Just like with offensive linemen discussed in a previous piece, the team with more wins than any other program in the history of college football has certainly had its fair share of great wide receivers. Let’s look at the five best ones to ever play for Michigan.
5 Greatest Michigan Wide Receivers of All Time
Desmond Howard
Well, when you win the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, and Maxwell Award and are first-team All-American all in the same season, there’s a pretty good chance you’re one of the best. But that’s exactly what Desmond Howard did in 1991.
During this magical season, Howard caught 62 passes for 985 and an astounding 23 touchdowns while rushing for almost 200 yards and gaining almost 700 yards on kick returns. While Howard was consistent during his entire tenure in Ann Arbor this one season puts him at the top of the list of the greatest wideouts ever for the Wolverines.
Anthony Carter
Anthony Carter is similar to Howard in that neither was very big and they both handled kick return duties. Carter had the disadvantage of playing under Bo Schembechler which limited his opportunities since the running game was always the priority.
Despite his limited chances, Carter still averaged 40 catches per year which included very low numbers as a freshman. His 19 yards per catch and 37 touchdowns are what separates him from most and gets him on the list as one of the greatest ever in Ann Arbor.
Braylon Edwards
In addition to his remarkable ball skills, receiver Braylon Edwards was one of the most physically imposing receivers at Michigan, standing 6’3” and weighing 214 lbs. He was a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
What made Edwards special was his volume of catches as he grabbed 252 receptions over his career which also included a very limited freshman season. While his yards per catch weren’t remarkable at 14 yards per catch, his 44 touchdown scores make him a lock for one of the best to play for Michigan.
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer makes our list in spite of the fact that he didn’t even start at Michigan until he was a senior.
While his freshman and sophomore season production numbers were basically pedestrian, he exploded during his junior season by catching 54 balls for over 1,000 with an amazing 20.3 yards per catch. Finally as a senior, he became a full-time starter and put up solid numbers again just like the year before.
Mario Manningham
Despite only playing three seasons for the maize and blue, Mario Manningham slides into the fifth spot on our list of the greatest Michigan wide receivers in program history. Similar to others mentioned before. Manninham’s first two seasons weren’t anything special.
It was his junior season where he showed how good he was. In that season, Manningham had 72 catches for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished his Michigan career with 137 catches for 2,310 yards and 27 touchdowns. All of these career numbers put him near the top of all time.
There you have the five greatest wide receivers in Michigan football history. Who wants to debate the list?
