Tag: Andrel Anthony Jr.

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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2021 Michigan vs. Northwestern Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Andrel Anthony. Anthony has better speed than I thought he had coming out of high school, and he showed some playmaking ability on Saturday, squeezing a few yards out of what seemed to be doomed to be a big chunk loss on an end around. Maybe he’s not ready to be a big-time contributor, but I think he should earn a few more snaps.

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2021 Season Countdown: #61 Andrel Anthony

Name: Andrel Anthony
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: East Lansing (MI) East Lansing
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: #1
Last year: Anthony was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 26 catches for 474 yards and 4 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 73

Anthony was also a standout high school basketball player who was considering a career on the hardcourt at one point. Instead, he decided to focus on football and the Wolverines kept him away from the hometown Michigan State Spartans. He ended up ranked as a 3-star, the #81 wide receiver, #525 overall, and #13 in-state.

I originally gave Anthony a TTB Rating of 67, but I’m bumping him up approximately half a notch because some big competition at his position ditched Michigan in favor of Texas. Without Xavier Worthy in his class, I think that will open up more opportunities for Anthony. He also reportedly had a good spring and is the most likely freshman receiver to see significant playing time, though he is expected to be down the depth chart.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver