Miami Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis coached elite wide receivers
New Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has coached elite wide receivers throughout his career. After beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina in 2010, Gattis was hired for his job as a position coach coaching wide receivers at Western Michigan in 2011.
In his first season with the Broncos, Josh Gattis coached three WRs who recorded at least 60 receptions. Western Michigan finished eighth averaging 337.3 passing yards per game in 2011. Western Michigan WR Jordan White led the nation with 140 receptions and 1,911 yards and was third with 17 touchdowns in 2011.
Josh Gattis left Western Michigan after one season to become the WR coach & offensive recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt. At Vanderbilt, Gattis coached future NFL WR Jordan Matthews to two All-America seasons. Matthews had 206 receptions for 2,800 yards, 15 TDs and added nine carries for 115 yards and one TD.
Following those two seasons and joining White as the second straight All-American WR coached by Gattis, Matthews was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2014 NFL Draft. Gattis left Vanderbilt to become the Passing game and offensive recruiting coordinators and WRS coach at Penn State.
In his first season with the Nittany Lions, Penn State WRs DaeShon Hamilton and Geno Lewis thrived. Hamilton earned All-Big 10 with 82 receptions for 899 yards and two TDs. Lewis contributed 55 for 751 and two TDs. In 2015, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Chris Godwin had 69 receptions for 1,101 yards and five TDs.
Hamilton had 45 for 580 and six TDs. Godwin followed up his 2015 season with 59 receptions for 982 yards and 11 TDs in 2016. With Godwin moved on to the NFL, Hamilton earned All-Big 10 with 53 receptions for 857 yards and nine TDs. Juwan Johnson who later played for Mario Cristobal at Oregon had 54, 701 and one TD.
Following four seasons at Penn State, Gattis became the Co-offensive coordinator and WRs coach at Alabama. In his one season at Alabama, Gattis worked with what might have been the most talented group of position players in college football history. Alabama had four future first-round picks at WR on their roster.
Josh Gattis on the Miami job: “When you look at the history, the tradition and the legacy of this place, Miami is one of the most storied programs in all of college football. When the opportunity came up to be a part of this program, it was one that I just couldn't turn down.” https://t.co/6XQWhN8MuH
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 9, 2022
Five different receivers including future NFL tight end Irv Smith had over 40 receptions for Alabama in 2018. Current Denver Bronco and Miami native Jerry Jeudy led Alabama with 68 receptions for 1,315 yards and 14 TDs in his one season playing for Gattis. Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonte Smith were the other WRs.
Gattis left Alabama after one season for a chance to call plays as the OC and WRs coach at Michigan. In his first season with the Wolverines, Ronnie Bell led Michigan with 48 receptions and 758 receiving yards. Nico Collins had 37 receptions for 729 receiving yards and topped Michigan with seven TDs.
Michigan finished 2-4 in 2020. Bell finished with 26 receptions for 401 yards and one TDs. Those numbers were better per game than Bell had in 2019. Michigan finished 12-2 in 2021, beat Ohio State for the first time in 10 years and qualified for the College Football Playoff for the first time ever.
Next. Miami WR Xavier Restrepo working on his speed. dark
The Wolverines were more run-oriented in 2021. Cornelius Johnson led Michigan with 40 receptions for 627 yards and three TDs last season. Gattis frequently used his running backs as receivers in 2021. With the talent returning for Miami Hurricanes at skill positions in 2022, Gattis has a lot to work with offensively.