Channing Goodwin Details Wide Receiver Room, Bryce Underwood's Growth, More

Michigan wide receiver Channing Goodwin missed the entire spring after undergoing soldier surgery, but the junior receiver believes the time away from the field. Ultimately helped him make significant strides physically and mentally heading into fall camp.

Goodwin said working with strength coach Doug Elisaia and Michigan's new strength staff has been particularly beneficial as he worked his way back.

"I had the shoulder surgery so throughout the spring I missed all of that," Goodwin said. "But battling back with Coach Doug and the new strength staff has been real beneficial. I'm just working with them getting bigger, stronger and faster."

While Goodwin was sideline physically, he made sure to remain involved with the team and learn Michigan's new offensive system under offensive coordinator Jason Beck.

"Besides the rehab stuff, it was getting as much mental reps as possible," Goodwin explained. "I was always around for practice, still in the film room and all that. Just because physically I couldn't be in it, I can still be in the game mentally."

That preparation allowed Goodwin to hit the ground running once he was cleared to return. 

He has also been encouraged by the development of sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood. Entering his second season as a starter, Underwood has benefited from having a year of college football experience under his belt.

"Having another year, more experience, able to kind of recognize the coverages and all that, that's been helpful for him," Goodwin said.

Goodwin believes that continued experience should also help Underwood and several new pass catchers develop a stronger connection.

"Just over time it can only get better," he said. "Just working with Bryce...I think overall, our team's young too, so just spending more time, you definitely can tell they the chemistry can actually go to that next level."

The receiver room has also put an emphasis on eliminating the drops that plagued the position group at times last season. Goodwin said that the receivers have been getting as much extra work as they can and have really been putting in the sweat equity that should pay off once the season starts.

"We're getting those extra jug machine reps in before and after practice all the time and working all sorts of catch angles and contested catches," he said.

Goodwin mentioned several young receivers when talking about the extra work, singling out freshmen Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson, along with Texas transfer Jaime Ffrench. 

"I feel like a lot of our younger guys have been stepping up," Goodwin said. "From where we were in the spring to where we are now, it's been a big difference."

As a receiver, Goodwin also gets a first hand look at how things are going with the cornerbacks trying to cover him. He named Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, Smith Snowden and Jordan Young as a few guys who have been solid all throughout camp.

Sometimes when the competition really ramps up, things get a little chippy. However, Goodwin sees that as a good thing and knows that once there's an actual opponent on the other sideline, everyone will be rowing in the same direction.

"Throughout camp it can get a little bit heated, seeing the same guys everyday," he explained. "But come September 5, we'll all be one unit and cheering for each other."

Finally, Goodwin touched on how he and his fellow receivers have taken to new wide receivers coach Micah Simon. Based on Goodwin's words, the bond has formed quickly and everyone seems to be responding well to each other.

"He's obviously a younger coach, so he's able to kind of connect with us a little bit better and relate to us," Goodwin said. 

With his health back, a year of experience behind Underwood and an improving young receiver room around him, Goodwin enters the season believing in Michigan's offense and is positioned to be WR3 in a scheme that could be rather explosive.