Tag: aj henning

Michigan football loses former key piece to transfer portal

Best of luck to him. #GoBlue

What could be is now what could have been.

Michigan football brought in former four-star wide receiver A.J. Henning out of the greater Chicago area as part of the 2020 class, and the jack-of-all-trades on offense was heavily utilized in 2021, but that was about it, offensively. In 2022, Henning was billed as being a Deebo Samuel-type piece, but the Wolverines relegated him mostly to kick and punt return duties. Even his jet sweep-usage was minimized from 2021 to 2022.

On Monday, it appears Henning is ready for a change of scenery. He took to Twitter to announce he’s leaving Ann Arbor in favor of the NCAA transfer portal.

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Henning will have two seasons of eligibility at his next school of choice. He had 28 returns for 201 yards last year, but only had nine receptions for 60 yards in the receiving game and three rushes for nine yards. The year before, he had just 10 receptions for 79 yards, but had nine rushing attempts for 162 yards. One of his two 2021 rushing touchdowns was the first score against rival Ohio State in the 42-27 upset victory.

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Two Michigan football players in PFF’s ‘breakout candidates’ for 2022

We can see both having an incredible year! #GoBlue

Michigan returns just about every playmaker on the offensive side of the ball from last year’s College Football Playoff team, save for Hassan Haskins.

With so much returning production, does the Wolverines really have anyone that could really breakout on the offensive side of the ball? According to PFF, the maize and blue have two players that could have a breakout campaign for 2022. 

Anthony Treash made a list of 31 breakout candidates for the upcoming football season, and he lists both Donovan Edwards and AJ Henning in his article.

Donovan Edwards will be a big focal point for the Michigan offense this upcoming season with the departure of Hassan Haskins. The duo of Blake Corum and Edwards should create a dynamic one-two punch for the Wolverines. The former five-star running back has shown the capabilities of being a true Swiss-Army knife for the maize and blue: great hands out of the backfield with a good sense of finding the open running lane behind an experienced offensive line. He finished the season last year carrying the rock 35 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns, and he also finished fifth on the team with 20 receptions for 265 yards and one score.

Treash seems to agree and here is what he had to say about the former West Bloomfield product:

Edwards was the Wolverines’ second-highest-ranked recruit in 2021 after quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The running back first emerged onto the scene in Week 12’s win at Maryland, when he caught 10 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield en route to a 92.0 receiving grade. Edwards finished with 3.79 yards per route run and a 74.3 receiving grade on 70 routes for the season.

The second player that could be on a breakout watch is WR/returner AJ Henning.

The former four-star recruit is a true do-it-all type of player. Henning has emerged as a true threat running the ball when the Wolverines do their wide receiver reverse. Henning ended the season last year carrying the ball nine times for a staggering 162 yards (18 yards-per-carry) while adding two scores. On the receiving end of things, Henning only caught 10 passes for 79 yards, but we can expect that to change this season since Michigan should want the ball in its explosive playmaker’s hands.

PFF sees Michigan using Henning as a Deebo Samuel type of role out of the backfield, and using him in any way possible. Here is what Treash had to say about Henning.

There are several breakout candidates on this year’s talented Wolverines team, but Henning is among the best, as the 2020 fringe top-100 recruit has the skill set to be an elite, dynamic weapon for the Blue. Henning showed flashes on end-arounds and sweeps last season, taking nine end-arounds/reverses for 162 yards and two touchdowns in addition to three sweeps for 39 yards. He also took a trick kick return to the house and averaged 9.4 yards per punt return across 29 such attempts. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound weapon is a slippery athlete and is a threat to convert a big gain anytime the ball is in his hands. Head coach Jim Harbaugh actually said during the spring that they envision a Deebo Samuel-esque role for Henning in 2022, including reps at running back. Henning is a pure gadget player until he can expand on his route tree, but either way, he’s destined to be a valuable weapon for Michigan’s offense in 2022.

A few others that could have a breakout season may be JJ McCarthy, Luke Schoonmaker, or Andrel Anthony.

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3 things we learned about Michigan football after defeating NIU

Dominant performance from start to finish! #GoBlue

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ANN ARBOR, Mich — No. 25 Michigan hosted Northern Illinois on Saturday, and it was just the second time ever the two teams have taken the field against one another with the first time being back in 2005 when the Wolverines won 33-17.

The Wolverines were 27.5-point favorites going into the game, and the maize and blue looked every bit the part.

Michigan was by far and away the most dominant team on the field right from the kick. The maize and blue won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, ran the ball with ease — 300-plus yards for the third-straight game  — and they even got the passing game going, which is something the fan base has been clamoring for.

The offense as a whole was basically unstoppable, as they scored touchdowns on nine of 11 possessions. The offense put up 606 total yards as a team.

The Wolverines had a really nice day through the air, but the run game was the big story for the third straight game. As a team, Michigan ran for 373 yards, and leading the way was star in the making, Blake Corum. Corum ran the ball 13 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. We even got to see freshman Donovan Edwards make a big impact in the third quarter — he ran eight times for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

After it was all said and done, Michigan obliterated NIU, 63-10.

Here are three things we learned.

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Michigan’s wide receiver depth should scare its opponents

Michigan football had nine different people catch a pass in the win over No. 21 Minnesota, that type of depth should scare its opponents.

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Despite not having wide receiver Nico Collins return to the Michigan football team, the Wolverines have plenty of depth at the position. Michigan has its leading receiver last year in Ronnie Bell back once again, but he isn’t alone in the department. Sophomores Giles Jackson, Mike Sainristil, and Cornelius Johnson are expected to step up, and freshman A.J. Henning and Roman Wilson will see plenty of playing time with the free year of eligibility.

Tonight, we saw a vast amount of those wide receivers get playing time, and Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis is making it harder for his opponents to choose who they want to focus on. Nine different people caught passes from quarterback Joe Milton in Michigan’s 49-24 win over Minnesota. Five of them were wide receivers, as Bell lead the group with four catches for 74 yards. Sainristil and Jackson each had a catch, Sainristil, for 11 yards while Jackson had five. The other two were the freshmen duo as Wilson had two catches for 34 yards, and Henning had one for 14.

Despite Bell being the leading receiver, it didn’t seem like he was the Wolverines’ top target. Milton wasn’t looking for Bell every time; he looked for the open receiver no matter who it was. Michigan might not have a clear-cut number one wide receiver this year, as Milton spread the ball out to the wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs who caught the passes.

Michigan having this amount of depth at the wide receiver position, should scare its opponents. It doesn’t matter who they put on the field; it will be a tough matchup every time. Along with the wide receivers, the defense needs to hold the tight ends and running backs accountable as possibly being the receiver.

Milton knows he has playmakers at his disposal, and he wants to get them the football. “It feels great for me because I don’t have to do too much,” Milton said. “I got a lot of playmakers. Get those guys the ball because that’s what they’re here for. They’re going to make a play.”

Tonight, Johnson was left out of the catching rotation, but that doesn’t mean he won’t contribute next week. The way this offense seems like, every week a different receiver could step up and be the main target for Milton. Next week Johnson could have the big game for the Wolverines while Bell could be quiet. This week Bell seemed to be the top guy, but Jackson had some chances for big plays too, but they didn’t execute them.

When it comes to the young freshman wide receivers, Milton was happy with what he saw from them. “They always wanna get better in practice,” Milton said. “They always wanna know more, offensively, of a scheme, what’s going on, so having those guys in the game tonight was very impressive because they understand what was going on. They weren’t scared.”

Michigan’s offense seemed to have used their speed in space mantra with Wilson, Henning, Jackson, running backs Chris Evans, and Blake Corum. Those fast receivers will see more time as the season progresses, but if they were able to put up 49 points in the opening week, on the road against a ranked team (that went 11-2 last season, mind you), this offense could finally be what it was supposed to be last season.

With more depth at the receiver position, they could keep rotating guys in and out and never stop putting up points. Speed in space could have arrived in Ann Arbor, and with the multitude of receivers at Milton’s disposal, good luck trying to cover them all. If Michigan’s offense can be as good as their defense, this team could be an exceptional group.

Contact/Follow @WolverinesWire/ @BKnappBlogs

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With or without Nico Collins, Michigan set at wide receiver

Michigan football could be without star wide receiver Nico Collins this season, and even if they are, the offense shouldn’t slow down.

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What a week for Michigan football huh.

After the season was postponed back on August 11th, the Big Ten announced a return on Wednesday last week. With the announcement of the season returning, multiple Big Ten players who opted out of the 2020 season, announced they would be returning back.

Michigan had two players announce that they were opting out to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft and they were starting right tackle Jalen Mayfield and starting cornerback Ambry Thomas.

With the announcement of the season coming back, questions were asked about these two players and if they would return, only to find out that the top wide receiver for Michigan, Nico Collins, was another player that opted-out and signed with an agent, declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft as well.

Since Wednesday one of the three players has announced they would return as Mayfield has decided to return to the team for the 2020 season, and Thomas is looking for clarity about returning this season. Collins, on the other hand, hasn’t announced about what he plans on doing, and with him quietly signing an agent, his return could be a quiet announcement as well.

With all the uncertainty of Collins, it’s best to just imagine right now that he sticks with his word and opts out of the season and focuses on the NFL draft. If he decides to return then this group gets a big upgrade, but if he doesn’t return then how will this core look without him?

The answer: Just fine.

Michigan has a lot of depth at the wide receiver position, so if Collins doesn’t return there are still plenty of weapons for the new starting quarterback Joe Milton.

For starters, the leading receiver Ronnie Bell is back for his junior season and is coming off a season with 48 catches, 758 yards, and a touchdown. He would be the top receiver on the field with Collins gone, and while he isn’t a big body receiver at 6’4, he’s still 6’0 tall and his speed can certainly help him get some space.

Speaking of speed, sophomore Giles Jackson could have a breakout year with more involvement in the offense. Last season, Jackson was primarily a returner and he did well at it with 24 returns for 622 yards and a touchdown. When it came to playing at receiver, he finished with nine catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. His involvement with the speed in space offense offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has installed, he could have a bigger role.

Another receiver that will bring speed is freshman wide receiver, A.J. Henning. Henning was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Illinois last year and brings another speedy weapon to the offense. While he might have to fight the other receivers to see time on the field, he could still have an impact in a game with just a few touches.

But those young players aren’t the only underclassmen that could step up big. Sophomore Cornelius Johnson brings his 6’3 frame into the fold, coming off a quiet four catch season that finished with 61 yards and a touchdown. He was another freshman last year that saw some playing time but has a chance to see more this year.

Finally, another weapon at the position is Mike Sainristil. Sainristil had a solid spring in 2019, and while it didn’t translate to a starting role for Sainristil, he was still able to finish the season with eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Milton will have plenty of weapons at the wide receiver position even if Collins sticks with his opt-out. Michigan is loaded with talent and with Milton having a strong arm and fast receivers, there could be lots of points put up by this offense.

If Collins does choose to return though, then this group becomes even more dangerous and another big weapon that Gattis would be more than thrilled to have another season with.

Contact/Follow @WolverinesWire/ @BKnappBlogs

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Josh Gattis pegs one Michigan signee as incredibly underrated

Why the Wolverines offensive coordinator is through the roof about two true freshman wideouts in AJ Henning and Roman Wilson.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While Michigan lost two wideouts from 2019 in new Cleveland Browns draftee Donovan Peoples-Jones and Texas Longhorns transfer Tarik Black, there’s still a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the wide receivers room. Especially if you’re Josh Gattis.

Gattis is the Wolverines offensive coordinator, but he also personally oversees the wideouts. Yes, there’s certainly reasons to be excited with Nico Collins and Ronnie Bell returning, as well as enigmatic second-year players such as Giles Jackson and Mike Sainristil. But they aren’t the only ones who will be making plays in the near future.

Michigan brought in three wideouts in the 2020 recruiting class with four-stars AJ Henning and Roman Wilson and three-star flex Eamonn Dennis — who could also play corner, as he comes in with a similar size and skillset as the aforementioned Sainristil.

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Looking specifically at the previous two, while Henning’s pedigree was well-known throughout his recruitment, it took a little bit longer for Wilson to gain national accolades. Hailing from Honolulu (HI) St. Louis, it wasn’t until about a year ago that he started turning heads. While 247Sports has him rated as the No. 217 player in the nation and 37th-best wide receiver in the class, Rivals was significantly less bullish, having him rated as a three-star and the 75th-best wideout in 2020.

However, looking at the duo, particularly Wilson, Gattis is enthusiastic that Michigan got something of a find there.

“The young receivers – yeah, real excited,” Gattis said. “Real excited. AJ and Roman – those guys playing with some speed. They bring a skill set that’s different. Roman’s a guy – I’m so excited about his athleticism. Had he been playing in the (contingent) states, I firmly believe he’d be one of the most talked about talked about players in the country. Same with AJ Henning, who is one of the most talked about players in the country coming in as a Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Illinois. Roman coming from Hawaii, had he been playing closer East – he’s a phenomenal player. Big time athlete, big time speed. We’re excited.”

Gattis would know a little something about talent at wide receiver.

Yes, he coached Peoples-Jones who was a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but several others who were formerly under his tutelage went much, much higher.

Having spent a year at Alabama as the wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator, Gattis worked with two first-round picks in Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, as well as having worked with second-round pick KJ Hamler from his time at Penn State. Considering how much he raves about Wilson’s potential — as well as Henning’s — that bodes well for his vision of a ‘speed in space’ offense.

But how soon can those two contribute?

Last year, Michigan played three true freshmen at wideout — Sainristil, Jackson and fellow first-year player Cornelius Johnson. This year, expect something similar, especially given the limited numbers of wide receivers currently on scholarship in Ann Arbor.

“We’re gonna throw those guys in the mix,” Gattis said. “Obviously, we don’t have a ton of depth at receiver. Last year we had played two freshmen at receiver in significant roles. I think we’ll start this year out with seven scholarship wideouts, which is very low under the number of receivers we want to be at. But we’ll make it work. We’ll make it work. That is what it is. We’ve got the talent there, we’ve got all the different pieces. Most importantly, we’ve got the room.

“Those guys are great with each other. Being led by Ronnie Bell and Nico Collins. I couldn’t be more excited about the wide receiver room right now.”

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ESPN: College coaches see Michigan 2020 signee among country’s best

ESPN polled 66 college coaches as to which 2020 recruits will be the nation’s best, and the Wolverines WR signee made the list.

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Get excited Michigan fans: the Wolverines got a good one in 2020.

With sports currently on hiatus due to COVID-19, which canceled spring football and our first chance at seeing some of the young up-and-comers, ESPN polled 66 college football coaches to see who they thought could be the best incoming freshmen this upcoming season.

It’s an interesting way to go, given that some of these recruits were courted by a significant amount of top tier programs before they selected their school of choice.

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ESPN did the same thing a year ago, with Michigan five-star safety Daxton Hill getting four votes from those polled. This year, another Wolverine made the list, with two coaches saying incoming wide receiver A.J. Henning will be among the nation’s best.

WR A.J. Henning
5-foot-10, 175 pounds
Frankfort, Illinois/Lincoln-Way East High School
ESPN 300 rank: 112
Signed: Michigan Wolverines

Henning is an explosive receiver who fits exactly with what Michigan wants in its speed-in-space offense. He will provide more options for the offense at receiver and will give Michigan a true playmaker to go along with Ronnie Bell, Nico Collins, Mike Sainristil and Giles Jackson.

Big Ten assistant coach: “As versatile a player in the country. One of the most electric players with the ball in his hands in the country.”

The quote from the Big Ten assistant is exactly what the Wolverines are looking for on offense, under offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, who took Michigan Twitter by storm referencing his plan for ‘speed in space.’

Henning has the opportunity to be an immediate difference-maker, given his speed and skill-set. As he told WolverinesWire after committing last summer, while he’s somewhat smaller in stature, he can play any wide receiver spot.

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However, the maize and blue will certainly face stiff competition, particularly from Ohio State — which had three players make the list, including two wide receivers in Julian Fleming (ESPN’s overall top recruit in 2020 — but he received just one vote) and Jaxon Smith-Njiba.

Michigan commits, signees make push for Donovan Edwards

With one major target off the board at RB in 2021, several prospective Wolverines took to Twitter to thy and lure a 4-star in-state tailback

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When Hopewell (VA) five-star RB TreVeyon Henderson committed to Ohio State without having ever visited Columbus, nearly all of Michigan’s hopes at tailback suddenly rest on an in-state talent in West Bloomfield (MI) four-star Donovan Edwards.

It seemed as if the Wolverines were trailing for the star player in Oakland County, with the Buckeyes, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma all in full-pursuit. However, reports indicate that Michigan has made a big push, including one from The Wolverine’s EJ Holland, who published a story on Friday about the maize and blue pursuit of Edwards.

Many of those already committed or even signed to Michigan took that as an opportunity to let Edwards know just how much he’s wanted in Ann Arbor, including commits J.J. McCarthy and Giovanni El-Hadi as well as signees Zak Zinter, AJ Henning, Kalel Mullings and Braiden McGregor.

Check out their pitches to Edwards below:

 

 

 

Michigan football 2020 mini preview

Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus bowl next week, but it isn’t too early to take a small look into the 2020 season.

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While there still is another game on the schedule for the 2019 Michigan football team, that doesn’t mean it’s too early to talk about the 2020 season. It’s December and that season doesn’t start until next September, so while this preview won’t be an in-depth edition, it’ll still get your mind onto what the future could bring next season.

Michigan will have some players leaving due to the NFL or graduation, but the losses aren’t as huge as they were heading into 2019. The biggest group that will need some work is the offensive line as at least three players are graduating, while a fourth could declare for the NFL.

While the 2019 season schedule was tough, 2020 seems to be even more daunting with Michigan’s toughest games on the road. Overall, things will change in nine months, but for now, this is going off of what we know right now and what we can predict in December before things look differently in July and August.

2020 Football schedule

  • Week 1 @ Washington
  • Week 2 VS. Ball State
  • Week 3 VS. Arkansas State
  • Week 4 VS. Wisconsin
  • Week 5 VS. Penn State
  • Week 6 @ Michigan State
  • Week 7 @ Minnesota
  • Week 8 VS. Purdue
  • BYE
  • Week 10 VS. Maryland
  • Week 11 @ Rutgers
  • Week 12 VS. Indiana
  • Week 13 @ Ohio State

When looking at this schedule, the first big challenge is playing Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State, and Minnesota four straight weeks. While two of those are at home, those games won’t be pushovers. Wisconsin won’t have running back Jonathan Taylor anymore so that could be an easier game, but nobody knows yet.

Penn State could have another solid year and be a contender in the Big Ten East. Michigan State will either have a rebound year after going 7-6 this season or another poor season that will force head coach Mark Dantonio to retire. All that depends on what he does in the off-season this year. Minnesota could be a daunting challenge after their impressive 2019 season as well.

The opening game against Washington will be without their head coach Chris Petersen, who resigned after the regular season ended as he is transitioning to an advisory role for the university, along with starting quarterback Jacob Eason, who declared for the NFL draft after their bowl win over Boise State this month.

Then finally you end up against Ohio State on the road and if it’s anything like it has been the last two years, Michigan will most likely get knocked around unless something major happens to the Buckeyes and head coach Ryan Day. Michigan has a chance to go between 9-3 and 11-1 next season, it just depends on how they can do on the road against good competition.

Next, which players you might have to keep your eye on next season…

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1. QB Dylan McCaffrey

After stepping onto the field for a banged-up Shea Patterson at quarterback, Dylan McCaffrey wowed fans and coaches against Notre Dame in 2018. He didn’t put on a show, but he went 4/6 for 22 yards and had three carries for 10 yards. Since then, some fans have been clamoring for McCaffrey to be the starting quarterback over Patterson.

That dream will most likely come true next season as McCaffrey will probably be the starting quarterback. How will he do? He’s done well so far in his limited time on the field for the Wolverines. In his career so far, McCaffrey is 18/35 for 242 yards with three touchdowns, along with 23 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

McCaffrey seems to use his legs more than Patterson, but his arm talent is impressive itself. He’s had a full year as the backup under the offense run by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, and another year learning more of the playbook could see McCaffrey shine.

2. LB Cam Mcgrone

After taking a redshirt last season, linebacker Cam McGrone saw some playing time this season. The playing time was due to starting linebacker Josh Ross getting injured and McGrone saw the opportunity to impress the coaches and to not be looked at as a backup but as a starter.

His movements and skills reminded people of former starting linebacker and first-round pick Devin Bush. His quickness to get behind the offensive line and make an impact on the play was impressive. His tackling ability was there and he could read plays well.

McGrone so far has 59 total tackles, eight and a half tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, and a forced fumble this season. A full season as a starter could be huge for him and if McGrone gets more time as a starter in practice and he’s learning more, he could be a big star on the defensive side of the ball in 2020.

3. OT Andrew Stueber

Like I said earlier, the biggest group getting affected in 2020 is the offensive line. Starting left tackle Jon Runyan Jr., left guard Ben Bredeson, and right guard Michael Onwenu are all graduating. Center Cesar Ruiz is also receiving high marks as a junior for the NFL, so if he decides to declare, Michigan could only have Jalen Mayfield as the returning starter from the 2019 season.

Before the 2019 season, one of the starting job battles as at right tackle between Mayfield and Andrew Stueber. Stueber played in 2018 when right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty went down with an injury and Stueber did well. Stueber seemed to be just above Mayfield in the battle before the season started, but then Stueber went down with an ACL tear and his season was over and the job went to Mayfield

2020 will see Stueber return and he and Mayfield will now work together as the starting tackles, with Stueber most likely starting at left tackle. If Ruiz returns, then Michigan will have three experienced offensive lineman starting next year with inexperienced guards. If Ruiz leaves, the entire interior will be inexperienced. Stueber’s return will be huge and a boost for an offensive line that will need all the help they can get next year.

Finally, three freshmen who could make a splash their first year on campus…
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POLL: Super 25 High School Football Top Star, Week 12

Which performance was the best this past week from a player on a Super 25 ranked team? Vote for the Super 25 Top Star!

Here are the candidates for this week’s Super 25 Top Star. All nominees play on a team ranked in the top 25 or from a regionally ranked team. Vote now in the poll below.

SUPER 25: TOP 25 | REGIONAL | How the Super 25 Fared

NOTE: Players can only win once per season | Voting ends Friday at 2 p.m. ET

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