The foundation of Michigan’s offense is a potent run game and an astute passing attack that takes advantage of careless defenses. The Wolverines’ current offensive tandem of Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson is a gold mine, but if they want to stick with this offensive scheme, they will have to keep searching.
On national signing day, Michigan added two wide receivers in the hopes that they would both grow into elite targets for the Wolverines. Although neither receiver has the same high status as signees at positions like quarterback, running back, or tight end that have already been discussed in this series, they both have important roles to play in the offense.
I’Marion Stewart
Out of the two receiver commits, Stewart is the superior one. Based on 247Sports Composite, he is ranked just inside the top 300 recruits in the country with a grade of.9067.
At just 5-foot-10, Stewart is a shorter receiver, but he more than makes up for it with explosive speed and quickness. He should assist in opening up in the quick game as he is probably a slot player at the next level. Stewart can return kicks and punts and is a contender to compete with Semaj Morgan for inside reps.
Although I’m not sure if Stewart has what it takes to become Roman Wilson’s replacement in the long run, I like him taking over Wilson’s current red zone responsibilities. His outburst will be difficult to cover on the goal line because he is the quarterback’s first read and can get open quickly.
Stewart probably won’t contribute much to the offense in his first year or two, but I think he can develop into a useful player at Michigan.
Channing Goodwin
Jadyn Davis, a quarterback commit, went to high school with Goodwin, so there should be a great rapport between the two. With a 247Sports Composite grade of.8836, Goodwin is ranked 559th nationally among players.
Compared to Stewart, Goodwin is a better possession player. Stewart’s athleticism and juice will probably help him win reps, but Goodwin has a better feel for the game and always knows where to be. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, he is a bigger target for Davis, but he is not the kind of player who can run impressively after the catch or beat the defense deep.
I prefer to cast Goodwin as Cornelius Johnson in 2023. Rather than being a true vertical “X” receiver, Johnson’s role this season was more like a possession receiver and secure route runner. Although Goodwin does not stretch the field or pose a vertical threat to defenses, he can be a player who consistently finds openings and makes tough catches away from his body.
