Ron Bellamy discusses Cornelius Johnson, 'dynamic' Roman Wilson and emerging Michigan wide receivers who 'can ball'
Michigan Wolverines football lost wide receiver Ronnie Bell to the NFL (San Francisco 49ers), putting the Maize and Blue in a similar situation to the 2021 season. That year, Bell went down with a season-ending ACL injury, meaning others had to step up. Graduate Cornelius Johnson, who led the team in receiving yards, and senior Roman Wilson did so. Those are now the top two leaders in the receiving corps, which position coach Ron Bellamy is excited about.
Johnson is using his extra year of eligibility for his fifth season at Michigan. He’s been steady and a constant in the room.
“The best version of himself,” Bellamy told Jon Jansen on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast of what Johnson needs to do this season. “That’s the one thing Cornelius and I have talked about [with] him coming back. There’s some detail stuff we’ve talked about with him getting to the next level, being the best version of himself. But leadership — he’s always been a great leader. Cornelius is a lead-by-example guy, does everything the right way. The guys respect him because of his approach to the game, the way he performs, the way he attacks every day.
“And then we’re looking for him being the best version of himself. He’s been around great guys. He understands the history of Michigan, particularly the wide receiver room, the culture that has existed within that group — ‘the crew’ as we call ourselves. Cornelius has been fantastic.”
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Wilson may be more explosive. He averaged 2.14 yards per route run last season, per PFF, compared to 1.53 for Johnson. He caught 25 passes for 376 yards and 4 touchdowns while adding 2 rushing scores. The Michigan wideout has had seven games games with 3-plus catches over the last two seasons, but also eight with 1 or fewer grabs. Bellamy believes Wilson has another gear he can show.
“To be the most dynamic playmaker that he can be,” Bellamy said of the goal for Wilson.
“Some of the things that he does, you watch Roman and you say, ‘Man, this guy, you watch his game and you can watch how it’s hard for guys to cover him.’ He can beat you [in a number of ways]. He can catch a shallow route and go 80 [yards]. He can run a post. He can go dig. He’s proven all that. He can get an end-around.
“Roman has a complete skill set, and just being able to utilize that. Roman is a big believer. Roman knows that he’s a special football player, but now just challenging him to be the most dynamic football player in America, that’s something that he’s chasing every day.”
Trio of Michigan receivers needs to step up
With Bell out of the picture and Michigan running a significant amount of 11 personnel, the Wolverines need more at the position to emerge. There are a few candidates, plus some promising freshmen.
One of the top options is sophomore Tyler Morris, who’s generated quite a bit of buzz this offseason. Morris played 17 of his 19 pass-play snaps out of the slot last season and could fill in at that position. He’s got a new jersey number and makes some Bell-like plays.
“Coach and I joked that Tyler switched from 13 to 8, and he gives you the Ronnie Bell vibes,” Bellamy said. “Tyler is his own man, but you see that No. 8 that’s been around Michigan football a long time. And now to see T-Mo in No. 8 and making some of those acrobatic Ronnie Bell catches or jumping over someone to go catch a contested ball. One day, Coach and I looked at each other and were like, ‘Ronnie Bell!’
“He has that mentality. He has that junkyard dog mentality. ‘I’m going to do anything, Coach. I can go run a dig, knowing I’m going to get hit, and I can go in there and block the end. I’m going to go block a ‘backer, go get the safety.’ Whatever it is, Tyler is that kind of guy. He’s scrappy — a very, very scrappy player. That’s one of the things you love about him.”
That was on display when Morris, who began to earn more playing time toward the end of last season, ran a great route to the sticks and caught a third-down pass to move the chains at Rutgers.
Michigan cassmate Darrius Clemons also took a step forward this spring, Bellamy noted.
“You got D.C., Darrius Clemons, who had a great spring in his own right,” Bellamy said. “Big body, 6-4 guy, one of the fastest guys on our team. Darrius has really added more tools to his toolbox this offseason. I’m excited to see what he does this camp. Just having guys like that around.”
The dark horse to make an impact is junior Peyton O’Leary, who broke out in the Michigan spring game. The former walk-on reeled in 6 catches for 126 yards, both scrimmage-bests, and caught the game-winning two-point conversion. Bellamy said O’Leary is the epitome of someone who’s developed within the Michigan program and is always ready when his number is called.
“He’s always been that guy,” Bellamy said. “‘Steady Eddie,’ as we call him. Peyton is doing things the right way. Big-time effort guy, but with skill.
“If anyone knew Peyton’s background, Peyton is originally from Massachusetts, and they didn’t have football during COVID. He’s a lacrosse guy. So Peyton was going to play lacrosse [at UMass]. If they had football his senior year in Massachusetts — I’m pretty certain, Peyton and I have talked about this — Peyton would’ve had a laundry list of offers, opportunities. But fortunately for us, it worked out in our favor that Peyton’s here at Michigan and gave up lacrosse.
“He’s no slouch. Peyton can ball. It’s fun out there watching him make plays.”
Bellamy also dished on some other options Michigan has in the receiver room.
“And then [junior] Cristian Dixon had a solid spring ball,” Bellamy said. “Another bigger receiver, a guy who’s been around here for a few years and continues to develop himself. He’s ready for his opportunity.
“Some of the young guys have really stepped up. [Freshmen] Semaj Morgan, Fredrick Moore opened some eyes this spring like, ‘Oh, these guys got a shot to be pretty good.’
“And then you got some of the guys that have been around. The [senior] Jake Thaws, [graduate] Zach Petersons, [senior] Will Rolapps. [Senior] Eamonn Dennises. We feel very good about our room.”
