Tag: Daylen Baldwin

Michigan 47, Western Michigan 14

Cade McNamara > Joe Milton. Redshirt sophomore Cade McNamara had a game that Joe Milton could only dream of, and that included completing 9/11 passes for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. It doesn’t matter if you can throw a ball 80 yards if you don’t know where the ball is going. McNamara has the ability to recognize matchups and read defenses, and those skills trump Howitzers for arms. His best two passes of the day were beautiful deep balls to . . .

Ronnie Bell. Bell made a great one-handed catch on the sideline (nullified by a very questionable offensive pass interference call) and a great 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown. That at the end of an exciting 31-yard punt return, he seemed to slump to the ground when getting tackled and was swarmed by medical personnel. When he left the field, he had to be carried and his right leg was just dangling. My fear is that he tore his ACL while making a cut at the end of the run. Bell is a captain, led the team in receiving the past two years, and was bound to lead the team in that category once again in 2021. After losing Aidan Hutchinson, Kwity Paye, and Jalen Mayfield to injury in 2020, it’s frustrating that Michigan couldn’t avoid a serious injury even one game into the season against a MAC opponent.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #41b Daylen Baldwin

Name: Daylen Baldwin
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Waterford (MI) Mott
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #85
Last year: Baldwin caught 27 passes for 540 yards and 7 touchdowns at Jackson State.
TTB Rating: N/A

NOTE: The transfers and whatnot have thrown off the countdown a little bit, so there will be some A/B situations.

Baldwin transferred to Michigan after a spring season in which he caught 27 passes for 540 yards and 7 touchdowns for a Deion Sanders-led Jackson State program. He led the team in receiving yardage, receiving touchdowns, and yards per catch, and he was tied for #2 on the team in receptions. Originally coming from the metro Detroit area, he played at Morgan State and then Jackson State, so this is his third stop.

I know some Michigan fans got very excited when a 6’3″, 210-pounder committed to the team, but I have some concerns about how well he will fit into the plan for 2021. Two quarterbacks (Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy) spent the spring learning the playbook and getting their timing with the already established receivers, and there were no departures from the young receiving crew from 2020. Meanwhile, Baldwin arrived in Ann Arbor after his own spring season, and he has to compete against other talented wideouts now where his combination of size and speed won’t necessarily always win the day. I think Baldwin will get a fair number of snaps this season, but I do not think he will be one of the top three guys.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

Daylen Baldwin, Wolverine

Jackson State transfer Daylen Baldwin committed to Michigan on Monday afternoon. He picked the Wolverines over an offer from Ohio State (and others).

Baldwin is listed at 6’3″ and 210 lbs. During the shortened spring 2021 season, he caught 27 passes for 540 yards (20.0 yards/catch) and 7 touchdowns.

Baldwin bounced around a little bit in high school, going from Southfield to Waterford Mott. He signed with Morgan State in the 2017 class and spent two seasons there before transferring to Jackson State in 2019. After sitting out 2019 and playing in 2020, he decided once again to switch schools. He worked out while visiting Michigan last week, an offer ensued, and it was assumed shortly after that he would pick the Wolverines, with the biggest reason being an opening for immediate playing time.

I have perhaps an irrational affinity for receivers who are roughly 6’3″ and 210 lbs., because those have been some of the guys who have had the most success at Michigan, such as Marquise Walker, David Terrell, Adrian Arrington, etc. Michigan doesn’t have many of those long, rangy types on the roster in 2021, with just redshirt sophomore Cornelius Johnson and true freshman Cristian Dixon approaching that type of height and length.

Baldwin has some good film from the level of FCS Jackson State, catching deep balls and outjumping some smaller defensive backs. I have not seen evidence that he is an advanced route runner, but Michigan does not really require advanced route running from its outside receivers. The Wolverines mostly need a big receiver who can run fades and posts, allowing the slot guys to run the RPO’s over the middle.

Baldwin has a good chance to play immediately at Michigan. Cornelius Johnson will probably start on the outside, and he could somewhat have a breakout season. Ronnie Bell can play outside and inside, and then there are guys like Roman Wilson and A.J. Henning, who are a little smaller but faster than Baldwin. Personally, I think Baldwin is probably the fourth or fifth most talented receiver on the roster, but that should still get him on the field.

Visitors: June 11-13, 2021

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TRANSFER

Daylen Baldwin – WR – Jackson State: Baldwin is a 6’3″, 210 lb. receiver who played high school ball in Michigan at Farmington and Waterford Mott. He made 27 catches for 540 yards (20.0 yards/catch) and 7 touchdowns this spring for Jackson State. He was offered on the visit.

2022

Beau Atkinson – DE – Raleigh (NC) Leesville Road: Atkinson is a 6’6″, 240 lb. prospect with offers from Michigan, Penn Stat,e and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #19 weakside end, and #386 overall. This is an official visit.

Tyler Banks – LB – Crewe (VA) Nottoway: Banks is a 6’1″, 215-pounder with offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, and Virginia Tech, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #88 athlete, and #1033 overall. This is an official visit.

Jacob Bostick – WR – Palatine (IL) Palatine: Bostick is a 6’3″, 170 lb. prospect with offers from Illinois, Iowa, and Pitt, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #81 wide receiver, and #602 overall.

Jayden Denegal – QB – Apple Valley (CA) Apple Valley: Denegal is a 6’4″, 215 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Michigan State, and Utah, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #19 quarterback, and #264 overall. He is taking an unofficial visit on June 9 and will out for the coaching staff in hopes of earning an offer.

Hit the jump for more.