Michigan Football: Predicting Wide Receiver depth chart and surprises

One of the more frustrating and unknown position groups for the Michigan Football program is the wideouts. With the 2021 season approaching, we dive in.

Are you tired of hearing the phrase “speed in space” yet? Yes, me too, but the truth is that Jim Harbaugh and Josh Gattis still have a handful of electric speedsters coming into the 2021 Michigan Football season, so get ready to hear it some more. If I may offer a piece of advice for dealing with your current frustrations at this position, adjust your expectations, and see how it plays out.

It’s safe to say that in 2020, the Wide Receiver crew underperformed. After only collecting seven touchdowns as a unit, three coming from Cornelius Johnson, improvement is needed.

In College Football, however, growth happens as young teenagers become men. For this positional group, that is no different. Last year they lacked leadership and knowledge; this year, the returners are aplenty.

Besides Johnson, Gattis’ crew is returning Ronnie Bell, Roman Wilson, Mike Sainristil, and the speedster A.J. Henning. The Wolverines have also added the youth of Andrel Anthony and Christian Dixon.

Depth is something that this group certainly has, but keep your expectations tempered. A lot of what happens will come down to the unknown QB play.

Michigan Football: Predicting the Wide Receivers depth and surprises

Baring any mix-up, both Ronnie Bell and Cornelius Johnson should top the chart for the wide receivers, then things get interesting.

While Mike Sainristil ended up second on the team with two TDs, he only caught seven balls, one ahead of Henning. A.J. Henning will undoubtedly be looking to improve on his lackluster 2020 campaign and should make his way up to 3rd on the depth chart.

The hype is there for Anthony and Dixon, but with that solid depth chart ahead of them, it’s optimistic to think that either of them will have a significant role just yet.

That certainly would be the surprise of the 2021 campaign; however, the true hidden gem could end up being Henning.

Last year he was smack dab in the middle of the Bell/Wilson/Johnson/Jackson sandwich just trying to buy time. It’ll depend on who the QB is, but Henning and McNamara grew a rapport last year as he caught four of his six balls off McNamara. Look for A.J. to fit into the role of jet sweeps and end arounds and solidify his position at the slot guy.

On paper, this depth chart looks enticing, but still… stay tempered and realistic. Even though it’s a deep chart and loads of familiar names, many question marks are still based around them and their suppliers (aka the Quarterbacks). The only way is up for the Michigan offense, and this core of players can go a long way to get it rolling again.