Name: Mike Morris
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 292 lbs.
High school: Belle Glade (FL) American Heritage
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #90
Last year: I ranked Morris #48 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He started four games and made 17 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 81
Morris broke into playing time in 2021 after being almost a complete unknown. He had only played one game in 2020 and redshirted in 2019. As a 6’6″, 276-pound defensive end – who probably would have morphed into a tackle under Don Brown – he lined up in a variety of spots and showed his versatility. At times he would come off the edge like the 2021 version of Aidan Hutchinson (though not as effective). At other times he would line up as a blitzing linebacker, a la an old-school Shawn Crable. He never made any wow plays, but by the end of the season, I got comfortable seeing him out there and trusting that he wasn’t going to be taken advantage of.
Now with Hutchinson gone, Michigan needs a new edge rusher. Morris has put on 16 pounds since last year, which makes me think he definitely won’t be the guy to take Hutchinson’s role as the primary pass rusher. That rush will probably have to come from somewhere else. But the scuttlebutt out of practice is that the 292-pound Morris will line up everywhere, from nose tackle to 3-tech to 5-tech to 9-tech. His athleticism at that size may be in question, but practice hype suggests he will play a ton and be used all over the defensive line. He may not be the most exciting player, but his deployment will be interesting to watch this season.
Prediction: Starting defensive end; 40 tackles, 3 sacks
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