scholarships, including 50 at the FBS level. Prior to his coaching career, Bellamy played in 36 career games at Michigan, hauling in 67 receptions for 888 yards and 9 touchdowns. He spent five sea- sons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins (2003-04), Baltimore Ravens (2005) and Detroit Lions (2007-08). RETURNING PLAYERS DARRIUS CLEMONS • WR So. • Portland, Ore. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 214 • Appeared in 11 games, catch- ing 1 pass for 7 yards during his debut season. • Enrolled at Michigan in Janu- ary 2022. • Helped Westview High School to a 9-2 record as a senior and reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Scored 17 touchdowns during his senior season and added 231 return yards and 2 interceptions. • Attended Pleasant Grove High in Utah for the first three seasons of his career. Caught 38 passes for 817 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games during his junior season. • On3.com ranked him as a four-star prospect, the No. 76 recruit and No. 13 wideout in the country, and the top player in Oregon in 2022. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs 2022 11/0 1 7 7.0 0 EAMONN DENNIS • WR Sr. • Worcester, Mass. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 184 • Played in 12 games on spe- cial teams in 2022, making 2 tackles. • Was named Most Improved Player on Special Teams. • Switched positions from defensive back to wide receiver during 2022 spring football. • Appeared in three games on special teams in 2021. • Did not see game action in 2020. • Ranked by On3 Industry Ranking as a three-star prospect and the No. 5 player in Massachusetts in the 2020 recruiting class. CRISTIAN DIXON • WR Jr. • Santa Ana, Calif. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 195 • Appeared in one contest dur- ing the 2022 season. • Played in one game in 2021, catching 1 pass for 7 yards in the win over Northern Illinois (Sept. 18). • His prep senior season was canceled due to COVID-19, but he was able to play in the Pylon 7-on-7 All-American Game. • Named second-team All-Trinity League in 2019. • Totaled 1,473 receiving yards and 15 touch- down receptions during his sophomore and junior seasons. • Ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 41 wide receiver in the 2021 class by the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TDs 2021 1/0 1 7 7.0 0 2022 1/0 0 0 0 0 Total 1/0 1 7 7.0 0 CORNELIUS JOHNSON • WR Gr. • Greenwich, Conn. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 208 • Was a 14-game starter and special teams contributor in 2022, recording 32 catches for 499 yards and team-high 6 touchdowns. • Went off for 160 yards on 4 catches with 2 touchdowns (69 and 75 yards, respectively) in the win over Ohio State. • Started all 14 games in 2021 while also con- tributing on special teams, blocking a pair of punts. Hauled in 39 receptions for 620 yards and 3 touchdowns and also rushed 3 times for 30 yards. • Saw action in all six games with three starts during the 2020 season. Hauled in 16 passes for 254 yards and a team-leading 3 receiving touch- downs. Notched season-highs in catches (5), yards (105) and touchdowns (2) in the triple- overtime win over Rutgers. Darrius Clemons caught 1 pass for 7 yards in his debut season with the Wolverines but is poised to play a bigger role in the offense as a sophomore. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL