It is stating the obvious that Michigan’s receivers underperformed last season, but, nonetheless, it must be stated.

While not all of last season’s lackluster production on offense was because of the receivers, the lack of consistency and reliability among them was a big issue. Michigan finished 129th in total offense, averaging 286.2 yards a game, and was 130th in passing, averaging 129.1 yards. Two of the Wolverines’ major contributors have moved on. Tight end Colston Loveland led the team with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns and is preparing for the NFL Draft, and receiver Tyler Morris, who had 248 yards on 23 receptions and two touchdowns, has transferred.

Michigan’s returning receivers from 2024 combined for 495 yards on 59 catches, Semaj Morgan leading the way with 27 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.

The Wolverines landed quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit, and transfer quarterback Mikey Keene, but they also made an effort to reshape and upgrade the receiver room. They signed three to the freshman class, including four-star Andrew Marsh, and added two transfers.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said he wanted a bigger receiver room, and he meant in terms of their individual size, not total number of receivers. Donaven McCulley, a transfer from Indiana, is 6-foot-5, 200 pounds and had 644 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He played in two games last season. Graduate transfer Anthony Simpson from UMass isn’t as big at 5-11, 180, and also had a strong 2023 season with 792 yards on 57 catches. Injuries slowed him in 2024.

Along with Marsh (6-1, 175), Michigan added freshman Jacob Washington (6-3, 180) and Jamar Browder (6-4, 205). And also returning along with Morgan are Fredrick Moore, Peyton O’Leary, Kendrick Bell, Channing Goodwin, I’Marion Stewart and Amorion Walker.

“Feels like we’re in a good place,” Sherrone Moore said of his receivers room after speaking at the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association in Lansing earlier this month. “The crazy thing is these young freshmen, they’re really good. And having Kendrick back, having Fredrick back, feels like we’re a little bigger. Donaven McCulley is there. I feel like we have Channing Goodwin, a young guy, I’Marion Stewart, a young guy who feels like is coming, Semaj Morgan who been there, so it’s a good group of guys to go win with.”

In Michigan’s 19-13 upset of Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, Fredrick Moore had three catches for 37 yards including a 13-yard touchdown pass from Davis Warren that gave the Wolverines a 13-0 lead. Moore said this performance was a springboard for him into this upcoming season.

“It just boosts my confidence,” the receiver said after the game. “When you play at your highest confidence, your highest peak, you play your best football. I know I’m gonna make mistakes, but I’m gonna go full speed and keep thriving. I hope to build on this.”

Moore said he and Underwood, who has an early enrollee freshman was able to participate in bowl practices, had been working out together.

“Bryce is my guy,” Moore said. “We’ve been throwing. He’s hungry, too. He wants to get that starting position, and I know God is gonna put him in the best position.”

The quarterbacks need receivers, though, and with the loss of Loveland, in particular, the staff knew it had to make key additions. Sherrone Moore pointed out on signing day in December that Michigan had been without a big-body receiver threat since 6-4 Nico Collins, who last played for the Wolverines in 2019.

“You throw high to a 6-6 guy, it’s different than throwing high to a 5-11 guy,” the head coach said last month while discussing the additions of Washington and Browder, “so wanted to have that variance in our receiving room.”