Michigan football has secured a Transfer Portal commitment from C.J. Charleston, a wide receiver who previously played at Youngstown State.
Charleston was a member of the Penguins program for five seasons, including a redshirt year in 2019 and a medical redshirt in 2022. As a senior in 2023, he started all 13 games, amassing 33 receptions for 503 yards and four touchdowns. He caught at least one pass in 12 games.
Michigan offered the Gates Mills, Ohio, prospect on April 29, three days after Charleston entered the Transfer Portal. He will arrive in Ann Arbor as a graduate transfer after announcing his commitment via social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Charleston has some ties to Michigan through Josh Sinagoga, the current U-M offensive analyst who spent three seasons at Youngstown State (2020-22) before joining the Wolverines last February. The wide receiver also has experience against U-M’s biggest rivals and recorded catches against Ohio State and Michigan State in 2023 and 2021, respectively.
U-M Offensive Coordinator Kirk Campbell was forthcoming about the program’s intentions to pursue wide receivers in the Transfer Portal.
“I think we got some explosive guys. And obviously I think it’s a top loaded room. We need to get some guys to help out there. We probably will look at some guys in that position. How many, I’m not sure,” Campbell said after the Spring Game on April 20.
“We just don’t even have numbers. Like, you look at the roster depth. I mean, you need enough guys. Hamstring injuries are going to happen, quad injuries. So we just got to make sure we have enough guys to field the roster.”
Even after adding Charleston, the Wolverines remain thin at the position. Gone are last year’s leading receivers, Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson, putting responsibility on the shoulders of Semaj Morgan (204 receiving yards in 2023), Tyler Morris (197). They are the only two receivers who return to Michigan after recording at least five receptions last fall.
In addition, U-M figures to rely on rising talent — Fred Moore and Kendrick Bell were among the receivers who flashed in the Spring Game. And a tight end-centric offense, Colston Loveland will factor heavily, while Marlin Klein’s breakout season looms.
“I think we’re going to be an extremely explosive offense,” Cambell said. “We’ve got really explosive players, and it’s my job to get them involved.”
The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb had submitted a Crystal Ball predicting Michigan to land C.J. Charleston on Tuesday.
