Michigan Football: Young receivers will have expanded role in 2020
By Ryan Kraus
Nico Collins to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft which will force Michigan football to rely on younger receivers in 2020.
The Michigan football offense will be without one of its biggest playmakers when the season officially gets under way. Nico Collins has opted to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft leaving the Wolverines with only seven scholarship wide receivers.
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis is still holding out hope that Collins decides to come back for one last ride in the winged helmet. He tweeted at the senior wide receiver a few days ago and also retweeted this:
RT if you want to see this in Michigan Stadium this year @lbg_nico7 pic.twitter.com/MrmoO49xMT
— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) September 18, 2020
The door has been left open for Nico to come back to the Wolverines. Jalen Mayfield, who made the same decision as Collins, has decided to come back and play this season.
Young receivers will need to step up
Replacing Nico’s production is going to fall on the shoulder’s of a relatively young receiving core. Ronnie Bell becomes the lead receiver, flanked by Giles Jackson, Mike Sainristil, and Cornelius Johnson.
The Wolverines are also welcoming in three freshman wideouts. AJ Henning, Roman Wilson, and Eamonn Dennis will have the opportunity to see the field this season.
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Josh Gattis has a lot of weapons and he will put them in positions to succeed in his second season as offensive coordinator.
Ronnie Bell has the most experience of the bunch as he hauled in 48 catches last season. He will be counted on to be a big contributor again this season.
Bell excels in the open field with room to make plays. He is a YAC machine and if Milton can get him the ball in space, watch out.
As a freshman last season Jackson, Sainristil, and Johnson combined for 21 catches. It is safe to say that number will go up this season, even with only eight games on the schedule.
Jackson and Sainristil are very similar receivers. They are smaller, twitchy athletes that have speed to burn. These guys should see a lot of time in the slot this season.
Giles saw time in the backfield last season where Gattis was able to get him in mismatches where he can use his speed to beat linebackers and safeties. Its a safe bet to see more of those hybrid looks with Jackson.
The freshman receivers are cut from the same cloth as Jackson and Sainristil. They are smaller, twitchy athletes that will cause matchup nightmares all over the field.
Henning, Wilson, and Dennis will need to get up to speed with the college game quickly as they are going to get playing time early and often.
Wide receivers set up for success
The Wolverine wideouts are in a position to make an impact this season. The biggest reason is Gattis. He showed last season that he is able to get his playmakers the ball with room to work.
Next. Top 10 Mchigan wide receivers of all time. dark
Michigan’s receivers are an explosive group and if you couple that with Joe Milton’s cannon of a right arm, there are going to be a lot of big plays this fall.