2024 Spring Football Preview: Wide Receiver

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8Mar 2024
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2024 Spring Football Preview: Wide Receiver

Semaj Morgan (image via MGoBlue)

2023 Starters: Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson
Losses: Darrius Clemons (Oregon State), Johnson (NFL), Wilson (NFL)
Returning players: Eamonn Dennis (RS Sr.), Peyton O’Leary (RS Jr.), Tyler Morris (RS So.), Karmello English (So.), Frederick Moore (So.), Semaj Morgan (So.), Kendrick Bell (RS Fr.)
Newcomer: Channing Goodwin (Fr.)
Projected starters: Morris, Morgan

For some teams who play three and four wide receivers on every down, losing two senior wide receivers might not seem like a huge deal. So in the context of college football, the departures of Cornelius Johnson (47 catches, 604 yards, 1 touchdown) and Roman Wilson (48, 789, 12) might not seem like a huge deal. Johnson was the large-ish possession receiver, and Wilson was the speedy deep and intermediate threat. And then there were usually a couple tight ends roaming all over the place. Altogether, Michigan got just 47 other receptions from receivers not named Johnson or Wilson, and 3 of those came from Clemons, who is now plying his trade for the Beavers.

Based on playing time and targets last season, the two front-runners for starting roles in 2024 should be Morris and Morgan. Morris started four games – so he’s kind of a returning starter, I guess – and made 13 catches for 197 yards and 1 touchdown. But that one touchdown was a huge, key play when he got matched up against a linebacker against Alabama in the Rose Bowl and caught a crossing route for a 38-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Morgan caught 22 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also had an 87-yard punt return against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game. He showed some downfield receiving chops in high school, but so far he’s been more of a catch-and-run guy with jitterbug moves – witness his screen catch for a TD against Washington – and adding in 4 carries for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Last year’s spring game star was walk-on Peyton O’Leary (2 catches, 13 yards, 1 touchdown), who could factor in more this season if Michigan needs a big possession guy at 6’4″ and 190 lbs. Frederick Moore (4 catches, 32 yards) and Karmello English (1 catch, 6 yards, 1 touchdown) will also factor in somehow. Some people think Moore could be the fastest player on the team.

Players with less of a chance to make an impact include fifth year senior Eamonn Dennis (who has yet to make a catch in his career but plays a lot of special teams), Kendrick Bell (who was a high school quarterback until making the position switch last year), and early enrollee freshman Channing Goodwin. Bell’s brother Ronnie is now a wide receiver in the NFL with the 49ers, and Goodwin has some good bloodlines, as his father was a lineman for Michigan and in the NFL. But it’s unlikely that any of them play a huge role in 2024.

15Oct 2023
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Michigan 52, Indiana 7

Colston Loveland (image via Yahoo! Sports)

Run the damn ball. Coming into the game, Indiana was ranked #91 in rushing defense. And it was raining. So naturally, Michigan decided to come out throwing, with four pass plays and two rushes in the first six plays. Two of those pass plays resulted in sacks, and one was a drop by Colston Loveland. Meanwhile, the two carries by Corum averaged 4.5 yards per rush. Michigan wasn’t necessarily going to obliterate Indiana on the ground with huge runs, but they could have just taken over the game physically instead of trying to throw in those conditions.

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12Oct 2022
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Visitors: Michigan vs. Penn State

Jyaire Hill (image via E.J. Holland/On3)

2023

Kendrick Bell – WR – Kansas City (MO) Park Hill: Bell is a 6’3″, 180-pounder with offers from Michigan and UMass. He’s the younger brother of Michigan wide receiver Ronnie Bell.

Arion Carter – LB – Smyrna (TN) Smyrna: Carter is a 6’1″, 210 lb. prospect who is committed to Memphis; he also has offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 3-star and the #38 athlete in the class. This is an official visit. UPDATE: Carter is now visiting Tennessee instead of Michigan this weekend.

Jyaire Hill – CB – Kankakee (IL) Kankakee: Hill is a 6’1″, 170-pounder with offers from Auburn, Illinois, Michigan, and Washington, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #13 cornerback, and #147 overall.

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28Jul 2022
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Visitors: 2022 BBQ at the Big House

Collins Acheampong

Note: Rankings mentioned are from Rivals.

2023

Collins Acheampong – DE – Santa Margarita (CA) Rancho Santa Margarita: Acheampong (4-star, #21 WDE) committed to Michigan in March.

Brooks Bahr – DE – Chicago (IL) Wilmette: Bahr (3-star, #45 SDE) committed to Michigan in March.

Semaj Bridgeman – LB – Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep: Bridgeman (4-star, #12 ILB) committed to Michigan in July.

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