Michigan WR Roman Wilson saw ‘star’ potential in Nico Collins while teammates

Nico Collins said goodbye to Michigan just before the turnaround said hello.

Collins, last season’s breakout receiver for the Houston Texans, elected to sit out the 2020 season before entering the draft that offseason. Without a leading receiver, Michigan struggled, going 2-4 and missing a bowl game altogether.

Since Collins’ professional career began, the Wolverines have been one of the game’s top programs, posting a three-year winning streak against Ohio State while winning three Big Ten titles.

A trio of College Football Playoff berths later, Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy kept their promises, leading the program to a national title victory over Washington at NRG Stadium in January for the first time in over two decades.

For NFL Draft prospect and fellow Michigan receiver Roman Wilson, he wishes that Collins had been around to be part of it.

“In 2020 (Collins) was here and I was here. He was a dog in practice,” Wilson told Texans Wire of the now fourth-year Houston receiver. “You can see the flashes in him of being a star in the NFL. I just wish he would’ve stayed for that 2020 season, but I’m happy it worked for him.

Roman Wilson had high praise for former teammate and fellow Michigan alum Nico Collins from their time together in 2020.

“He was a dog in practice. You can see the flashes in him of being a star in the NFL.” pic.twitter.com/eVevpGmDEw

— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) April 15, 2024

Wilson, a do-it-all slot receiver, starred this past season while serving as Michigan’s primary receiving threat and a trusted target for McCarthy, a future first-round pick in next week’s draft. He had 662 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense and was perhaps the most significant x-factor in Michigan’s victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl playoff semifinal.

It’s fair to wonder what the later Harbaugh teams could have done with a physical talent of Collins’ caliber, especially in conjunction with a slot presence like Wilson. Even with inconsistent quarterback play, Wilson remembers how consistent Collins was in practice.

It translated over to Saturdays and now to Sundays. Collins, Houston’s former third-round pick, recently finished top-10 among receivers in yards (1,297) and touchdowns (8) while helping the franchise secure a division title.

While Wilson and Collins never took the field together in college, that could change in the pros. Houston could target a receiver in the later rounds after voiding the final three years of Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs’ contract.

Wilson is expected to be taken on Day 2 of the draft. The Texans enter Thursday night with three picks (No. 42, No. 59, No. 86) in the second and third rounds.

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Notably, Wilson himself did admit it would be great to play with Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, even if their college feud continued into the locker room.

“He’s a phenomenal quarterback, he’s a follower of God,” Wilson said of Stroud. “I remember in his commitment process, he was thinking about going to Michigan and and I kind of got to meet him for a little bit, talked to him. I mean, he’s a great guy and you know, I would love to play for him.”

Wilson recently partnered with Six Star Pro Nutrition, to help launch their new protein shake in Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal flavor. The cereal-flavored product, which launches this month, will be available exclusively at Sam’s Clubs locations.