Is the second year the breakout season for Michigan receiver Darrius Clemons?
Several of the most talented Michigan receivers over the years broke out in their sophomore seasons after being relatively quiet in year one. The Wolverines could use it this year, a season in which there’s no obvious home run threat.
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There’s experience, of course, and guys who have made big plays in the biggest games. Michigan grad student Cornelius Johnson came up huge at Ohio State last year, for example, his two long touchdown receptions huge turning points in the game.
But that guy whose number you can call, and you know he’s going to come down with the ball when it’s thrown to him?
It’s been a while.
Michigan sophomore Darrius Clemons has the ability to be that player this year, both his teammates and coaches insist. Throughout the winter and into the spring, Clemons has been putting extra time in the weight room and after practices to get stronger and faster and perfect his routes before the season.
“I’m always in the building, so I see him working out by himself. When we got to the winter cycle, and for him to be as strong as he was in the weight room, it was pretty shocking,” Michigan senior Roman Wilson said. “He’s a pretty strong guy.
“I think he’s going to shock a lot of people when he gets his opportunities this year.”
That’s the goal, Clemons said in the offseason Though he caught only one pass for 7 yards at Michigan last year, the praise for him started when he first arrived. Many predicted he’d have a significant impact as a freshman, and he admitted it was a bit disheartening when it didn’t happen.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating not playing football,” Clemons said. “I’m competitive. It’s what I came here [to Michigan] to do. But at the same time it’s keeping my mind on trying to control what you can control — to try to get better every day. Learn from the older guys.
“We had Ronnie Bell, Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson. Those guys are all going to play in the NFL one day. I’d be a fool not to try to take something from that.”
So, he keeps his head down and continues to work and take coaching from Michigan receivers coach Ron Bellamy. Bellamy said in early June he saw significant progress in his sophomore, and he’s excited to see what he can do this fall.
There’s nobody else he’s rather learn from, Clemons said.
“I love coach Bellamy as a coach. I think the best part about having him as a coach is he’s done it before,” Clemons said. “He’s done a lot of things I hope to do in my career at Michigan, so it’s like having someone who has seen it, he’s done it … just having someone with a first-person view into it. I’d be wrong not to listen to him.”
Bellamy never promised him anything at Michigan, Clemons said, and he always professed faith in him should his number be called. Though it wasn’t — he was essentially a healthy scratch the last four games of the year — Clemons never stopped preparing.
“He’s more of a ‘stay ready’ kind of guy. I think the way he looks at it, there are a lot of guys who could play right now,” Clemons said. “But we’re the young guys in a sense. I think he just says stay ready, keep trying to get better.”
And that’s exactly what he’s tried to do. He appears to be in incredible shape, ready to make his second year special.
“I want to improve everywhere,” the Michigan sophomore said. “In no way am I content where I’m at right now as far as my skillset. I want to get better at everything, be a better version of myself.”
He appears to be on his way.
