ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It's been a nearly flawless start to the season for Michigan football, which has won its first three games by an average of 18 points, but the struggling offense took a huge blow Monday when Jim Harbaugh announced leading receiver Tarik Black would have surgery on his foot.
After Michigan's win over Florida, the narrative surrounding the team was the strength of its defense. In the two weeks since, the struggles of Wilton Speight and the passing attack have overshadowed the continuing dominance of Don Brown's crew.
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LATEST: Michigan football WR Tarik Black to have foot surgery
Without Black, it won't get any easier. But Harbaugh has done an excellent job building depth through his two full recruiting classes at Michigan. There are plenty of options to make up for the lost production at wide reciever.
Here are the top five players who could help the Wolverines replace Black.
1. Donovan Peoples-Jones
The most obvious choice to step into a much bigger role is fellow freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones, who has already started to show signs of breaking out.
Peoples-Jones was the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation last season, and he is the best pure athlete on Michigan's offense. He isn't as polished as Black, but his ceiling is even higher.
In the first two games, Peoples-Jones saw very few snaps on offense and was only targeted twice: a pair of passes that sailed over his head. He even lost his punt-returning duties due to indecision against Cincinnati.
READ: Donovan Peoples-Jones shows elite potential in Michigan football's win over Air Force
But we saw a completely different player against Air Force, as Peoples-Jones not only returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, but also made his first two receptions. He has reliable hands and elite speed, so if he and Speight can connect, it a home run threat.
Peoples-Jones is a big target who can make plays downfield and break away from defenders, so he's the top candidate to replace Black.
2. Eddie McDoom
Unlike Peoples-Jones, Eddie McDoom has a very different set of skills than Black, but he could still take on a much bigger role in the offense with more touches now available.
McDoom was a favorite to enjoy a breakout season on offense after Harbaugh showed so much creativity with him as a true freshman. But that hasn't happened, as McDoom has just 24 total yards through three games.
As a slot receiver, McDoom can't replace Black's size, or be a huge red zone threat, but he adds another dimension to the offense with his versatility. Whether he gets more involved in the passing game, or the running game, Michigan needs him to become more of a weapon.
3. Oliver Martin
For Michigan fans who don't follow recruiting, Oliver Martin is probably a name you haven't heard so far. Martin was the No. 1 player in the state of Iowa this year and committed to Harbaugh late in the recruiting process.
At 6-foot-1 with good ball skills and speed, Martin was expected to play a role in the offense from the start of the season, but an injury late in camps has sidelined him through the first quarter of the season.
Martin was dressed for the game against Air Force, but didn't see the field. Now that one of the starting wide receiver spots has opened up, everybody will move up a notch, and Martin could find himself in the mix as a backup receiver.
Martin's combination of speed and athleticism suit him for a slot receiver role, but he's more of a combination between a slot and a wideout. He could play a number of different roles for Michigan, which makes him valuable in a sticky situation such as this one.
4. Maurice Ways
Moving away from the crop of young receivers for a moment, veteran Maurice Ways could also see the field now that Black is out of the mix.
Ways has played a few snaps this season, but hasn't been targeted in the passing game. He played six games last season, but his only catches came in blowouts against Hawaii and Illinois.
If not for injuries that plagued the early part of his career, Ways might have made more of an impact at Michigan. Instead, he's only been able to play in 18 games and make five catches for 64 yards.
But it's not like Ways doesn't have the talent to step into a bigger role. As a rare veteran surrounded by first- and second-year players, Ways offers experience that the others don't have.
5. Nate Shoenle
Nate Shoenle took a very different path to this list than the four players mentioned above, but he could still see his playing time increase.
Shoenle was a walk-on during the 2016 offseason, which featured much more highly touted receivers such as McDoom and Kekoa Crawford. But one of the stories out of fall camp was how much Schoenle impressed Harbaugh and the offensive coaching staff.
His hard work has shown on Saturdays. Even though he hasn't caught a pass, he's taken snaps at wide receiver in all three games and appears to be one of the better blocking wideouts on the roster. Harbaugh has regularly called outside running plays in Schoenle's direction when he steps on the field.
Schoenle was one of the best receivers on the field during Michigan's spring game, so he's not just a blocker. If he can get into the offensive mix as a walk-on after only one year, there's no reason to doubt he could take advantage of an opportunity if he earns it.