Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . C.J. Charleston. The Youngstown State transfer receiver only played 6 snaps on Saturday night, but I would like to see him play more. I think he’s more of a receiving threat than Peyton O’Leary, and while maybe there’s a small difference in run blocking, the receiving threat and big-play ability of Charleston is worth playing him more. Michigan needs better options in the passing game.
Name: C.J. Charleston Height: 6’0″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Gates Mill (OH) Gilmour Academy Position: Wide receiver Class: Sixth year senior Jersey number: #5 Last year: Charleston was a fifth year senior at Youngstown State (LINK). He caught 33 passes for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns while starting all thirteen games. TTB Rating: N/A
Charleston entered Youngstown State’s program in 2019 and has started 23 games since then, including all thirteen as a fifth year senior in 2023. Last year he set all his career records, including catches (6 against Robert Morris), yards (119 yards against Robert Morris), and longest catch (72 yards against Illinois State). Michigan was in desperate need of receivers who could contribute right now after Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson went to the NFL and Darrius Clemons transferred to Oregon State. It was a good match between a team that needs receivers and a player who doesn’t really warrant getting ten targets a game.
As for Charleston’s impact this year, he should be a piece of the on-field puzzle. It’s unlikely that he will be a star or the leading receiver, but he’s a former high school running back who should value things like blocking and gaining some tough yards. With Tyler Morris and Semaj Morgan the top two returning receivers, and the super-athletic Amorion Walker moving over from cornerback (and coming back from Ole Miss), Charleston should be a good backup or occasional starter. Last year Michigan’s fourth receiver (Morris) caught 13 passes for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. I think that’s a good approximation of my expectations for Charleston in 2024.
Prediction: Part-time starting wide receiver; 15 catches for 165 yards and 1 touchdown
Former Youngstown State University wide receiver C.J. Charleston has committed to Michigan out of the transfer portal.
Charleston was an unranked 2019 recruit who committed to the Penguins out of Gates Mills (OH) Gilmour Academy. He redshirted as a freshman and then played in five games during the COVID season, making 7 catches for 112 yards. Then in 2021 he made 16 catches for 147 yards before tearing his Achilles prior to the 2022 season, which caused him to miss the entire year. The 6’0″, 190-pounder returned to play in 2023 and made 33 catches for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns while starting all thirteen games. He has two years of eligibility remaining, so he could be on Michigan’s roster through 2025.
Here you can see him catching a 72-yard touchdown pass on a broken play against Illinois State last year:
Charleston does not have great speed or size, so he looks to be more of an intermediate possession guy. I’m not sure he offers much in the way of skills that Michigan does not already have. But he is another body to add to the room, and I would hope that his experience and time in a college strength and conditioning program will help him play a role as a leader and blocker.
Below are some highlights of the Charleston, who was a high school running back. As a senior in 2018, he ran for 198 yards, 2585 yards, and 49 touchdowns, albeit against some pretty weak competition. You can see his body type and running style lend themselves to the receiver position more, so that may explain why it took him some time to make an impact at YSU.
