ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Joe Taylor might not be a household name for all Michigan football fans, but he’s been around the program for quite some time.
The four-year letterwinner has been with the team since 2021, coming out of Chelsea High School, having started in the running backs room before switching to wide receiver in his sophomore campaign. A special teams standout, he won the award given to the best player in the unit last year, and while he’s excited to get back to work with that unheralded third unit, he’s equally excited about the new-look wide receivers room.
On Tuesday, the alternate team captain shared why he feels like the wideouts are in a much better position this year, likening it to one of the more successful passing seasons that the Wolverines have had in recent memory.
“Bringing D-Mac in, Donaven, and then Simp, Anthony Simpson, just two dynamic guys — they add depth, obviously, and just explosiveness,” Taylor said. “I think that for us, that’s a big thing. Last year, we kind of lacked that a little bit. And I think that this year, bringing in Coach Lindsey, Bryce, D-Mac, and also Simp, it’s been good for the room. And also, just obviously, they’re great players, but also great people.
“I’d say this, that the room is, the relationship and the bond that the room has definitely reminds me of ’22 in a way: when we had Ronnie, Roman, C.J. — just a room that was deep and everybody got along. And, there’s no arguing or people are mad at each other because they’re ahead of them on the depth chart. It’s just always like we’re going out competing, having fun, always having fun, happy for other guys’ success all the time. So it’s been great.”
Of course, one of the big changes is at quarterback, with Bryce Underwood leading the charge. Then there’s also a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey, who is the most experienced OC the maize and blue have had in quite some time.
But Taylor says that the camaraderie with the unit has helped the wideouts to play fast and much more loose than perhaps last year.
“I think just we play loose,” Taylor said. “Practice, I mean, we practice loose for sure. I don’t know. We won’t find out until Saturday. But, I think that we practice loose and we have fun. We don’t take things too seriously all the time. Obviously, there’s a time to take things serious. But I think for us, it starts with Coach Bell and Coach Soup. And we just kind of take after that and just have fun.
“Obviously, fall camp’s a grind. So you’ve got to enjoy it somehow. And for us, just have fun and enjoy it and ball out.”
Fans will see Taylor, the wideouts, and special teams all in action on Saturday, when the Wolverines host Taylor’s dad’s former school, New Mexico, at The Big House. Kickoff is at 7:36 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on NBC.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Joe Taylor praises Michigan’s WR depth, chemistry with McCulley, Simpson for 2025 season
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
