Michigan freshman wideout made the first 'wow' play of spring practice, more on other standouts

ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines football is just one day into its 2025 circuit of spring practices, but the first day of workout on the field had a standout play that drew the attention of some key veterans.

Freshman wideout Jamar Browder, a late bloomer in the 2025 class who brings size at 6-5, 208 pounds, was a highlight in Tuesday’s session. He made a leaping grab where he high-pointed the football, which drew the attention of some of Michigan’s veteran players.

“Jamar Browder made a catch yesterday. I was like damn, that’s gonna look good,” fifth-year EDGE TJ Guy said on Wednesday at Schembechler Hall. “So him, for sure. A whole bunch of guys. This class is uber-talented, I think, for real. You guys are gonna see. [It was only] day one, but we’ll see more for sure.”

Offensive captain and returning fullback/tight end Max Bredeson saw it too.

“Yeah, he made a play,” Bredeson said. “One of the jumps — got a high one. It was a pretty cool play to see a freshman first day go do something.”

One of Michigan’s biggest priorities during the last recruiting cycle was bolstering its wide receiver room with size. Browder was the biggest of the bunch and helped address the offense’s need for a jump ball threat down the field.

“It’s definitely got to help,” Bredeson said. “I’ve never played defense, or haven’t played defense in college, but I’m sure looking across and seeing a guy who’s 6-foot-5 probably isn’t as much fun. But yeah, it’s definitely got to be a good addition. He can jump too. Both of them can. So it definitely helps.”

Head coach Sherrone Moore discussed the emphasis on adding size to Michigan’s wideout room on signing day back in December.

“[Size] was an emphasis for me,” Moore said. I really wanted to add size and length. Really haven’t had a big 6-5 guy since Nico Collins. I’ve said really good players that have played here. Roman Wilson, CJ, all those guys. But wanted some big guys. Just your margin for error for a quarterback, it’s just easy, right? You throw to Colson Loveland and AJ Barner last year. You throw high to a 6-6 guy. It’s different than throwing high to a 5-11 guy.

“So wanted to have that variance in our receiving room and felt like we got that with Jamar and Jacob [Washington]. And Andrew Marsh is the runt, but he’s 6-1 and he’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. I got to watch him live. He’s as good as there is in the country in the wide receiver position. Jamar was very under-recruited. Kind of happy that he was because we watched his tape, I don’t know what his rating was. I don’t really care. But he’s an elite player. And then Jacob as well. We had Jacob in camp. Great ball skills. Great runner detail. Great kid. So I feel like we got really good in that room.”

Others that impressed for Michigan this offseason.

There’s plenty of camp to go, but senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann sees some potential contributors in the wings with guys like sophomore Cole Sullivan and true freshmen Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor, who are enrolled early and went through winter conditioning.

“I think those two have done a really great job of just wanting to learn and are always eager to learn and asking questions,” Hausmann said. “The whole room I think it’s really taking a really step forward.”

Among the new additions also includes Georgia transfer Troy Bowles, who has been in the Michigan film room a ton with his peers.

“He’s been always in the room,” Hausmann said. “Working really hard, as well. We’re impressed with him in just terms of just a maturity coming from another program. For him and I, we share the same experience doing that. He’s been really great, head down and ask questions. So I’ve been really impressed.”

Bredeson has also been training a few understudies in junior Jalen Hoffman and early enrollee Eli Owens, who have been in the Michigan leader’s hip pocket learning the ins and outs of the position.

“He asks a lot of questions, [and I’m] always there to help,” Bredeson said. “It’s fun to have something like that. Jalen Hoffman’s always been doing that and unbelievable. Eli’s been really like following the same path and those guys can be really special players to deal with next [after me].”

Michigan will practice over the next few weeks in preparation for the spring game, set for April 19 from the Big House.