ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Coming out of high school, Jaime Ffrench was one of the top wide receivers in the country. Listed as high as No. 26 overall by ESPN, and the No. 2 wideout, when Ffrench went to Texas, the expectation was that he would be another dynamic, elite pass catcher who could thrive in a Steve Sarkisian offense. However, after just one year, he's no longer in the burnt orange and now wears maize and blue, suiting up for Michigan football.
Ffrench arrived as a transfer this winter but didn't get the spring ball accolades that perhaps many had thought he would given his ranking and experience. However, last week, head coach Kyle Whittingham said he's starting to see the lights turn on in fall camp.
"Jaime Ffrench is starting to come into
his own," Whittingham said. "He was kind of figuring things out in spring, but he has really settled in and playing some good football."
His position coach, Micah Simon, spoke on Monday about why Ffrench is starting to emerge in the heated battle for wide receiver three behind or alongside Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan. With freshmen Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson also vying for the position, as well as junior Channing Goodwin, Ffrench does have the experience factor, but Simon says that considering he's had to learn a new offense for the second straight year, he was a little behind the eight ball as it pertains to the learning curve.
"He's been another player that has grown a lot from spring until now," Simon said. "And the thing with him, too, is, you know, he's a true sophomore. So he early enrolls at Texas, and he's learning their offense. And then, boom, six months later, you're now in another offense learning something again and a new environment and just everything that comes with when you transfer.
"So he's really started to settle in and make some plays. And it's been fun to see his development and excited to just see kind of where this continues to go for him."
Ffrench brings a lot of yards after play ability, which he showcased in the April spring game. He should be in the rotation, whether or not he's the third starting wide receiver. He'll continue to push in fall camp with eyes on the September 5 season opener against Western Michigan.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan wide receiver Jaime Ffrench finding his groove
