Roman Wilson has been a consistent receiving option in Ann Arbor for four years. He has showcased production in the Wolverines’ run-heavy scheme, collected accolades, and achieved his dreams.
However, Wilson’s college stats are headlined by a sensational senior season, which has put him in a prime position to be an early NFL Draft selection.
Roman Wilson’s Journey to Michigan and Freshman Season
Wilson had a winding road before committing to Michigan. He grew up in Hawaii, and his family sacrificed to send him to St. Louis High School, a private prep school in Honolulu whose alumni include Marcus Mariota and Tua Tagovailoa.
However, with only five scholarship offers, the most prominent being from Cal, Wilson needed help finding the right destination to fulfill his dream of playing college football at the highest level.
Recognizing the need to boost his recruiting momentum, Wilson took a decisive step. In 2019, he chose to attend Nike’s The Opening in Oakland, CA., a move that would prove to be a game-changer.
Athleticism was never a question for Wilson. He had been training and working on his most significant attribute to overcome his size deficiency. Wilson headed to The Opening to show colleges what they had been missing.
The most impressive trait Wilson showed was his speed. The son of a track star, he ran a 4.37-yard dash, which meant he had over 25 offers by the time he touched back down in Hawaii, including from Michigan.
Wilson committed to the Wolverines as a four-star recruit in July 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted his freshman season, but he did manage to flash in the six-game-shortened Big Ten season.
The Michigan receiver appeared in all six games, making his debut against Minnesota, catching two passes for 34 yards. His first career touchdown came against Indiana on November 7, a 13-yard catch from Joe Milton.
Receptions: 9
Receiving Yards: 122
Receiving Touchdowns: 1
Wilson’s Usage Increases as a Sophomore
Wilson’s usage increased in 2021, finishing third on the team in receiving yards (420 yards).
While the Michigan scheme continued to be run-heavy, the Wolverines’ wide receiver played in 13 games, making five starts, and started to be trusted more and hauled in some big catches in massive moments.
He had two catches for 55 receiving yards against the Ohio State Buckeyes and a 75-yard touchdown in the Big Ten Championship Game. Wilson also had a massive 42-yard catch in the College Football Playoffs against Georgia. However, the Wolverines went on to lose that game.
Receptions: 25
Receiving Yards: 420
Receiving Touchdowns: 3
Wilson’s Consistent Junior Season
Wilson’s usage remained consistent as a junior in 2022. Appearing in 12 games, he made four starts and caught 25 passes for the second consecutive year.
Despite some positional versatility, he primarily aligned in the slot. His first start outside came against Colorado State, where he led the team with 65 yards, scoring a 61-yard touchdown from a screen pass in the victory.
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The season would also see his native Hawaii Rainbow Warriors visit the Big House. Wilson had 42 yards and one touchdown receiving alongside one rushing attempt for 21 yards in the first quarter of a comprehensive 56-10 victory.
Wilson also displayed versatility by fielding kick returns, collecting 115 yards on five returns.
Receptions: 25
Receiving Yards: 376
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
Rushing Yards: 39
Rushing Touchdowns: 2
Senior Season Sees Massive Jump in Wilson’s Production
While Wilson had a steady early college career, his usage went to a new level in 2023. Starting all 15 games, he led the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns to earn All-Big Ten honors.
As the team’s primary receiver, Wilson set career highs throughout the season, snagging three touchdowns against ECU, catching nine passes for 143 yards against Purdue, and having a significant impact in the College Football Playoffs.
Remaining undefeated, Michigan met Alabama in the Rose Bowl in the CFP semifinal. The game was close, with Alabama edging it late on until Wilson hauled in a game-tying touchdown to send it to overtime.
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The National Championship Game, however, wasn’t such a tight contest. Michigan ran away as the winner, and Wilson had three catches for 54 yards to win his first national title before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Receptions: 48
Receiving Yards: 789
Receiving Touchdowns: 12
Wilson’s Total College Stats
Receptions: 107
Receiving Yards: 1,707
Receiving Touchdowns: 20
Rushing Attempts: 7
Rushing Yards: 117
Rushing Touchdowns: 2
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