Is Manningham Michigan's next "#1" receiver?

Sometimes, not retiring a college football jersey means even more to the people who wore it.

I'm marvelling at the stellar frosh campaign of Michigan wideout Mario Manningham, who has made a bunch of big plays for the maize & blue already, but none bigger than hauling in a touchdown against undefeated, 9th-ranked Penn State in the Big House last Saturday. He wears #86, the same number worn by Tai Streets, but my big thing now is if he stays in school, will he get the privilige of wearing the coveted #1?

Some think he's nailed it now. Biletnikoff Award winner Braylon Edwards had to earn the most valuable jersey in the Wolverine's locker room, waiting until his junior year. Now that #1 is firmly established as the premiere jersey for receivers in Ann Arbor, it's seen as a number that's granted - not selected. Anthony Carter, David Terrell, Derrick Alexander and Edwards all set the bar really high. So the honor is one that's got to be time-tested and well-deserved. To give Super Mario the shirt anytime before next year would be unjust to the tradition.

But sure, not only top wideouts get the honor. Desmond Howard won the Heisman with #21, and Streets, Marquise Walker, Mercury Hayes and Amani Toomer all had great success with other digits.

So could Manningham be the next exalted wideout? He's certainly on his way, #1 or not. Let's hope he eventually gets the blessing from Lloyd Carr, but let's do it the right way and give it some time.