In NFL history, three wide receivers from the state of Michigan are listed in the Top 50 for all-time receptions (two in the Top 25) including Derrick Mason (943 catches, 19th all-time, Baltimore Ravens all-time leader with 471 receptions, Detroit Mumford, Michigan State), Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 25th all-time, Lansing Waverly, Michigan State) and Andre Rison (743 receptions, 42nd all-time, Flint Northwestern, Michigan State). Currently, Allen Robinson (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Penn State) finished seventh in the NFL last season with 98 catches for the Chicago Bears.
For Michigan's class of 2021, there are, once again, multiple Division I-level wide receivers scattered throughout the state.
Here are the Top 10 wide receiver prospects for the state of Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Tyson Davis-5-11, 170-Goodrich -- Amazing, electric, explosive athlete, first and foremost. Selected All-State in both football and basketball last year, Davis is lightning in a bottle. A dangerous kickoff and punt returner, Davis is arguably the top open field threat in the state of Michigan. Unbelievably not as highly recruited as I would expect. Last year Davis caught 45 passes for 975 yards and 11 TDs, while rushing for 324 yards and four touchdowns and returning one kickoff for a TD. Named to the Flint Journal Dream Team and AP Division 3-4 first team All-State. Verbal to CMU
2. Jace Williams-6-5, 200-Grand Rapids Catholic Central -- A match-up nightmare on the outside for any defensive back. With Williams in the line-up, the Cougars have won two consecutive state championships and three titles in the past four years. Last season, Williams was unstoppable against a very talented Detroit Country Day secondary (which included CB/WR standout Marcus Sheppard-Bowling Green State commit and Saborn Campbell-No. 9-ranked defensive back for Michigan's class of 2021) tying a Michigan High School Athletic Association record with three touchdown catches in Catholic Central's 44-0 Division 4 state championship-clinching victory over the Yellowjackets. Last year, Williams had over 900 receiving yards and 12 TDs. With a long reach and excellent jumping ability, Williams, also a top-level basketball prospect, is outstanding at going up and grabbing passes at their highest point. Named to the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team, Detroit News Dream Team and Division 3-4 All-State first team. Michigan State, Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Boston College offers.
3. Andrel Anthony-6-2, 175-East Lansing -- Like Tyson Davis and Jace Williams, East Lansing's Andrel Anthony is crazy athletic. Also a standout hoops player for the Trojans, Anthony has everything a college coach would want in a receiver -- hands, speed, size, leaping ability and strong route running. Last season, Anthony caught 54 passes for 954 yards and nine TDs. Named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State first team last season as a junior. Verbal to U-M
4. Deion Burks-5-10, 170-Belleville -- A big-play waiting to happen, Burks is blazing fast and possesses strong, reliable hands. Combines with Belleville quarterback Christian Dhue-Reid (No. 1-ranked QB for Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the Midwest's top pass-catch duos. Last season, Burks caught 35 passes for 871 yards and 12 TDs leading the Tigers to the Division 1 (big school) state semifinals. Named to the Detroit Free Press football Dream Team last year as a junior. Verbal to Purdue
5. Blake Bosma-6-4, 195-Holland West Ottawa -- One of my "sleepers/diamonds in the rough"-type players for Michigan's class of 2021. I love this kid. Three-year varsity starter for Holland West Ottawa (a program that has sent players to Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State over the years), Bosma can jump out of the proverbial gym. Last season, he caught a school-record 82 passes for 1,100 yards. Named to the Holland Sentinel All-Area first team and the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last year as a junior. Amazingly, Bosma has zero offers as far as I can tell (sorry young man if I'm incorrect). I sincerely hope I'm wrong about that as this kid is a high-level D-I college football prospect. Do I need to say it? Big Ten, MAC, c'mon, check this guy out...
6. Elijah Rikard -- 6-2, 180-U-D Jesuit -- A top two-way prospect, Rikard is also a high-level defensive back for the Cubs. With size, long arms and good hands, Rikard is a tough match-up for any DB to handle. Plays some of the best competition in the Midwest each and every week in the venerable Detroit Catholic League. Temple, Bowling Green State, EMU, CMU, Buffalo, Akron, Miami (OH), Kent State, WMU, Morgan State offers.
7. Darnell Adams-5-10, 175-Detroit Renaissance -- Another underrated player, in my opinion, in the state of Michigan's class of 2021. Adams is one of the top all-around players in the talent-rich city of Detroit. A scoring machine, Adams has a knack for finding the end zone. Last season, he scored 14 TDs, including three kick-off return touchdowns and two interceptions returned for TDs. As a receiver, Adams had 38 receptions for 727 yards, while as a defensive back, he had six interceptions. Adams has excellent feet, balance and one of the most explosive bursts in the state. Named to the Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team last year as a junior. Highly under-recruited. This player is a gem just waiting for a smart, hard-working college recruiter to find.
8. Ali Fisher-6-1, 185-Ann Arbor Pioneer -- Fisher is a talented receiver and teams with quarterback Conor Easthope (No. 8-ranked QB in Michigan's class of 2021) to form one of the best combos in the state. Named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last season, Fisher caught 45 passes for 597 yards and eight TDs as a junior. Verbal to Buffalo
9. Amari Crowley-6-1, 180-Muskegon -- Maybe the best pure football player on this uber-talented Top 10 list. Will be a three-year starter for Muskegon, a national powerhouse program. I have Crowley at wide receiver since I feel that could possibly be his position at the next level. More than likely, he'll play quarterback next season for the Big Reds. Every bit as skilled as outgoing Muskegon QB Cam Martinez (Ohio State commit), Crowley is a big-play threat every time he touches the football. Last year, Crowley had 240 yards rushing with six TDs, while he caught 13 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Crowley's stats might not be eye-opening, but he was just one important cog on a nationally-ranked (No. 18 in the country by USA Today) Big Reds team a year ago. Muskegon finished as Division 3 state runner-up last season. Ball State, Buffalo, CMU, Cincinnati, Army, Kent State, Miami (OH), WMU offers.
10. (3-WAY TIE) Finn Hogan-6-4, 190-Maple City Glen Lake -- Tall, lanky, athletic receiver for Glen Lake. One of northern Michigan's top D-I prospects, Hogan helped lead the Lakers to a Division 6 state runner-up finish last season. Also a talented basketball player, Hogan has a long reach and excellent leaping ability. Last year, Hogan had 602 receiving yards and 11 TDs en route to Associated Press Division 5-6 All-State first team honors and Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team accolades. Nick Steinacker-6-7, 220-Corunna -- An intriguing prospect, Steinacker has terrific size and reach. Also a defensive end prospect, Steinacker is one of the state's top pass rushers with his long reach and athleticism. Could also bulk up and play tight end at the next level. A strong, all-around player on both sides of the football, Steinacker's size and coordination make him a D-I prospect, in my opinion. Received U-M offer as freshman. Ezra McAllister-6-1, 185-Marshall -- Quick, elusive wide receiver who also doubles as a talented defensive back for Marshall. Runs a reported 4.4 40-yard dash, benches 230 pounds and squats 405 pounds. Verbal to Vanderbilt
Other top wide receiver prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Lowyind Pullen-6-4, 190-Homer (it was difficult leaving him off this list, truly one of the best athletes at the WR position in Michigan, small town star, big-time sleeper prospect, was named to both the Jackson Citizen-Patriot football and basketball Dream Teams this past season, no other area athlete was so honored, 38 catches, 840 yards, nine TDs, double-double machine in hoops), Jalen Jackson-6-3, 175-Battle Creek Central (runs 4.5 40, CMU offer), Jeff Bowens-5-10, 160-Southfield A & T (Miami (OH), WMU offers), Clinton Roberson-6-2, 175-Macomb Dakota (Verbal to CMU), Darnell Johnson-5-9, 155-Belleville (CMU, Kent State, WMU offers), Troye Williams-5-11, 185-Roseville, Zach Poff-5-10, 180-Ithaca, Justyz Tuggle-5-10, 190-Detroit Central (named to Division 7-8 AP All-State first team as junior), Collin Wade-6-4, 190-Lake Fenton, Zach Horky-6-3, 200-Blissfield (Bowling Green State verbal for baseball), Jimmy Downs-6-0, 190-Schoolcraft (Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team pick, caught 40 passes for 871 yards and 11 TDs, returned two interceptions as DB for TDs), Chris Parker-6-2, 185-Saginaw Heritage (Verbal to CMU).
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