Michigan receiver Darrius Clemons has entered the transfer portal following Michigan's national championship win on Monday night.
Clemons was a member of Michigan's 2022 class out of Portland (OR) Westview. He was a 4-star, the #24 wide receiver, and #144 overall in the 247 Composite rankings. I gave him a TTB Rating of 88 based on his 6'4", 205 lb. frame (he was most recently listed at 6'3", 212 lbs. by MGoBlue.com) and sub-4.4 speed.
Unfortunately, things didn't really work out at Michigan. Maybe they could have, but they didn't. He played in eleven games as a freshman and nine this past season, but he made just 3 catches for 33 yards in 2023 and 4 catches for 40 yards altogether. His biggest career highlight - aside from winning a natty - was a diving touchdown reception in the 2022 spring game.
For better or worse, Michigan's style of play is not wide receiver-friendly. They play slow and run the ball a lot, which works. I mean, who can argue with the team results? But Michigan's top receivers this season were Roman Wilson (48 catches, 789 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Cornelius Johnson (47 catches, 604 yards, 1 touchdown). There aren't a ton of targets to go around, even when Michigan has the best quarterback in school history in J.J. McCarthy.
On top of that, Clemons was passed up in playing time by classmate Tyler Morris (13 catches, 197 yards,1 touchdown) and freshman Semaj Morgan (22 catches, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns).
The bright side for Clemons may have been that both Wilson and Johnson are out of eligibility, and there's no clear-cut #1 receiver for next season. Michigan will need to look toward the transfer portal to try to find some contributors for 2024 and beyond. At the wide receiver position, the Wolverines will return just 40 catches and 4 touchdowns next season from the likes of Morris, Morgan, Fredrick Moore, Karmello English, and walk-on Peyton O'Leary.
Clemons was the fourth member of the 2022 class to enter the portal, following LB Deuce Spurlock (Florida), S Damani Dent (Charlotte), and RB C.J. Stokes (Charlotte).
You nailed it with the big issue for Clemons - he was behind Morris and Morgan on the depth chart and Fred Moore was pushing for time in the early season as well. So even with the departure of our 2 starters there was probably not going to be a starting role for Clemons. Especially with Michigan being active in the portal to add at least one vet starter outside.
ReplyDeleteI think Morris is clearly the #1 receiver at this point, pending portal addition(s). Morris looks like the next Ronnie Bell. Morgan has a more limited slot role at this point, though I'm sure he'll grow. Moore is well behind.
I still don't think Michigan's relative lack of passing volume is a big issue here. Wilson was what - 5th in the B1G in yards? 2nd only to Harrison in TDs. He's projected to be drafted in the mid rounds. Nico Collins went in the 3rd round off a 37 catch season. Michigan has had 5 WRs drafted in the Harbaugh era compared to 2 RBs and 3 TEs.
Michigan is not a high volume passing attack to be sure, but beyond counting stats - whatever your goals might be as a WR - they are attainable at Michigan.
The moral of the Clemons story -- Never judge a WR by their frame!
Bye
ReplyDeleteLots of boo-boos & missed time. Lots of tangibles, in a program thriving on intangibles
Good luck kid
Hope he finds a team, he doesn't have much of a tape, and the next team will be couple levels down the food chain.
ReplyDelete