Michigan football coaches aim to fix passing woes

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In the past few recruiting cycles, Michigan football has managed to get some higher-caliber wide receiver talent. But it’s been a lot of selling something that hasn’t exactly been working — at least not to the level that most top-flight pass catchers gravitate toward.

Last season, the Wolverines had the 107th passing offense, and it was 131st the year before. Even in the three-year College Football Playoff run, the pass game wasn’t exactly electric — it was 82nd in 2023 (the national championship year), 83rd the year before, and, oddly, 68th with Cade McNamara at the helm in 2021.

Now, with Bryce Underwood at quarterback, the former top player in the country, Kyle Whittingham and company want to change the perception of what the maize and blue are capable of through the air. Wide receivers coach Micah Simon discussed how he and offensive coordinator Jason Beck have produced results, and that their past is something they’re using to appeal to recruits who are interested in the Wolverines but are perhaps reluctant to pull the trigger.

“We’re always going to play to our strengths,” Simon said. “That’s the No. 1 thing when you create explosive offenses. Whatever we feel the strength of our team is, that’s what we’re going to play to.

“A couple years ago in New Mexico, we were actually a little more balanced than people might remember. We had a 1,000-yard rusher at running back, a 1,000-yard rusher at quarterback. He also threw for almost 3,000. Had a couple wideouts that were pushing 900 and 800 yards each. So we were super balanced that year. Last year at the other place, a little more run-heavy. But when you have five senior O-linemen and two first-round-pick tackles that’s what you’re going to lean into.

“So when you recruit, you sell that idea of we’re not going to bring you in here and not utilize you to your full potential. And Jason has been a part of offenses that have been that. Dating back to his time at Virginia, they were the No. 2 passing offense in the country. So we know how to do both.”

Michigan, for instance, was a runner-up for 2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant, who committed to Oregon over the summer. Guerrant has been open that he wants to see the Wolverines’ offense be more electric through the air, and though he’s pledged to the Ducks, if this fall goes as hoped in Ann Arbor, perhaps there’s room to be able to coerce the in-state product to flip his commitment.

If not him, certainly, Simon hopes that the approach to the season will open up some top-flight receivers’ eyes.

“That’s the plan. That’s the plan.”

Michigan does have an elite wideout pledged in 2027 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star Quentin Burrell. He is currently the only receiver committed to the 2027 class, but in 2028, Guerrant’s teammate, Deandre Bidden, is another top target who is highly-ranked — as high as 31st overall by ESPN.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football coaches aim to fix passing woes