Michigan has a new receiver on its roster in Jackson State grad transfer Daylen Baldwin. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound wideout has a good blend of size, length, speed and open-field ability.
While Baldwin has room to grow to be considered a legitimate NFL prospect, he has molded his game after two stellar pro receivers of yesteryear — former Green Bay Packer Sterling Sharpe and former Cincinnati Bengals great Chad ‘OchoCinco’ Johnson. Sharpe was a six-time Pro Bowl selection who led the league in receptions three times and touchdowns twice. OchoCinco was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and led the league in receiving yards once.
“Of all-time, I would have to say Chad OchoCinco and Sterling Sharpe. I feel like those two were doing a lot of things that we do now back then and we’re all just taking from them right now,” Baldwin said in March. “Those two definitely changed the game. They’re obviously gifted athletes but you have to tell they worked for what they did.”
Baldwin went on to explain how he watches film of Sharpe and Johnson in hopes of implementing their techniques into his arsenal.
“I take everything from them. I literally go YouTube Chad OchoCinco workouts — that’s where I got 90% of the workouts from with my feet,” Baldwin said. “Almost everything.”
Baldwin differs from OchoCinco in one area specifically — his diet. OchoCinco was known for his love of McDonald’s, claiming to eat large portions at the fast-food chain regularly.
“That I can’t support,” Baldwin said. “I can’t eat McDonald’s, that’s just not me. The only diet I do is I try to stay away from red meat and fried foods — those are the two things I try to do consciously.”
Baldwin comes to Michigan after having a stellar season at Jackson State where he had 27 receptions, 540 yards, and seven touchdowns in just six games. Jackson was a first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection and received the SWAC Newcomer of the Year Award.
Who is SWAC player of the week Daylen Baldwin's favorite wide receiver of all time? @GoJSUTigers @theswac @DaylenBaldwin10 @ochocinco @WJTV @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/jeF7kofgdw
— Noah Newman (@NoahNewmanWJTV) March 17, 2021