It's been a long time since the Michigan football wide receiver has looked the way it's supposed to look, meaning multiple guys with NFL futures in the room.
That used to be the case during the Lloyd Carr era. It was that way for some of the Jim Harbaugh era, too, such as 2023 when Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson were drafted. Ronnie Bell was drafted in that era, too, along with Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
There were others, too. Braylon Edwards is still the last WR to get drafted in the first round. Roman Wilson was the first day-two pick since Mario Manningham.
Last season, in Bryce Underwood's first season as a starter, wide receiver was still a weakness. Donaven McCulley was solid for the Wolverines. There wasn't much depth, though. Andrew Marsh was a revelation, having one of the best seasons by a Michigan freshman in a long time.
Marsh was one of the best wideouts in the Big Ten play last season, and entering year two, he's expected to take another leap forward in his second year with Underwood.
However, Michigan has added some serious talent to the room. J.J. Buchanan, Jamie Ffrench, and Salesi Moa have seriously upgraded the talent and upside of the room.
Michigan football wide receivers are expected to be a "strength"
NBS Sports college football analyst Todd Blackledge spent some time observing Michigan football practice this spring and came away thinking the wide receiver room will be a "strength" for the Wolverines this season, for the first time in a few years, at least.
“Wide receiver is a position I think that’s going to be a strength this year,” Blackledge said. “Andrew Marsh was their best guy coming back. They’ve also got Kenderick Bell, Channing Goodwin that are returners, but they’ve brought in a couple transfers, Jamie Ffrench from Texas, JJ Buchanan came from Utah. So, I think that’s going to be a really solid position for them. Tight end is not as strong as it’s been in the past, but still some guys. But I think offensively this is a team that is going to be able to run the football and utilize the skill set of Bryce Underwood," Blackledge said on the Y-Option podcast.
Blackledge expressed a lot of confidence in offensive coordinator Jason Beck, as well as Michigan's ability to run the ball, which should be aided by Underwood running the ball more this season.
Beyond that, Underwood will have some of the best weapons in the Big Ten. What makes it even better is that Marsh and Buchanan are sophomores, Moa is a freshman, Ffrech is a redshirt freshman, so this group that is expected to be a strength is only going to get better and better, as is Underwood.
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