Michigan Wolverines latest incredible Transfer Portal victory creates dynamic offensive possibilities
The Michigan Wolverines primary receiving options for their offense are going to look quite a bit different in 2025. Star tight end Colston Loveland is off to the 2025 NFL Draft. Lead wide receiver Tyler Morris transferred to Indiana. Those two players alone accounted for over 50% of the Michigan aerial production.So what now? Sherrone […]
The Michigan Wolverines primary receiving options for their offense are going to look quite a bit different in 2025. Star tight end Colston Loveland is off to the 2025 NFL Draft. Lead wide receiver Tyler Morris transferred to Indiana. Those two players alone accounted for over 50% of the Michigan aerial production.
So what now?
Sherrone Moore and his Wolverines coaching staff clearly understood that their offense was going to be in dire need of playmakers this off-season so they immediately went to work in the Transfer Portal. They landed former five star Alabama running back Justice Haynes and 6'5" Indiana outside wide receiver Donoven McCulley, which were both great wins. Now they've added even more.
Pete Thamel of ESPN (among many others) reported Sunday night that former UMass and Arizona wide receiver Anthony Simpson has committed to Michigan. Simpson played minimally in his first two seasons with Arizona, but broke out as a star and the WR1 for UMass in 2023.
Anthony Simpson caught nearly 60 receptions for over 800 yards in his breakout 2023 season as the premier featured weapon for UMass. Simpson averaged nearly nine yards after the catch and almost 2.5 yards per route run, both elite marks that placed him among the most efficient receivers in the nation.
This past fall he started off a bit slower for two games prior to injuring his toe, inevitably deciding to leave the program. Since he played fewer than four games his eligibility was left intact, giving him one more season to play now with Michigan.
Simpson joins a wide receiver group that includes the massive 6'5" 200+ pound transfer Donoven McCulley, slot receiver Semaj Morgan, Peyton O'Leary, Kendrick Bell, and Fredrick Moore as the team's primary rotation.
So, where does Simpson fit? And how will he impact the offense?
Anthony Simpon immediately becomes the most proven, productive weapon in the entire Michigan wide receiver room. Not a single wide receiver besides Simpson has ever logged more than 650 yards in a season. McCulley, a fifth year player himself, did log an impressive 48-catch, 644-yard 2023 campaign, but everyone else has a rather short resume of production.
Simpson has extensive experience playing slot wide receiver, but also split more significant time outside on the perimeter in 2021, 2022, and 2024. He quite likely immediately plugs into the Tyler Morris role from a year ago, offering schematic and pre-snap flexibility for the Michigan Wolverines. If he can provide similar YAC ability and value like he did in 2023 for UMass he should be the lead target of the receiver group by a wide margin.
He also provides dynamic value as a kick return weapon if Sherrone Moore wants to try him there. Simpson has 22 career kick returns on his resume, averaging nearly 20 yards per attempt.
This marks yet another win for Sherrone Moore and his staff on the Transfer Portal market. Landing a UMass wide receiver might not seem that sexy now, but it's quite likely he rises to national prominence as the 2025 college football season progresses. Michigan should be in a great spot with their wide receivers now.
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