Top 20 WR Receiving TDs In UM History

Submitted by Eastside Maize on December 12th, 2023 at 8:24 PM

Braylon Edwards leading the way with 39 Touchdowns! Roman tied for 6th All Time with 19 Touchdowns with, David Terrell. An under appreciated WR is in a 3 Way Tie for 8th All Time with 17 TDs, Jeremy Gallon. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/receiving.html

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the Glove

December 12th, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^

For every one of those players you can picture an epic touchdown. Desmond Howard diving versus Notre Dame, Braylonfest, Carter's Game winner versus Indiana, Manningham versus Penn State Roundtree under the lights. There's just so many. 

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potomacduc

December 13th, 2023 at 2:43 AM ^

It was not a spectacular acrobatic catch, but it was a game winner on 4th down and time running out: Dreisbach to Hayes vs UVA. At the time, it also capped Michigan’s biggest comeback. Michigan trailed 17-0. Other fun facts include Lloyd’s head coaching debut, both teams were AP top 20.

Mercury Hayes is #10 on the list and he played alongside #4 Toomer. 

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Amazinblu

December 12th, 2023 at 8:42 PM ^

I was thinking that this might be the Top 20 receiving TDs in Michigan history - which, could be fun to comment on.

My top receiving TDs would include… Desmond against ND, Anthony Carter against Indiana, and Manningham against Penn State.  All against PSU certainty belongs in the list.  So many more…

Go Blue!

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stephenrjking

December 12th, 2023 at 9:13 PM ^

That's an interesting question.

Your three there are excellent. A few TDs lose some emphasis because they aren't as singular; Braylon had two absolute bonkers TD catches among his 3 (plus a bomb to set up a FG) in that game against MSU, but good look picking just one. Michigan had 3 looooong TD passes against OSU in 22, but while the first is my favorite the other two are also incredible.

One challenge is that the actual spectacle of the catch and the significance of the game state aren't always precisely congruent. Roundtree and Manningham had catches that won games in the final seconds (or in THE final second) but the catches themselves weren't spectacular. There are some brilliant plays by guys like Roman and Marquise Walker that look amazing but aren't as spectacular as a play.

Des against ND and AC against Indiana hit the sweet spot of both. Hayes against Virginia, too.

It is fun to think about.

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EGD

December 13th, 2023 at 5:57 AM ^

Was at that game too. The amazing thing about that catch was how easy Avant made it look. He just sort of stretched out, one-handed the ball, crash landed, maintained full control the whole way, and then stood up as if he’d just reeled in a routine five-yard curl.

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Wolverine 73

December 12th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^

That Anthony Carter catch will always be no. 1 to me.  Still cannot believe how he zoomed by the safeties to score as time expired. Lot of great catches there.

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Michfan777

December 12th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^

Pretty crazy that it only takes 17 TDs to crack the top 10 list. In the modern game, some players can do that in a single season.

Also some interesting notes:

  • Avant - despite being so reliable and memorable over 3-4 years - caught 13 TDs in his career. Meanwhile, Manningham caught 27 TDs in 2.5 seasons.
  • The vaunted 3-headed monster WR class of 2017 (Collins, DPJ, Black) combined for only 29 TDs. In 2017 after the Florida game, I would have guessed they would have combined for 60-70 TDs by the time their careers ended.
  • Only 200 players total have caught a receiving TD since that list started in 1956.
  • If Michigan is able to play 2 games in the CFP, Roman Wilson has a shot at 5th place in all-time TDs.
  • To crack Michigan's top 20 in TDs, you need at least 13. To crack Alabama's top 20, you need 12. This is despite them producing 14 of their top 20 since 2008, and despite them including the following guys in the Saban era:
    • Devonta Smith (46)
    • Amari Cooper (31)
    • Jerry Jeudy (26)
    • Henry Ruggs (24)
    • Calvin Ridley (19)
    • Jaylen Waddle (17)
    • Julio Jones (15)
    • Jameson Williams (15) *in one year

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Michfan777

December 13th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^

While I knew Devonta Smith was a great WR before his absurdly incredible Heisman year, I had no idea he was that dominant already.

Also, pretty crazy to think about the 2019 Season's Michigan-Alabama bowl game...Michigan played against what might end up being the greatest college football WR room of all time. Literally the only guy who hasn't been great in the NFL is Ruggs - and even he was looking great in his 2nd season before throwing his life and others away.

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UM Indy

December 12th, 2023 at 10:24 PM ^

Did anyone else see Braylon’s final season stats side by side with Marvin Harrison Jr’s stats from this year? And which one was a Heisman finalist? 

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ca_prophet

December 13th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^

Mark Schmerge has 5 career catches, and 3 went for TDs.  Karmelo English has one career catch so far, and it's a 4 yard TD as well.  Jim Harbaugh has a 4 yard catch too.

This was alluded to upthread; most of the leaders here are "modern" players, for obvious reasons.  However, there are four players in our top-25-by-yardage who started their careers before 1989.

Anthony Carter surely needs no introduction here, but just in case.

Greg McMurtry has 101 catches, but for 1992 yards!  Jack Clancy is in similar territory.

And then we have a WR who is often overlooked, despite averaging 23 yards/catch ... in 1973-1976(!) and tacking on two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.  It's probably of his seemingly-generic, straight-from-central-casting name, or because he only had 71 catches, but please take a moment to remember Jim Smith.

 

 

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