Michigan Football: Could Nico Collins wear #1 next season?

Nico Collins is returning for his senior campaign with Michigan football.

When Nico Collins announced that he was returning for his senior season, Michigan football‘s wide receivers room got a huge boost. Collins has arguably been the best pass catcher for the Wolverines the last two seasons. Nico has become a fan favorite and some fans have posed an intriguing question.

Should Nico Collins wear #1 for his senior season?

First three years in Ann Arbor

Collins came to Michigan football as part of a loaded WR class that included Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black and Oliver Martin. He didn’t play a lot as a freshman, only playing in 4 games, catching three passes for 27 yards.

He burst onto the scene as a sophomore and established himself as a big-play threat. Nico is 6-foot-4 with great leaping ability making him a favorite target of Shea Patterson. At season’s end, Nico had amassed 38 receptions for 632 yards while finding the endzone 6 times.

His performance at the end of the 2018 season against OSU was one to remember. He only had four catches but two of them were for touchdowns. He showed that he could win individuals battles against some of the top competition in college football.

Heading into his junior year with some momentum from the 2018 season Collins did not disappoint. Nico continued to show all of college football that he can be a game breaker with his size and big-play ability.

He caught 37 balls for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. That works out to a 19.7 yard per catch average. He was a huge benefactor of Josh Gattis’ “speed in space” offense. When the ball is thrown his way, he makes plays and gets chunk yardage.

The junior wide receiver’s best game came against the Indiana Hoosiers. He tallied six catches for 165 yards and three touchdowns in a road win.

Notable #1’s

There are a few names that come to mind when you think about the No.1 and Michigan receivers. Braylon Edwards, Anthony Carter, David Terrell, and Derick Alexander top the list. These are all players that had great careers at Michigan and went on to have success at the next level.

The No.1 jersey has a lot of history and it doesn’t get handed out to just anybody. The right to wear it is earned by performance on the field. When players get that opportunity they are carrying on the legacy of all the No.1’s before them.

Anthony Carter left Michigan football as the all-time leading receiver. Braylon Edwards now holds many of the receiving records including catches (252) yards (3541) and TD’s (39).

The latest receiver to wear the number was Devin Funchess. He had a lot of success in his time at Michigan and switched from 87 to 1 before his last year in the maize and blue. During his junior year, he hauled in 62 catches for 733 yards and four TDs.

Should Nico wear #1?

Nico Collins looks every bit of a number one receiver for Michigan football in 2020. He has put up great numbers over the past two seasons while sharing targets with DPJ, Bell, and Black. He will benefit from more targets and has the ability to have a 1,000-yard season and 10 TDs.

Will Collins make the switch to No.1? If he does, he is more than deserving to carry on the legacy that has come before him.