5 Greatest Michigan Wide Receivers in History

A big-play specialist, Toomer was even better with the New York Giants than he was at Michigan. And he was a star at Michigan, even playing for three different quarterbacks.

From 1992 to 1995, Toomer provided one of the greatest yards-per-catch totals in Wolverines history, grabbing 131 passes for 2,415 yards. That yardage total ranks him fourth on the team charts with the only three players above him on this list, as well. 

4. Jeremy Gallon (2010-2013)

Gallon might be the most easily removed from this list for some people. But consider he played his first three seasons with Denard Robinson at quarterback. As good as Robinson was, a great passer he wasn’t.

So when Devin Gardner came along when Gallon was a senior, the wideout lit up the proverbial back of his football card. He caught 89 passes for 1,373 yards with nine touchdowns. Even before that, he was Michigan’s leading receiver for the previous two seasons.

He ranks third in Michigan history in receptions (173), third in yards receiving (2,704), and tied for 10th in touchdowns (17).

3. Braylon Edwards (2001-2004)

It’s strange not to put Edwards at the No. 1 spot. Actually, he might deserve it. No one in Michigan history has more receptions, yards receiving, or touchdowns. He’s tops in all three categories. And that’s with just six games and three catches as a freshman.

Edwards became just the third player in FBS history (then called Division I-A) to pick up 1,000 yards receiving in three straight seasons.

He made three All-Big Ten teams, including two first-team selections, and earned unanimous All-American honors, Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player award, the Paul Warfield Trophy, and the Biletnikoff Award as a senior in 2004.

His final stats? Edwards caught 252 passes for 3,541 yards with 39 touchdowns.

2. Anthony Carter (1979-1982)

Carter ranks behind only Edwards when it comes to yards receiving and touchdown catches while he ranks fifth in receptions in MIchigan history. And he put up those kinds of numbers in the early 1980s, not exactly a sling-it-around era.

It was his talent that turned the Wolverines from a run-heavy program under Bo Schembechler to the passing dynamos they’d become in the early 1990s and beyond. Carter made first-team All-Big Ten three times and earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 1982.

1. Desmond Howard (1988-1991)

Well, we ranked him as the second-best player in Michigan history already, so it was kind of tough not to put Howard as No. 1 on the wide receiver list. Though, in fairness, we considered it.

His final season in Ann Arbor was one for the ages. He finished top 15 in FBS in receptions, yards receiving, and touchdown catches. His 19 that season remain four more than anyone else Michigan’s ever had. He was a cinch for the Heisman Trophy that year.

More Michigan Wolverines Football Rankings

• 10 Greatest Michigan Football Players Ever
• 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Michigan History
• 5 Greatest Running Backs in Michigan History
• 5 Greatest Defensive Players in Michigan History