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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While we await word as to what senior Nico Collins intends to do — remain opted out or return to the team — Michigan has a couple enticing options that could get fans to forget about the standout for a minute.
While we know about the prowess of Ronnie Bell as well as the potential of Mike Sainristil, Giles Jackson and Cornelius Johnson, Michigan brought in two veritable speedsters at the wide receiver position this offseason, in A.J. Henning and Roman Wilson. Now that they’ve been able to have a prolonged acclimation period with the football season being significantly delayed due to COVID-19, we’re more likely than not going to be able to see what they’re able to do this fall.
Sooner than later, it seems.
To ask Josh Gattis about the first-year duo, he sees a lot of promise, but he also sees that they have the ability to make the Wolverines better immediately. The fact that they do possess unique skillsets on top of pure speed — Wilson runs a reported 4.37 40-yard dash, while Henning runs a 4.46 — Gattis says that their presence immediately upgrades that aspect of the offense.
“The first thing you see is speed, you know?” Gattis said. “Those guys are – they immediately step on that field, they make the team faster, they make the game faster. They’re just exceptional football players, very smart, very athletic. They both have great ball skills. They’ve made some big time plays throughout camp for us.”
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Gattis does note that neither has gotten to put on pads yet, however, though the team will begin padded practices starting on Sept. 30 — one week from now.
But not only does Gattis see the duo as potential early contributors, he paid them a compliment that’s just about the highest he could give, given his prior experience (see if you can catch it).
“So really, really impressed with those two guys. I think the level they’re at is as high as any freshmen I’ve ever been around,” Gattis said. “So they’re gonna play for us. They’re gonna play. They’re gonna play a lot of football for Michigan and they’re gonna make some plays for us. We’re excited and I really love that receiver room. The speed and athleticism we have and the competition that’s brewing – it’s special to see. I know our quarterbacks are enjoying it now just as well as they’re enjoying the way our quarterbacks are playing.”
Let’s see if you got this right, now. The compliment we were referring to came on that first sentence. Remember — at Alabama, Gattis had Jaylen Waddle as a true freshman. He had KJ Hamler at Penn State as well as DaeSean Hamilton, Chris Godwin and Juwan Johnson. Yes, some were better than others, but Waddle and Hamilton had particularly impressive freshman years with each eclipsing 800 yards receiving in their first year.
Obviously, we’ll wait and see how they perform once they actually take the field. But what little hyperbole we’re getting now appears to be beyond promising.
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