When Ron Bellamy made his recruiting pitch to Jacob Washington, he showed him clips of Nico Collins.
Long before he became a budding star and earned a lucrative contract extension from the Houston Texans in May, Collins sparked intrigue in Ann Arbor.
At 6 feet 4, he was a tall, rangy receiver who had a penchant for making plays. But he never seemed to get the ball enough to generate a sustained impact with Michigan football. In three seasons, he collected 78 catches for 1,388 yards and 13 touchdowns — numbers that would compare to the totals produced by the NCAA’s top wideouts last fall alone.
Collins’ career, in many ways, helped solidify the perception of the Wolverines’ offense, which has been described as run-heavy, unbalanced and particularly unfavorable to outside skill players like Washington.
Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins runs by Rutgers defensive back Damon Hayes for a touchdown during the first half on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Michigan Stadium.
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But Washington — a four-star prospect from Archbishop Shaw in Marrero, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans — didn’t see it that way. Collins not only made it to the NFL as a third-round pick in 2021, but he eventually transformed into one of the league’s top targets. Perhaps Washington, with his 6-foot-3, 180-pound, frame, could trace a similar trajectory.
The man who sold him on that idea was none other than Bellamy, Michigan’s offensive pass game coordinator and third-year receivers coach who lettered as a wideout for the Wolverines at the turn of the century. Bellamy had credibility because he once starred at the same high school, and played under the same coach, as Washington does.
“We developed a strong relationship just built on trust and…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-chip-wr-chose-michigan-100517609.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2024-06-30 10:05:17
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