Greg McElroy breaks down Michigan's receiving strengths

Michigan is loaded this season. If any position remains a question mark, it’s wide receiver. However, ESPN’s Greg McElroy is confident the Wolverines can also find success out wide.

“Yeah, you got to replace your top receiver. You got to replace Ronnie Bell and Luke Schoonmaker. I understand that’s not going to be easy to do but think about some of the pieces that they’ve added. A lot of people buzzing about Tyler Morris. A lot of people love what Cornelius Johnson did down the stretch last year, [and] Roman Wilson, as well,” McElroy said.

The Wolverines will return just below 50% of its receiving production from last season. Bell led Michigan with 62 receptions and 889 yards in 2022. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Bell in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Along with Bell, Schoonmaker has left the building. The 6-foot-5 tight end boasted 35 receptions and 418 yards last season before being drafted by the Cowboys. While the losses are significant, they’re not fatal.

Returning veteran Cornelius Johnson came alive at the end of last season to ultimately record a team-high six touchdowns in 2022. Johnson silenced any doubters last season when he exploded for 160 yards receiving and two touchdowns on four catches at Ohio State.

Pile on rising stars such as Tyler Morris and Roman Wilson, and the Wolverines look dangerous out wide. Further, Michigan’s wide receivers aren’t the team’s only returning receiving threats.

“[I’m] not ever going to be concerned about what Michigan has at the tight end spot,” McElroy said. “Yeah, you lose a guy to Iowa, so be it. In comes guys that will likely be able to fill that void like Colston Loveland and then AJ Barner, who’s another option at tight end.”

Stuck behind Schoonmaker last season, Loveland only had so many opportunities. However, when he saw the field, he shined. Loveland caught 16 balls for 235 yards and two scores in his freshman season.

As for Barner, he transferred to Michigan from Indiana this offseason. Barner caught 28 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns last year for the Hoosiers. While the numbers don’t pop off the page, Barner’s size does. The senior tight end stands at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds.

Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore believes in his receiving corps despite any outside noise.

“They have the potential to be as good as any group in the country,” Moore said on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast. “And it’s just on the continual work hours that they have and what they’ve been doing.”

Michigan’s receiving corps will show off their improvement on Sept. 2 in the Wolverines’ season opener against East Carolina.