Will Andrel Anthony enjoy another breakout game against Michigan State?

Michigan Wolverines football sophomore wide receiver Andrel Anthony chose the Maize and Blue over his hometown Michigan State Spartans at a commitment ceremony on his East Lansing (Mich.) High football field, a stone’s throw away from Spartan Stadium, during the summer of 2020. Fast forward a year and change later, and Anthony was a key figure in Michigan’s Oct. 30, 2021 game against MSU.

In the 37-33 loss, Anthony saved Michigan’s first drive with a 93-yard touchdown reception on third down, marking the longest first-career reception for any U-M player. It was the second-longest passing touchdown in Wolverine history.

Late in the second quarter, Anthony put Michigan up, 20-14, by going up and plucking a 17-yard pass in the end zone from sophomore J.J. McCarthy. All told, he had 6 grabs for 155 yards and 2 scores.

After having a quiet first half of his freshman season, Anthony burst onto the scene in the biggest game to that point, between two undefeated squads.

Anthony has had other stellar moments during his Michigan career — hauling in the team’s lone touchdown in the College Football Playoff against Georgia being one of them — but they’ve been just that, moments. Believe it or not, Anthony has had just two multi-catch games as a college player — versus Michigan State in 2021 and this year at Indiana, when he notched 2 receptions for 32 yards.

Five Michigan receivers have been targeted more than Anthony this season. The ball has come his way only nine times, and he’s racked up 6 grabs for 73 yards.

Fans have clamored to see more of Anthony, but the truth is, he’s played the 12th-most snaps on offense (166), including the third-most among Michigan wide receivers, ahead of starting slot Roman Wilson (114). Sixty two of his snaps have been passes, though, while 104 have been runs.

“As a receiver, there are some games where some guys, the ball finds them,” Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy said Wednesday. “It’s one of those things where you just tell ‘Drel to keep playing hard.

“He’s playing well. He’s moving around, playing multiple positions. He’s doing great things for our football team, and couldn’t be more proud of him.”

If there’s ever a game for a guy who the ball just hasn’t been finding, for whatever reason, it might be this one. Michigan State ranks 110th nationally in passing yards allowed per game (269) and has allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a 128.8 rating on throws of 20-plus yards in the air, the ninth-worst mark for a defense in the country. Three of Anthony’s 18 career receptions have come on throws that travel 20-plus air yards.

During last year’s Monday walkthrough ahead of the Michigan State game, Anthony learned he’d have a significant role.

“I knew I was going to have a shot to make plays and capitalize on that,” he said last year.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh believes he’s on the verge of breaking through.

“Andrel, he’s been really coming to the fore much more. He’s hitting his stride,” Harbaugh said Monday. “So I continue to feel like he’s going to become more and more part of every game.

“Making a big play a game that’s kind of what you come to expect from Andrel. And he’s just a phenomenal player. Doing everything right as always. Just can’t say enough good things about him.”

Anthony embraced last year’s rendition of the rivalry being a “homecoming” for him personally. This time the Spartans will travel to his new home.

Harbaugh wouldn’t go as far to say that Anthony will play with a “vengeance,” though.

“Vengeance? No, I wouldn’t use that word,” Harbaugh said. “He just always plays the game right. Always gives it everything he’s got. And he’s always ready to play each and every week and playing — like all the guys on the team.

“Go talk to all of them. On both sides, I think you’re gonna find that everybody really wants to play well, everybody wants to win this game.”

It may have been a coincidence that Anthony played so well in his crack at the Spartans, who desperately wanted his services as a high schooler — but the world will never know. Either way, this weekend could be another coming-out party for the sophomore.

“With the younger receivers — not just young receivers, young football players, primarily freshmen — probably during the halfway point in the season, they understand offense, defense and special teams a little better,” Bellamy explained. “They gain coaches’ trust, they gain teammates’ trust that you’re not afraid to put those guys in during critical situations.

“Last year, it just so happened it was the timing for ‘Drel. He got that opportunity, and he made the most of it.”

If he gets his chances this week, he just might do the same thing.