What are realistic expectations for the freshman receivers?

Submitted by WhoopinStick on
Michigan has an incredible freshman receiving class filled with talent and a diverse skill set.  But historically most freshman receivers at Michigan have not put up great numbers.  Below is a list of Michigan’s top 10 receivers (based on career receiving yards) followed by the number of catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns that each had in their freshman year.
 
1.  Braylon Edwards    3 catches, 38 yards, 0 touchdowns
2.  Anthony Carter    17 catches, 462 yards, 7 touchdowns
3.  Jeremy Gallon    4 catches, 49 yards, 1 touchdown
4.  Amani Toomer    16 catches, 238 yards, 1 touchdown
5.  David Terrell    14 catches, 149 yards, 2 touchdowns
6.  Mario Manningham    27 catches, 433 yards, 6 touchdowns
7.  Roy Roundtree    32 catches, 434 yards, 3 touchdowns
8.  Tai Streets    5 catches, 43 yards, 0 touchdowns
9.  Marquis Walker    4 catches, 31 yards, 0 touchdowns
10. Jason Avant    2 catches, 21 yards, 0 touchdowns
 
Five of these receivers  had less than 100 yards receiving during their entire freshman season,  only 3 totaled more than 240 yards receiving, and all had less than 470 yards.  Only 2 had more than 20 catches for the season.
 
History would lend one to believe that Crawford, Perry, or McDoom will lead the team in receiving this year.  But Michigan has never had a freshman receiving class like this one.  
 
What is a realistic expectation for any of the freshman receivers?  Will any of the freshman number above be broken - 32 catches, 462 yards, or 7 touchdowns?   

Wolfman

September 1st, 2017 at 9:43 PM ^

Things have changed so much. When A.C. -greatest I've ever seen - did it, he was pretty much THE wideout, then things changed, of course, when Mo took over and LC kept the double wides with the slot playing an imporant role as well. The TE, outside RR, has always been a cog in the M offense and Harbaugh will use them more than anyone. 

That, the TE being the primary as often as the wideouts, along with his desire to make the backs a big part of the passing game will probably make it difficult for any one receiver to separate themselves in a big way. However, when one does ascend to that level they seem to do so in a big way, i.e. Terrell, Braylon, et. al. As talented as DPJ is, I'd say Black is probably a little more advanced at this point and my chips would be on him emerging as the early leader of the freshmen unit. 

BoCanHam15

September 2nd, 2017 at 1:55 AM ^

If Speight gets comfortable with one of them, then we'll see a great producing freshman corps. If not, then the upperclassmen will or should get most of the touches.

Goblue228

September 2nd, 2017 at 4:22 AM ^

Damn at Anthony Carter.  Before my time but was he just taking it to the house half the time or what?  27 yds per catch and 41% touchdown rate?  That's incredible!