The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1510053
NOVEMBER 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE W olverines and Buckeyes can co- exist. Former Michigan football wide receiver Nico Collins and former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud have proven that early this season for the 3-3 Houston Texans. Collins, who played at Michigan from 2017-19, is enjoying a breakout season for first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans. He's leading his team in receptions (29), receiving yards (547) and touchdown catches (3) through six games. His 547 receiving yards rank eighth in the NFL. Collins had his best day yet in a 30-6 blowout win over the Pittsburgh Steel- ers Oct. 1, hauling in 7 catches for a ca- reer-best 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was the first game in his career with multiple scores, and he's now up to 6 touchdown receptions in 30 NFL games. His second score of the afternoon came when the Texans had the win firmly in hand, with Stroud hitting him on a flag route on a third-and-6 play for a 52-yard touchdown. Collins is doing exactly what Ryans and the Texans' staff expected him to. "He was making a ton of big plays in training camp and OTAs, so it is not surprising that he's doing that when it comes to the games," Ryans said Oct. 5. "He's been consistent. He took care of himself, he's been healthy, he's been out there every day working — working hard at it — and it shows." Collins has 3 of the team's 9 touch- down receptions this season. A big- bodied target at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, he has a knack for finding the end zone. "He's been working — whether it's strength or whatever it is. The mindset for me is the main thing," Ryans said of Collins. "When he catches the ball, he's thinking about going to score, and that's what we need." FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through Oct. 16 • Ronnie Bell (played at U-M from 2018-22), WR, San Francisco 49ers: Hauled in 3 receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown in six appearances for the 5-1 49ers. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), G, New York Giants: Started five games, two at left guard and three at center, for the 1-5 Giants. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Seattle Seahawks: Played in three games with one start for the 3-2 Seahawks, compiling 3 tackles. • Zach Charbonnet (2019-20), RB Seattle Sea- hawks: Carried 23 times for 109 yards with a 15- yard long and reeled in 6 receptions for 36 yards in five appearances for the 3-2 Seahawks. • Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washing- ton Commanders: Snapped in all six outings for the 3-3 Commanders. • Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, free agent: Tallied 2 tackles in as many tilts for the Denver Broncos, be- fore the organization released him at his request … There is reportedly mutual interest between Clark and his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, with which he won two Super Bowls. • Mason Cole (2014-17), OL Pittsburgh Steel- ers: Started at center in all five games for the 3-2 Steelers. • Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans: Leads the 3-3 Texans with 29 receptions, 547 re- ceiving yards (eighth-most in the NFL) and 3 touch- down grabs while starting three of six clashes. • Michael Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs: Started all six games for the 5-1 Chiefs, totaling 19 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 5 quarterback hits and 2 pass breakups. • Chris Evans (2016-18, 20), RB, Cincinnati Ben- gals: Notched 1 reception for minus-1 yard, at- tempted 2 rushes for 12 yards and returned a pair of kicks for 45 yards in four games for the 3-3 Bengals. • Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Pack- ers: Started in one of his five appearances for the 2-3 Packers, posting 9 tackles, 4 stops for loss, 4.5 sacks and 7 quarterback hits … His 20 pressures rank tied for 16th among NFL edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Nico Collins Is One Of The NFL's Breakout Stars Former Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins is leading the Houston Texans in receptions (29), receiving yards (547) and touchdown catches (3) through six games. His 547 receiving yards rank eighth in the NFL. PHOTO BY JORDAN MCKENDRICK/COURTESY HOUSTON TEXANS