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June 16, 2009

Michael Spath
TheWolverine.com

With few game-changing wide receivers returning to campuses across the Midwest this fall, 2009 could be the year of the tight end. The Big Ten boasts plenty of potential stars while Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph could be the best U-M faces ?

Top Wide Receivers/Tight End Corps For U-M Opponents

1
Notre Dame
Wide Receivers: Jr. Golden Tate, Soph. Michael Floyd, Jr. Duval Kamara and Sr. Robby Parris.
Tight End: Soph. Kyle Rudolph (left).
The days of laughing at Notre Dame's skill position plays have passed. The Fighting Irish return proven performers, playmakers and depth. Tate is the downfield threat, averaging 18.6 yards per catch with eight receptions greater than 30 yards in 2008 (including a 60-yarder versus Michigan). Floyd caught seven touchdowns as a freshman and will likely be ND's top receiver this fall. Underrated, Rudolph had catches in 11 of 13 games last year.

2
Michigan State
Wide Receivers: 5th Sr. Blair White, Jr. Mark Dell, Soph. Keshawn Martin and Soph. B.J. Cunningham.
Tight End: Jr. Charlie Gantt (left).
No opponent (at least on paper as of June 15) can match the depth of the Spartans. White, Cunningham and Dell each caught better than 35 balls in 2008, combining for 120 receptions, 1,866 yards and four scores. Gantt is a reliable target that recorded four end-zone catches last season. The only thing MSU lacks is a real game-breaker but the junior Dell is showing signs that he can be that go-to target for the Green and White.

3
Illinois
Wide Receivers: Sr. Jeff Cumberland, Jr. Arrelious Benn, Sr. Chris Duvalt and Jr. Jarred Fayson.
Tight End: Sr. Michael Hoomanawunui (left).
The Big Ten's best wide receiver resides in Champaign. Benn is as dangerous as they come, pulling in 67 receptions for 1,055 yards in 2008. Still, the Illini didn't use him as well as they could have, with Benn scoring just three times through the air. The big-bodied Cumberland had four touchdowns and finally gives Benn a worthy complementary receiver. Hoomanawunui would be a household name if anyone could pronounce it, after making 25 grabs last year. 

4
Ohio State
Wide Receivers: Soph. DeVier Posey, Jr. Dane Sanzenbacher (left), Sr. Ray Small and Jr. Taurian Washington.
Tight Ends: Sr. Jake Ballard and Fr.-R Jake Stoneburner.
Ohio State suffered significant losses at receiver, saying goodbye to Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, but that doesn't mean the Buckeyes will be hurting for talent. Posey was a five-star with Small and Washington four-stars. Sanzenbacher is OSU's leading returner receiver, though, with 21 receptions in 2008. Ballard only had five catches last year but he could explode as Terrelle Pryor learns to use his tight ends more.

5
Wisconsin
Wide Receivers: Jr.-R Isaac Anderson, Jr. David Gilreath and Jr. Kyle Jefferson.
Tight Ends: 5th Sr. Garrett Graham (left) and Sr. Mickey Turner.
Wisconsin lost only one significant contributor from last season in tight end Travis Beckum and the oft-injured Beckum was barely a factor in 2008. Still, this is an odd collection of proven talent that no one really fears now that the former All-American tight end has left. Graham should fully step into the spotlight after scoring five times among 40 receptions last year, and one of the three receivers should flourish, but who?

6
Iowa
Wide Receivers: Soph. Marvin McNutt, Jr. Trey Stross and Jr. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos (left).
Tight End: 5th Sr. Tony Moeaki.
The Hawkeyes graduated a dependable (if not flashy) receiver in Andy Brodell and will look to Johnson-Koulianos more now after he proved himself with a 44-catch, 639-yard effort in 2008. Iowa is hopeful Moeaki will finally live up to the promise that made him a four-star recruit in the Class of 2005. McNutt is a converted QB with plenty of potential while the hope is Stross will fill the role of the reliable Brodell.

7
Penn State
Wide Receivers: Soph. Derek Moye, Jr. Brett Brackett and Jr. Graham Zug.
Tight End: Sr. Andrew Quarless (left).
If folks in Columbus thought they had it bad, they should make a quick sojourn to State College. In 2008, the careers of Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler concluded. Each had at least 40 receptions last year, combining for 1,932 yards and 17 touchdowns. A band of unknowns will try to replace the departing trio with Quarless needing to become a real factor for the Penn State offense after years of little contribution. 

8
Purdue
Wide Receivers: 5th Sr. Aaron Valentine (left), Jr. Keith Smith and Sr. Royce Adams.
Tight End: Jr. Kyle Adams.
So the cupboard is not completely bare in West Lafayette, but former coach Joe Tiller didn't leave apprentice Danny Hope a ton to work with. Smith ranked third among Boilermakers with 49 receptions for 486 yards in 2008 and he'll likely inherit the role of No. 1 receiver for Purdue. Valentine is a good enough second option with Royce Adams a converted defensive back that could improve quickly. Kyle Adams saw his 2008 end early by injury but is a promising tight end.

9
Eastern Michigan
Wide Receivers: Sr. Jacory Stone, Soph. Marvon Sanders, 5th Sr. Dontayo Gage (left) and Sr. DeAnthony White.
Tight End: Jr. Josh LeDuc.
If this wasn't Eastern Michigan, we'd probably rank this group higher because there is plenty of experienced depth and quite a few game-changing performers. Stone caught 88 balls for 943 yards in 2008 while LeDuc is used often, making 32 receptions, including four scores. Gage, White and Sanders are all superb athletes capable of stretching the field and turning nothing into something.

10
Indiana
Wide Receivers: Jr.-R Terrance Turner (left), Soph. Tandon Doss, Soph. Damario Belcher and Jr. Mitchell Evans.
Tight End: 5th Sr. Troy Wagner.
This unit took a big hit when the play-making Kellen Lewis was kicked off the team. That said, there is some talent at IU; it's just young. Turner returns the leading receiver with 29 grabs in 2008 but the 6-5 Belcher and 6-3 Doss have shown the most potential and could emerge difference-makers for the Hoosiers this fall. Indiana didn't use its tight end much and probably won't again this year.

11
Western Michigan
Wide Receivers: Jr. Juan Nunez, Soph. Robert Arnheim, Soph. Dervon Wallace and Fr.-R Seth Patterson.
Tight End: Sr. Matt Stevens (left).
The big, bad Broncos (everyone's potential upset pick) don't look as scary at receiver as they do in the offensive backfield thanks to the departure of their top two wideouts. Nunez will look to pick up the slack and has the goods to be the top target after making 57 grabs for 701 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. The rest of the receiving corps remains unproven while WMU throws Stevens' way only once a game.

12
Delaware State
Wide Receivers: Jr. Larrone Moore (left), 5th Sr. Eric Jones, Soph. Darius Jackson and Sr. Zacharri Charles.
Tight Ends: Soph. Jahmel Bashir.
Two of the Hornets have moved on but they bring back plenty of experience. Moore started 10 games in 2008 while Charles made eight starts and Jones four starts. They lack production, however. The three combined for only 58 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers aren't bad, though, and should rise dramatically as the three, plus Jackson, see increased opportunities this fall. Bashir, meanwhile, had seven grabs for 49 yards last year.





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