Two Michigan Wolverines listed among college football's top breakout candidates

Michigan Wolverines football has some household names returning on offense — senior quarterback Cade McNamara, graduate wide receiver Ronnie Bell, junior running back Blake Corum, graduate left tackle Ryan Hayes and several others. But the Maize and Blue also have some breakout candidates, two of whom were named among the top to watch nationally this season.

Michigan sophomore running back Donovan Edwards and junior slot receiver and return man A.J. Henning checked in on PFF analyst Anthony Treash’s list of 31 top breakout candidates nationally (in no particular order).

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Edwards will split time with Corum this season, and the two have said they want to become the nation’s top running back duo. He proved to be an explosive playmaker at the end of last season, serving as both a runner and pass-catcher. On the year, he notched 35 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns, and also caught 20 passes for 265 yards and one score.

His breakout game came in the penultimate regular-season tilt at Maryland, when he gained 170 yards and scored one touchdown on 10 receptions. He also accumulated 65 yards of total offense against Georgia in the College Football Playoff.

“Edwards was the Wolverines’ second-highest-ranked recruit in 2021 after quarterback J.J. McCarthy,” Treash wrote. “The running back first emerged onto the scene in Week 12’s win at Maryland, when he caught 10 targets for 170 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield en route to a 92.0 receiving grade. Edwards finished with 3.79 yards per route run and a 74.3 receiving grade on 70 routes for the season.”

Henning will wear a few different hats for Michigan this season. The junior is a slot receiver, and may well be the Wolverines’ starter at the position, but he’ll also play out of the backfield some, head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed in the spring. He took over the Maize and Blue’s punt and kick return duties by seasons end in 2021, too, returning seven kicks for 177 yards and one touchdown and 29 punts for 274 yards.

“There are several breakout candidates on this year’s talented Wolverines team, but Henning is among the best, as the 2020 fringe top-100 recruit has the skill set to be an elite, dynamic weapon for the Blue,” Treash wrote. “Henning showed flashes on end-arounds and sweeps last season, taking nine end-arounds/reverses for 162 yards and two touchdowns in addition to three sweeps for 39 yards. He also took a trick kick return to the house and averaged 9.4 yards per punt return across 29 such attempts.

“The 5-foot-10, 185-pound weapon is a slippery athlete and is a threat to convert a big gain anytime the ball is in his hands. Head coach Jim Harbaugh actually said during the spring that they envision a [San Francisco 49ers star] Deebo Samuel-esque role for Henning in 2022, including reps at running back. Henning is a pure gadget player until he can expand on his route tree, but either way, he’s destined to be a valuable weapon for Michigan’s offense in 2022.”

Michigan opponents among top breakout candidates

Michigan will face four players who made the list — a trio from Ohio State and one from Penn State. Here are the Wolverines’ opponents who Treash considers to be among the best breakout candidates in the country.

• Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. — “Stanford running back E.J. Smith isn’t the only breakout candidate with a father in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as Harrison could be the next great Ohio State receiver,” Treash wrote. “The son of the Indianapolis Colts legend Marvin Harrison Sr. has had a ‘really good offseason,’ according to head coach Ryan Day. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver showed promise to close out his true freshman campaign in 2021 with five combined first downs and touchdowns in the Rose Bowl. Harrison is poised to be an integral piece of Ohio State’s offense in 2022.”

• Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams — “The sheer number of high-end reps from Williams on just 184 snaps in his true freshman campaign is almost hard to believe,” Treash wrote. “The 6-foot-3, 315-pound interior defender’s upper-body strength paired with good hand placement led him to a 75.4 PFF grade in his first season. The four-star recruit posted an 84.0 pass-rush grade, racked up 21 pressures from 114 rushes, batted a couple of passes, recorded 10 defensive stops and forced a fumble. Williams should be able to ease the loss of experienced veteran Haskell Garrett along the Buckeyes’ interior defensive line.”

• Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer — “Sawyer was one of the several five-star recruits to join the Buckeyes during the 2021 cycle,” Treash explained. “He hadn’t played a down of football since 2019 after getting hurt and then opting out of the 2020 season to end his high school career, but Sawyer played 101 pass-rush snaps as a reserve during his true freshman campaign at Ohio State and recorded 11 pressures en route to a 78.6 pass-rush grade. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge defender is explosive, powerful and more advanced than most players his age. After the Buckeyes’ spring game, head coach Ryan Day highlighted Sawyer — along with fellow 2021 five-star recruit J.T. Tuimoloau — as a player who had a strong offseason and a candidate to be a “force” next fall. Sawyer could be the next Ohio State household name on the edge.

• Penn State guard Landon Tengwall — “Penn State’s top recruit of the 2021 cycle was none other than offensive lineman Tengwall, who ranked 54th nationally,” Treash wrote. “The 6-foot-6, 326-pounder played late in his true freshman campaign at left tackle and both guard spots, and he looked more like a seasoned veteran than a young, inexperienced offensive lineman. Tengwall earned an 81.9 PFF grade from 117 snaps, including a 79.4 mark in the run game and an 85.2 grade in pass protection. He has all the traits to be a special player for Penn State over the next couple of seasons and is one of the biggest breakout candidates in the country for 2022 as he takes over the starting left guard spot.”