Michigan football freshman WR Jamar Browder impresses older players in 1st spring practice
Michigan football freshman WR Jamar Browder impresses older players in 1st spring practice
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Let the spring hype begin. Michigan football started spring ball on Tuesday and a handful of Wolverines met with the media on Wednesday to discuss how the first day went. And already, a freshman is making some waves.
The maize and blue desperately need production from the wide receiver position, a group without really any household names. And when WolverinesWire asked senior edge rusher TJ Guy which younger players stood out to him on day one, we expected Guy to name someone either on defense or more so within his position group. However, the name that came out his mouth was one of those freshman wideouts -- a positive sign, to be sure.
"Jamar Browder made a catch yesterday. I was like damn, that's gonna look good," Guy said. "So him, for sure. A whole bunch of guys. This class is uber-talented, I think, for real. So you guys are gonna see, like I said, day one, but we'll see more for sure."
Browder flipped to Michigan football after originally being committed to NC State. The 6-foot-5 receiver from Santaluces Community High School in Florida was a three-star recruit but was highly prioritized by head coach Sherrone Moore during the recruiting process. He got an opportunity to be involved early as he early enrolled and practiced with the team as it prepared to face Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Team captain and Wolverines fullback Max Bredeson also noted the play and why it was encouraging to see Browder make it.
"Yeah, he made a play," Bredeson said. "One of the jumps -- got a high one. It was a pretty cool play to see a freshman first day go do something."
The Wolverine receiving corps has been a bit more of a diminutive group. Without obvious size on the boundaries, the maize and blue have more so gone with speed in recent years to make up for the lack of length. But now, Michigan has two 6-foot-5 receivers in the position group, with Browder joining Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley as being the two biggest wideouts that the Wolverines have.
As far as Bredeson sees it, having two big players like that should create some problems for opposing defenses.
"It's definitely got to help," Bredeson said. "I've never played defense, or haven't played defense in college, but I'm sure looking across and seeing a guy who's 6-foot-5 probably isn't as much fun. But yeah, it's definitely got to be a good addition. He can jump too. Both of them can. So it definitely helps."
Spring ball may have just started but the annual spring game takes place one month from now, on April 19 at noon EDT at The Big House.
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