Tag: Andrel Anthony Jr.

Andrel Anthony, Ex-Wolverine

Rising junior wide receiver Andrel Anthony has decided to take his talents elsewhere, announcing an entrance into the transfer portal on Wednesday.

Anthony was a 3-star, the #81 wide receiver, and #526 in the recruiting class in 2021, according to the 247 Composite. Here’s what I said about Anthony during his recruitment, before I gave him a TTB Rating of 67 (LINK):

Overall, Anthony is a so-so prospect. When I watch him, I see Ronnie Bell minus the YAC. I like Bell as a player, but if you took away his ability to run through tackles and maintain his balance, whatever remained would be nothing special. With the talent Michigan is bringing in at receiver, I picture Anthony getting lost in the shuffle.

I did bump him up to a 73 after his senior film.

Anthony played in all fourteen games in 2022, but he made just 7 catches for 80 yards and 1 touchdown. That was a significant drop-off from his freshman year, when he made 12 catches for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 6-catch, 155-yard, 2-touchdown effort against Michigan State in 2021. That one game appeared to be a breakout, but the 2021 season was played without leading receiver Ronnie Bell, so other players had to step up. With the return of Bell – and every other significant receiving target – in 2022, Anthony was pushed down a rung in the pecking order.

Here’s a look at the potential depth chart for 2023, assuming Bell and Cornelius Johnson are both going to move on to the NFL:

WR1: Darrius Clemons (So.), Cristian Dixon (RS So.), Karmello English (Fr.)
WR2: Roman Wilson (Sr.), Amorion Walker (So.), Fredrick Moore (Fr.)
WR3: A.J. Henning (Sr.), Tyler Morris (So.), Eamonn Dennis (RS Jr.), Semaj Morgan (Fr.)

I had projected Anthony as a starter in 2023 with Bell and Johnson gone, so this depth chart pushes unproven receivers like Clemons and Henning into starters’ roles. I would not be surprised to see Michigan scope out the transfer portal for a receiver to help out with depth.

Anthony is the third player from the 2021 class to enter the transfer portal, joining defensive lineman George Rooks III (Boston College) and tight end Louis Hansen (UConn).

Michigan 34, Nebraska 3

Nebraska sucks! Yes. Yes, they do. Nebraska is a 3-7 football team with an interim head coach, no defensive playmakers except outside linebacker Garrett Nelson, and no quality FBS quarterback right now. Nebraska’s best play on Saturday was to call a pass and then let the quarterback scramble up the middle and hope he doesn’t hurt himself. Unfortunately, that play ended one too many times with the quarterback hurting himself. Meanwhile, the two quarterbacks, Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers, combined for 9 rushing attempts and 40 total yards. The team ended up with 146 total yards, or exactly 106 yards that didn’t come on QB scrambles.

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2022 Season Countdown: #42 Andrel Anthony

Name: Andrel Anthony
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185 lbs.
High school: East Lansing (MI) East Lansing
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #1
Last year: I ranked Anthony #61 and said he would be a backup wide receiver (LINK). He caught 12 passes for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 73

I don’t know what Andrel Anthony ate for breakfast on October 30, 2021, but he should eat it more often. Anthony played in three games and had three DNPs before he woke up on Halloween Eve, and then all hell broke loose. In his hometown of East Lansing, he caught 6 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 93-yard score on his first career catch. He had just 6 catches for 93 yards and 1 score over his final six games.

While Anthony showed more ability as a freshman than I expected, he’s part of a very deep receiver squad. With Cornelius Johnson, Ronnie Bell, Roman Wilson, and others, it’s hard to tell how things will shake out. I’m guessing Anthony will continue to take a back seat to a couple of those other guys until they’re gone, but receiver is in good hands at least for 2022 if Anthony is maybe just the fourth or fifth best guy.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

2021 Michigan vs. Michigan State Awards

Let’s see more of this guy . . . Andrel Anthony. Anthony pulled a Ricky White and came out of nowhere to have a huge game. He caught 6 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both touchdowns were spectacular, with one 93-yard catch-and-run and a Moss-ing.

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Michigan State 37, Michigan 33

Do more. Say less. I’m pulling out the phrase from John Beilein’s basketball team from several years ago, but there’s a mentality permeating Michigan that Michigan State is the “little brother” and they’re a giant mess. I see this happening on Twitter, among parents, among former players, among Michigan-centric radio personalities, etc. You absolutely will not find it here. I don’t think Michigan’s players took the opponent lightly – they played hard – but I don’t know if Michigan’s 50/50 fortunes against MSU are going to change until the Spartans program gets more respect. I know a lot of people love him, but I hated when then running back (and current running backs coach) Mike Hart disrespected the Spartans in 2007 by calling them “little brother.” (Of course, MSU head coach Mark Dantonio’s response was equally childish if not more so, considering he was in his 40’s or 50’s at the time.) The rivalry has not been the same since then, and I really do think that comment was more significant than what some want to admit.

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