'Happy' Michigan WR Roman Wilson on leading country in TD catches: 'I'm not going to say it's surprising'

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football senior wide receiver Roman Wilson is tied with LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. with a nation’s best 8 touchdown receptions through five weeks. That’s right, nearly half of Wilson’s total catches (19) have gone for six points.

Wilson had 8 touchdown receptions in his previous three seasons combined, before breaking out in the beginning of the 2023 campaign. He’s always known he’s had the ability to do so.

“I’m not going to say it’s surprising that it’s something I’m doing — I know I’m a very good player — but it’s definitely something,” Wilson said. “I can’t really put words to it. I’m just happy it’s happening.”

Wilson believes he’s “a little bit” under the radar in terms of the national conversation, but that part of it isn’t surprising.

“That’s kinda been my life since I was a young kid,” the Honolulu native said. “I’ve always known I’m a very good player and I can be one of the best one day. But yeah, I’m leading the country in whatever stat, and some people still don’t think I’m that good, so I just gotta keep going.”

In an exclusive conversation with TheWolverine.com this offseason, Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert said that Wilson had increased his “urgency” and “maturity.” He’s taken his training and focus on football up a few notches this year, and it’s paying off.

“I was definitely slacking a little bit — I wouldn’t say I was slacking, but I wasn’t giving 110 percent … probably 95,” Wilson said of previous years. “I had to find that extra gear just to take my game to a new level.”

At the very least, one of Wilson’s plays hasn’t been overlooked. His 29-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring in a 45-7 win over Nebraska last weekend was ranked No. 2 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays Sunday morning. With two defenders converging on him, Wilson pinned the ball to the back of Nebraska safety Isaac Gifford‘s helmet and hung on for dear life.

Wilson was open with a lot of space around him just seconds earlier, but junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn’t see him. He threw it late, giving his Michigan wideout a chance, and Wilson made him right.

“A good amount, but it’s not even one of my favorite plays, for real,” Wilson said of how many times he’s watched the play. “It didn’t seem that crazy or impossible to me, so I don’t know, maybe it just hasn’t hit me yet.

“It was a good play. I’m going to give myself credit for that. It was a great play.”

His favorite play was a one-handed catch during Michigan’s fall camp in August.

“Some crazy stuff,” Wilson said of that grab. “Maybe one day I’ll show the world, but [Michigan head] Coach [Jim] Harbaugh says we’re not allowed to post practice film. You guys might not ever see it.”

Lethal scramble drill between J.J. McCarthy, Roman Wilson

McCarthy is a mobile quarterback who can extend plays with his legs, and Wilson has been the beneficiary of his fair share of plays so far this season. According to Sports Info Solutions, 4 of Wilson’s 8 touchdowns have come on “broken plays.” That mark leads the country (no other receiver has had more than 2 scores in those situations).

The Michigan wideout has been great at getting open when McCarthy is on the move — and it’s difficult for defenders to stay with him for more than a few seconds, given his top-notch speed.

“The coaches definitely put a big spotlight on that last year,” Wilson said of scramble plays. “We started working on scramble drills more often. You never know what J.J.’s going to do when he starts scrambling, so you just go get open, any way possible. If you’re open, he’s going to throw it to you.”

Asked if he’s improved at getting open in those situations this year, Wilson said he just didn’t get many opportunities in the past.

The Michigan playmaker feels the chemistry with McCarthy also helps.

“I feel like J.J. has very good chemistry with all of his players, but me and him also have good chemistry too,” Wilson said. “We’re doing our thing, I guess. I don’t know.”