Michigan’s passing game has a new face in the room, and the Wolverines are counting on Micah Simon to help shake loose an aerial attack that has been stuck in neutral. The new wide receivers coach arrives in Ann Arbor with a blend of playing experience, coaching mileage, and a direct line to offensive coordinator Jason Beck that makes him one of the most important hires in this transition.
Simon, a native of Dallas, Texas, played receiver at BYU and appeared in 36 games there, finishing with 90 catches for 1,109 yards. He also brought a 4.4-second 40-yard dash to the table, which helped him land with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL and later the BC Lions in the CFL. That background gives him instant credibility with players who want to know their coach has actually done the job.
The resume does not stop there. Simon already has five seasons of coaching experience, and he has worked closely with Beck at several stops, including Syracuse, New Mexico, and Utah.
That partnership has produced results. In 2024 at New Mexico, Simon helped guide a passing room that was part of a top 25 FBS scoring offense at 33.5 points per game, with Luke Wysong and Ryan Davis combining for 123 catches and 1,587 yards.
In 2025 at Utah, Davis again led the team in receptions and yards and earned All-Big 12 honors.
Now the assignment shifts to Michigan, where Simon is being asked to get the most out of a pair of young playmakers. Andrew Marsh is coming off a huge true freshman season, finishing with 45 receptions for 651 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wolverines.
The next step is less about discovery and more about sharpening the edges - route detail, handling press coverage, and growing into a louder presence in the room. At 19, Marsh is expected to be the anchor, and Simon’s job is to help him wear that responsibility.
Then there’s JJ Buchanan, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound transfer who followed Simon and Beck from Utah. Buchanan started last season at tight end before Simon moved him outside, and the switch paid off.
He finished with nine contested catches, more than the rest of Michigan’s returning wideouts combined. He already knows the offense, and that has turned him into something of an on-field player-coach.
Simon’s focus now is to keep pushing Buchanan’s physical traits and use that frame in 11-personnel looks to create problems downfield and in the red zone.
Michigan’s receiver room looks different now, and that’s the point. With Simon bringing pro experience, a track record of development, and familiarity with Beck’s system, the Wolverines are trying to build something far more dangerous through the air. If Marsh takes the next step and Buchanan keeps turning size into production, Michigan’s passing game could become a lot harder to ignore.
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