Two Wolverines make The Athletic’s 2020 ‘freaks’ list, with one at the very top

Two Wolverines made the annual breakdown, including one Michigan DE who came out as the No. 1 player on the list.

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Make no mistake about it: Michigan has talent on its roster. And while stargazers tend to prioritize the five-star recruits over all, sometimes, it’s the less heralded that end up becoming stars.

Such is the case for one Wolverine who came to Ann Arbor as a lowly-rated three-star recruit who now tops The Athletic‘s annual ‘Football Freaks’ list as compiled by writer Bruce Feldman. ($)

Hailing from Rhode Island — not exactly a powerhouse state of athletic talent — Kwity Paye was the fourth-lowest rated recruit that the Wolverines brought in during the 2017 recruiting cycle. When he committed, swaths of Michigan fans questioned who he was and why the maize and blue would take a chance on but a lowly three-star while they were building a Top 5 class nationally.

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Fast forward to today, and Paye isn’t just a returning starter on the defensive line. He’s the top-rated player of the 50 that Feldman picked as the freakiest athletes in all of college football heading into the 2020 season.

1. Kwity Paye, Michigan, defensive end

Freakiest attribute: Speed in the 3-cone drill

The Wolverines have a few special athletes on their defensive line (Aidan Hutchinson also possesses impressive agility for his size), but the 6-4, 271-pound Paye (50 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks) has generated a lot of buzz among the NFL scouting community for some remarkable wheels. He clocked the second-best 3-cone time on the team at a blistering 6.37 seconds, which would have topped anyone at the 2020 combine. Paye’s 40 is also moving at 4.57, with a solid 34-inch vertical and 30 reps on the bench press. Paye’s 40 time and 4.15 pro shuttle time are better than any D-lineman or edge player who tested at the 2020 combine. His 11.3 time in the 60-yard shuttle is also elite.

Paye, a former high school running back who reported to Ann Arbor at 228 pounds, was a member of a state championship 4×100 meter relay team in high school and also won a state title in the long jump, going 21 feet, 5 inches as a junior. He has a rare blend of strength, control and balance and his change of direction is probably even better than former Wolverine Freak Rashan Gary.

He’s not the only Wolverine to make the list, however.

Another player was selected by Feldman, but it’s one that Michigan fans have been excited about since day one. And we’re only starting to recently see his potential.

We’re talking about WR Nico Collins, who opted to return for his senior year, following a season where he came down with most passes thrown his way — or was on the receiving end of a defensive pass interference call.

Given that offensive coordinator Josh Gattis posted about Collins’ speed this offseason during winter conditioning, big things are in store for the senior wideout if he has a quarterback that can put the ball in his vicinity.

47. Nico Collins, Michigan, wide receiver

Freakiest attribute: Agility

Josh Gattis has produced a bunch of big-time receivers over the past decade, and Collins is the latest in the pipeline. Last season the Alabama native caught 37 passes for 729 yards with a team-leading seven touchdowns and 19.7 yards per catch. The 6-4, 222-pound senior is a very dynamic athlete, running the 40 in the 4.4s, and his coached rave about his toughness and body control.

While some schools boast more than two selections — Penn State has four — it should be noted that rival Ohio State, for all of the talk of superior talent, also had two players make the list: currently injured running back Master Teague and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai.