[jwplayer xLywzDVY-XNcErKyb]
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Back on Dec. 28, we posted on the WolverinesWire forum that third-year Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins was poised to return for his senior season with the Wolverines. It took eight days, but he announced this measure on social media in early January.
Given all of the draft eligible receivers to come back, Collins likely has the highest upside, so it was something of a surprise to some. While he wasn’t included in top draft boards, given his production, body size and ability he’s showcased on the field, he certainly could have gone to the NFL combine and made a case for being a top two day pick.
Naturally, the Michigan coaching staff is enthusiastic about having yet another year working with Collins. But what went into his decision to come back and play a fourth year in the maize and blue?
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis says it was in part due to some nagging injuries, but also because he felt like there was a lot more for him to learn at the college level.
And Gattis says that he was able to play his part on whether Collins should stay or go.
“Yeah, I had a ton of input,” Gattis said. “The challenge for Nico was – and we met quite a bit towards the end of the season – I love the fact that Nico said, ‘Coach, I want to stay and develop.’ But the challenge that Nico had was, he was another guy that missed all offseason last year. When Nico started off the season, he had just got cleared two weeks before the season started. He missed all offseason with some surgery he (had) – but he’s a tough kid. He played all the previous year beat up a little bit. But he had missed that huge, significant chunk of developmental time, that guys make from January to August.
“So when he started off the season, he was just running off everything he had done the year before. He hadn’t had a chance to get his body the way he wanted. Hadn’t had a chance to develop his skill set. And that was something that he felt he wanted to work on. And let me say that, too – the body of work even with last year was very, very impressive. I think that Nico Collins, I firmly believe, is one of the best receivers in all of college football.
“And when you look at statistically, his numbers match up there.”
[lawrence-related id=24325,24314,24299]
Now, with Collins as well as Ronnie Bell coming back, Michigan returns its two most productive receivers from 2019.
To boot, Collins is finally fully healthy, as he showcased in winter conditioning. Gattis is seeing a difference, from his speed to his overall capability. With that in mind, he can’t wait to see what Collins does this season.
“The thing now, he had a great offseason,” Gattis said. “Timed extremely well in the 40s. Really ran a fast time and ran out a 4.4 – 4.45, when we timed it in the winter. So I think he’s just excited having a healthy offseason. Because that can go so far for you. And he also battled some little, nagging injuries during the season last year and missed some time in the Middle Tennessee State game and he missed the Illinois game. So now he feels that his body’s finally healthy. He’s able to work on his craft. It’s gonna pay off huge for him. And I can’t be more excited about who he is as a player, as a young man and as a leader. Big time future. Big time future, Nico Collins.”
[vertical-gallery id=24009]