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LaMar Morgan, Wolverine

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore hired Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns defensive coordinator LaMar Morgan to be the defensive backs coach for the Wolverines. Morgan spent the past two seasons as the Ragin’ Cajuns defensive play caller. He replaces safeties coach Jay Harbaugh (Seattle Seahawks) and cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale (Los Angeles Chargers).

Morgan played at Louisiana, so to pull him away from his alma mater – for a “demotion” to a position coach role – is somewhat significant. He made 111 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 9 pass breakups through his career playing safety, which wrapped up in 2007. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt under James Franklin from 2013-2014 before spending two seasons as the defensive backs coach at FCS Western Carolina. For the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he was hired as the Louisiana-Monroe defensive backs coach. He then spent one season as the defensive backs coach at Houston before returning to Louisiana-Lafayette from 2019-2020 as defensive backs coach. He worked as the cornerbacks coach at Vanderbilt in 2021 before going back to ULL for the 2022-2023 seasons.

If the past is any indication, Morgan will not be at Michigan any longer than two seasons. Louisiana-Lafayette also went from #13 in yards per play allowed in 2021 – when Morgan was coaching corners at Vanderbilt – to #24 in 2022 and #47 in 2023. Those two seasons were the first two after then-rising star Billy Napier left to be the head coach at Florida, so there has been an overall dropoff in that program.

Morgan’s expertise as a play caller may be in question, but he did coach under Jesse Minter in 2021 when Minter was the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, so he should be able to slide in pretty smoothly as a helper for new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. This past season his defense ranked #26 nationally in interceptions, and they ranked #14 in 2022.

Morgan is from Texas and has spent much of his career in the South, so it would make sense to have him recruit down there. Michigan doesn’t historically have a ton of success recruiting places like Louisiana or Texas, but they’re hotbeds of talent, so it makes sense to try. Interestingly, Michigan now has two Louisiana connections on staff with Morgan and wide receivers coach Ronald Bellamy; the former spent a ton of time coaching there, and Bellamy grew up there.

Michigan’s staff is now completed, though there remain some questions about running backs coach Mike Hart, who has been on a leave of absence recently:

• HC: Sherrone Moore
• OC/QB: Kirk Campbell
• RB: Mike Hart
• WR: Ronald Bellamy
• TE: Steve Casula
• OL: Grant Newsome
• DC: Wink Martindale
• DL: Greg Scruggs
• LB: Brian Jean-Mary
• DB: LaMar Morgan
• STC: J.B. Brown

2025 Recruiting Update: February 22, 2024

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2025

Cartersville (GA) Cartersville wide receiver Jamauri Brice was offered by Michigan. He’s a 5’9″, 180 lb. prospect with offers from Georgia and Oregon, among others. As a junior in 2023, he caught 34 passes for 530 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is currently unranked.

Phenix City (AL) Central offensive guard Mal Waldrep (3-star, #40 OT, #450 overall) was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’5″, 290-pounder with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, and Georgia, among others. Waldrep also spent some time living in Georgia before moving to Alabama. Phenix City Central is the alma mater of Michigan receiver Karmello English.

Brookline (MA) Dexter offensive tackle Hardy Watts (4-star, #14 IOL, #236 overall) was offered by Michigan. He’s a 6’6″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Duke, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Virginia, among others.

Hit the jump for more.

Jack Tuttle receives an extra year of eligibility

Quarterback Jack Tuttle has received a seventh year of eligibility. Tuttle originally signed with Utah before ultimately playing the first five years of his career at Indiana. He then transferred to Michigan in 2023, along with tight end teammate A.J. Barner.

Tuttle began the 2023 season as a third-stringer, but as he learned the playbook, he moved up the depth chart and became the primary backup to starter J.J. McCarthy. Down the stretch Michigan used Alex Orji as a running threat in the College Football Playoff, but Orji did not attempt a pass all season.

Tuttle completed 15/17 passes for 130 yards and 1 touchdown last year. For his college career, he has completed 119/199 passes (59.8%) for 1,031 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He has also run 54 times for 114 yards.

Injuries have been an issue for Tuttle over his career – thus the granting of a seventh year – and he has only played in 22 games over six seasons. While it might make sense to pencil him in as Michigan’s starter in 2024, considering he was the top backup, there are perhaps better physical specimens on the roster. Orji has a stronger arm but much less experience. Jayden Denegal also has much less experience, but at 6’4″ and 235 pounds, he also brings a size element that the 6’4″, 210 lb. Tuttle doesn’t possess.

It’s also still possible that Michigan will explore the transfer portal when the portal opens in mid-April.

Depth chart by experience:

• Jack Tuttle (Seventh Year Senior)
• Davis Warren (RS Jr.)
• Jayden Denegal (RS So.)
• Alex Orji (RS So.)
• Jadyn Davis (Fr.)

Keon Sabb, Ex-Wolverine

Rising redshirt sophomore safety Keon Sabb entered the transfer portal last week and, as of this weekend, has found a destination at Alabama.

Sabb was a member of the class of 2022, and I gave him a TTB Rating of 84 at the time of his commitment (LINK). He was a 4-star, the #9 safety, and #84 overall in his class. He was listed at 6’1″ and 208 lbs. this past season and played a key role on Michigan’s defense, starting five games and making 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (returned 56 yards, including for 1 touchdown), and breaking up 7 passes. That came after a freshman season where he played in just four total games.

Sabb was going to be a key part of Michigan’s secondary once again in 2024, but both Rod Moore and Makari Paige are returning to Michigan. Moore and Paige were somewhat expected to announce for the NFL after this past season, and Sabb surely would have slipped in there at one of the safety positions. But with both returning, there’s a good chance that Sabb would have been squeezed for playing time once again. He would have played, but how much?

Now Michigan has to hope that another young defensive back can step up. For whatever reason, the defensive backfield has been hurt by transfers this off-season, including cornerbacks Amorion Walker (Ole Miss) and Cam Calhoun (Utah). The next guys in line to play more would likely be third-year guy Zeke Berry or second-year player Brandyn Hillman.

As for Sabb’s future, he will likely play a starting role, especially since Alabama lost Caleb Downs to Ohio State in free agency. It’s just a little odd that Sabb will be playing for a team (Alabama) Michigan beat in the Rose Bowl and for a coach (former Washington head man Kalen DeBoer) whom Michigan beat in the national championship game.

Michigan has previously offered Sabb’s two younger brothers in 2026 safety Amari Sabb and 2027 athlete Xavier Sabb.

Keon Sabb is the sixth member of the 2022 class to transfer, joining Walker, WR Darrius Clemons (Oregon State), S Damani Dent (Charlotte), LB Deuce Spurlock (Florida), and RB C.J. Stokes (Charlotte).

Brian Jean-Mary, Wolverine…again

Brian Jean-Mary has been hired as Michigan’s linebackers coach. He was previously at Michigan in 2020.

Jean-Mary joined the Jacksonville Jaguars staff in 2021 to coach under Urban Meyer and then spent 2022-2023 as Tennessee’s linebackers coach. He had previously been at Louisville (2010-2013), Texas (2014-2016), USF (2017-2019), and a few other schools.

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore was on the same staff as Jean-Mary at Louisville; Moore was a graduate assistant and tight ends coach from 2009-2013, and Jean-Mary was the linebackers coach from 2010-2013. They were also on staff together at Michigan in 2020, when Jean-Mary coached linebackers and when Moore was the tight ends coach.

Jean-Mary will turn 49 later this year but has a ton of experience. He’s known as an ace recruiter, and he has also been an assistant head coach (Louisville) and defensive coordinator (USF). While he may not be defensive coordinator material for Michigan down the road, he obviously has the capability of understanding how his linebackers fit into a defensive system.

Michigan now has just one staff place to complete hiring: defensive backs coach Stephen Adegoke may or may not be coming over from the Houston Texans.