Michigan has a Wide Receiver Problem

The Wolverines' passing woes go deeper than the QB

The early returns on Michigan’s passing offense in 2024 have been extremely discouraging. They have averaged 153.0 passing yards per game through the first three weeks of the season. That’s the 3rd-lowest per-game average of any Power 4 football team, which is doubly disappointing for the defending national champions who have been favored by 21+ points in two of their three games. Part of this is due to bad quarterback play, but the more concerning factor is the lack of wide receiver talent on the roster.

According to On3, the Wolverines only have 2 blue chip (4 or 5 star) wide receivers on their roster. They are Freshman I’Marion Stewart, who has yet to see the field, and Junior Tyler Morris, who has caught 5 passes this season. This is fewer than nearly every other school in the Big 10, and less than half of the legitimate playoff contenders in the conference. They are even outclassed by Indiana, who only won one conference game in 2023.

This is not a perfect measure. For one, these counts include both transfer portal players and high school recruits as if they’re on the same rating scale. Also, 7 of Michigan’s 9 scholarship WR come from the midwest (Kansas City and Saint Louis are midwest) and there’s some chance that midwestern athletes who can’t attend large southern talent showcases are systemically lower rated than their southern counterparts due to a lack of exposure. Michigan could also be uniquely equipped to develop players’ potential beyond their media recruiting rating. These would all need to be demonstrated, but are reasonable explanations for why Michigan’s lack of highly rated receiving talent may be misleading.

However, Sophomore Semaj Morgan leads all Michigan wide receivers with 56 receiving yards this season. If the Wolverines had good wide receiver talent, I think at least one would have more than 75 receiving yards in a three game stretch with two cupcake opponents. What makes this more frustrating is that Michigan does not struggle to recruit skill position players overall.

Michigan has 10 blue chip skill position players on their roster. They’re broken down to 4 tight ends, 4 running backs, and 2 wide receivers. Among teams in the two best conferences this is a competitive total, but it is an extremely disproportionate lack of wide receiver talent. Their skill talent distribution is certainly unusual, but it has a certain logic to it.

If I’m allowed to wear a vibes-y pundit hat for a moment, the Wolverines’ identity under Jim Harbaugh, and seems to be continuing under current head coach Sherrone Moore, is to pound the rock and play defense. They have wanted to be able to successfully pass the ball and have it be reasonable threat, but first and foremost they want to grind you into dust. In this mindset it makes sense to emphasize recruiting high-level running backs and tight ends, and since 2021, it’s worked! Unfortunately, it was much easier to have a credible passing attack when they had an NFL QB and/or multiple NFL receivers. Michigan now patently has neither, and since there are more talented receivers available this needs to be a priority for the offseason.

Luckily, for me a Michigan fan and alum, they seem to be already aware of this. They already have commitments from two 4 star 2025 receivers (Jacob Washington and Andrew Marsh), and appear to be in credible battles for at least two more 4 star 2026 receivers (CJ Sadler and Payton Cook).