Tarik Black (image via BCSN)
Name: Tarik Black
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 208 lbs.
High school: Cheshire (CT) Cheshire Academy
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #7
Last year: Black was a senior in high school.
TTB Rating:
Black was a big recruiting win for Michigan out of Connecticut. In the final composite rankings, he was the #17 wide receiver and #118 overall. The Wolverines beat out Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Notre Dame, among others. He was a U.S. Army All-American and then enrolled early in Ann Arbor. During the spring, he looked like perhaps Michigan’s best receiver, and he was a go-to target, at least against fellow freshman Benjamin St-Juste.
Black looked faster than I expected from him in the spring game, and there are some who think he has looked like Michigan’s top wideout. I can’t see anyone arguing that he’s lower than fourth, which is still pretty solid for a true freshman receiver; personally, I think he’s one of the top two guys on the outside and should start this coming fall. He has good speed and very good size, and he’s a solid route runner. He has been more impressive than superstar classmate Donovan Peoples-Jones, but it’s hard to rank any freshman receiver too highly. After all, Michigan’s best freshman receiver was Mario Manningham in 2005, when he had 27 catches for 433 yards and 6 touchdowns. I don’t think Black’s yards per catch will supersede Manningham’s 16.0, but I expect roughly similar production.
Prediction: 35 catches, 450 yards, 5 touchdowns
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I tend to value playing time over hyped newcomers and have made some arguments for Crawford, McDoom, and Perry ahead of the freshman WR. I still think that’s the case in terms of ranking individuals but if there was any year a freshman would be a #1 or #2 WR this would be it.
The returning players (Perry excepted) are only vaguely more experienced than the freshman. They’ve been impressive, but the freshman class is so loaded with not only talent but also size (that the returning players lack.)
It’s going to be fun to see what happens.
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I agree with the part on our returning WRs; I think Black starts alongside Crawford, with DPJ as our #3/Slot
Expect 2015-Darboh numbers
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Black seems to want to block which will keep him on the field. Hopefully Crawford can rise to the occasion and allow the freshmen guys to be the #2 wr and get the 2nd best corner from the opponent.
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