Amara Darboh proved one thing this past Saturday: Michigan has someone other than Devin Funchess who can catch the ball, make plays and score touchdowns.
Granted, Darboh’s breakout versus Miami (Ohio) was more of a necessity than a luxury, but it’s difficult to deny his six catches for 88 yards and a score. After all, someone has to do it while Funchess, the Wolverines’ star wideout, recovers from whatever he’s recovering from.
Brady Hoke won’t say, leaving the guessing game as the only available option at the moment.
But back to Darboh—he’s entering his time. Whether or not he wanted to get it like this doesn't really matter. However, it’s safe to assume that he probably wanted to earn the role rather than inherit it from a sidelined teammate.
Nonetheless, he’s quickly become one of the last, and best, remaining remedies for Team 135’s sluggish offense.
If Funchess returns soon, great; Michigan will have two consistent threats with which to take on the Big Ten. If he doesn’t come back, well, at least Darboh will be prepared to compensate for the absence of a 6’5”, 236-pound Biletnikoff contender.
What He Brings
Now three weeks into his first season at Michigan, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has yet to showcase the true range of his play-calling savvy. Part of that is because his offense is struggling, and without Funchess, aerial options have been few and far between.
But Nussmeier now has Darboh, a 6'2", 211-pounder with an above-average set of hands and great ability to get physical with blocks and separation techniques. He's not the tallest or fastest, but he can scoot down the field every so often and slip through layers of coverage, evidenced by his 29-yard-catch-turned-fumble in Week 3 against the RedHawks.
Just forget the fumble part.
Had he held onto that ball, we'd be talking about one of the Wolverines' best offensive plays of the year. They've been scarce, sure, but Darboh's grab-and-dash was refreshing. It proved what most have thought all along: He's good at what he does and can certainly increase his team's chances of winning.
During a postgame media session this past Saturday, sophomore tight end Jake Butt complimented Darboh's attitude, work ethic and, of course, his six catches for 88 yards and six points. Butt seemed genuinely excited, or maybe relieved, that someone else emerged as a go-to for quarterback Devin Gardner, who will need all of the help he can get this week against Utah.
"We were really excited about him before that injury last year," Butt said when asked about his teammate's potential. "We all knew what kind of ability he had, and he kind of put that on display today."
Darboh brings a sense of "new" to the fold. Michigan fans have yet see him unleash his real power, excluding Saturday, and that's exciting for them. They know what Funchess can do. They've seen Jehu Chesson make a few plays. But Darboh's arrival feels different.
With nine catches for 137 yards, he trails only Funchess when it comes to production. It's early, and depending on usage, stats can be skewed in either direction. Unless Saturday was a fluke, Darboh appears to be the one until the No. 1 makes a triumphant entrance.
Secret Weapon?
Don't forget about the extra forearm muscles used to secure catches. Not everyone has those, you know.
Fans aren't the only ones who haven't seen much of Darboh. The competition hasn't either. With that said, game-planning for him could be difficult.
He's an ideal variable for Michigan, and he could be a dreadful nightmare this weekend for Kalani Sitake, the Utes' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach/assistant head coach.
Thanks to offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, Sitake hasn't had a lot to worry about lately. Utah averages 57.5 points per game (No. 3 in the NCAA), which is a comforting statistic for any DC. Sitake's guys just have to make sure the opposition doesn't go Utah on them.
Michigan's offense hasn't proved that it can hang big numbers on the scoreboard, but if Darboh plays like he did against Miami, a Utes-like total could be possible. It's a stretch, but not outside the realm of logic.
Fresno State's Josh Harper had six catches for a season-high 83 yards against Utah. The 6'1", 185-pound senior is a respectable athlete who uses speed and agility to elude tackles. However, he's not in the same league as Darboh when it comes to physicality. But yet he had little trouble with Utah's secondary.
That's a promising sign for Michigan, and for Darboh, who is a game away from igniting Team 135's offense and evolving into a legitimate top option, not just a secondary get-by while the star takes a breather.
Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
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