Name: C.J. Charleston
Height: 6’0"
Weight: 190 lbs.
High school: Gates Mill (OH) Gilmour Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sixth year senior
Jersey number: #5
Last year: Charleston was a fifth year senior at Youngstown State (LINK). He caught 33 passes for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns while starting all thirteen games.
TTB Rating: N/A
Charleston entered Youngstown State's program in 2019 and has started 23 games since then, including all thirteen as a fifth year senior in 2023. Last year he set all his career records, including catches (6 against Robert Morris), yards (119 yards against Robert Morris), and longest catch (72 yards against Illinois State). Michigan was in desperate need of receivers who could contribute right now after Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson went to the NFL and Darrius Clemons transferred to Oregon State. It was a good match between a team that needs receivers and a player who doesn't really warrant getting ten targets a game.
As for Charleston's impact this year, he should be a piece of the on-field puzzle. It's unlikely that he will be a star or the leading receiver, but he's a former high school running back who should value things like blocking and gaining some tough yards. With Tyler Morris and Semaj Morgan the top two returning receivers, and the super-athletic Amorion Walker moving over from cornerback (and coming back from Ole Miss), Charleston should be a good backup or occasional starter. Last year Michigan's fourth receiver (Morris) caught 13 passes for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. I think that's a good approximation of my expectations for Charleston in 2024.
Prediction: Part-time starting wide receiver; 15 catches for 165 yards and 1 touchdown
The lack of established options at WR - coupled with questions at QB - leads to need for MOAR Harball
ReplyDeleteBut we will need to pass eventually. Who will throw? Who will catch? How will that work out?
Sounds like he's very likely to be a contributor and an asset to the locker room and the positive culture the program has built up. However, I didn't think he was worth ranking in the top 50 just because the on field role seems fairly replaceable by others on the roster (including O'Leary, Bell, Stewart, and Goodwin). That said, I'm looking forward to seeing him play and perhaps Michigan uncovered a hidden gem here. If nothing else he maybe an insurance policy on an injury to Semaj Morgan. I'm glad they went out and got him.
ReplyDelete