Tag: IMarion Stewart

2025 Spring Football Preview: Wide Receiver

RETURNING PLAYERS: Peyton O’Leary (RS Sr.), Joe Taylor (RS Sr.), Amorion Walker (Sr.), Logan Forbes (RS Jr.), Fredrick Moore (Jr.), Semaj Morgan (Jr.), Kendrick Bell (RS So.), Channing Goodwin (RS Fr.), I’Marion Stewart (RS Fr.)
NEWCOMERS: Donaven McCulley (RS Sr.), Anthony Simpson (RS Sr.), Andrew Marsh (Fr.), Jamar Browder (Fr.)
DEPARTURES: C.J. Charleston (graduation), Tyler Morris (transfer to Indiana)

OUTLOOK: Michigan’s receivers did not have a banner year in 2024. Part of it may be a chicken-or-egg situation with the poor quarterback play: no receiver was going to have a great year with Davis Warren and Alex Orji throwing the ball, and not many quarterbacks were going to have great passing numbers throwing to what Michigan put out there at receiver. Tight end Colston Loveland led Michigan’s team in receptions (56), yards (548), and touchdowns (5). By comparison, the leading wideouts in each category were Semaj Morgan (27 catches), Tyler Morris (248 yards), and Morris again (2 touchdowns).

Morris headed for the greener pastures of, uh, Bloomington, Indiana, this off-season, so it’s a pretty complete overhaul of the receiving group. Morgan is back, but he had a measly 139 yards and a paltry 5.2 yards per catch. That’s not an indictment of Morgan’s talent, but Michigan’s overall inability to push the ball downfield, set up screens appropriately, and generally call an offense. I have more faith in new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey than the departed Kirk Campbell, so I expect Morgan to benefit significantly. But he has yet to prove that he can be a downfield threat.

The prize of Michigan’s transfer efforts at receiver is Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley, a 6’5″, 203 lb. possession guy who caught 48 passes for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2023. While he doesn’t have a ton of downfield speed, he’s the type of big target with experience that Michigan lacked out wide in 2024. He can probably be penciled in as a starter this fall.

Other unknowns include the quick Fredrick Moore (11 catches, 148 yards, 1 TD in 2024), former walk-on and possession guy Peyton O’Leary (10 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD), former quarterback Kendrick Bell (7 catches, 70 yards), and reed-thin speedster Amorion Walker (3 catches, 34 yards). The most intriguing of those is Walker, who is 6’3″ and 182 lbs. Once penciled in as a starting cornerback by Jim Harbaugh – and briefly at Ole Miss in the spring of 2024 – he spent last year at receiver. If corners don’t get a hand on him, he can run real fast; if corners do get a hand on him, he can fall down real fast.

One of Lindsey’s tasks will be to figure out which veteran receiver can play a good-sized role in the offense and provide some help for some limited quarterbacks: QB Mikey Keene is limited by his stature, and QB Bryce Underwood is limited by his inexperience. But another task will be to figure out what roles can be played by freshman Andrew Marsh, incoming UMass transfer Anthony Simpson, and freshman Jamar Browder. Marsh comes in with some questions about his overall speed, but he reportedly finds a way to make things happen. Simpson is a bit of a screen and gadget guy, but he could be fun to watch. And Browder is a 6’3″ guy with some upside, but he’s probably somebody who needs to bake in the oven for at least a season.

Overall, Michigan has an array of pieces. While last season was similar at receiver to the 2023-2024 Michigan basketball team that got Juwan Howard fired because he couldn’t construct a roster, this year could be closer to the 2024-2025 Dusty May version of the basketball team: a well constructed squad probably lacking championship potential.

2024 Season Countdown: #90 I’Marion Stewart

Name: I’Marion Stewart
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 lbs.
High school: Chicago (IL) Kenwood
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Stewart was a senior in high school (LINK). He caught 38 passes for 909 yards and 9 touchdowns, and he ran 14 times for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns.
TTB Rating: 80

Stewart is a diminutive wide receiver prospect who shows impressive speed on his high school film. He’s listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds, which is approximately the same size as 2023 freshman contributor Semaj Morgan (5’10”, 176). The new NCAA ’25 video game (BUY IT HERE) gives Stewart a speed rating of 92, which is tied for fourth on the team. That speed shows through with numerous big plays and an average of 23.9 yards per catch. Stewart was ranked as a 4-star, the #50 wide receiver, and #309 overall in the 247 Composite.

Freshman wide receivers are perfectly capable of making an impact on the field, but the Wolverines brought in transfer portal options in the form of C.J. Charleston (Youngstown State) and Amorion Walker (Ole Miss) while also having young up-and-comers like Tyler Morris, Frederick Moore, and the aforementioned Morgan. Stewart could potentially factor in as a receiver or returner, but I’m guessing he will be similar to Karmello English, who caught 1 pass and had 1 punt return while playing in six games in 2023.

Prediction: Backup wide receiver

Visitors: Michigan vs. Ohio State

2024 PROSPECTS

Gatlin Bair – WR – Burley (ID) Burley: Bair is a 6’2″, 195-pounder who is committed to Boise State, who just fired head coach Andy Avalos. Bair is headed on a two-year Mormon mission after high school, so he will basically end up being a 2026 prospect. Bair is also considering Michigan and Oregon, along with BSU. He’s a 4-star, the #10 WR, and #40 overall. This visit is a possibility, but not set in stone at this point.

Zaquan Patterson – S – Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna: Patterson is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect who is committed to Miami. He’s a teammate of 2025 Michigan commit Chris Ewald. Patterson is a 4-star, the #5 safety, and #70 overall.

2024 COMMITS

QB Jadyn Davis
RB Micah Ka’apana
RB Jordan Marshall
WR Channing Goodwin
WR I’Marion Stewart
TE Hogan Hansen
TE Brady Prieskorn
OL Blake Frazier
OL Jake Guarnera
OL Luke Hamilton
OL Ben Roebuck
OL Andrew Sprague
DE Ted Hammond
DT Owen Wafle
LB Jeremiah Beasley
LB Mason Curtis
LB Zach Ludwig
LB Cole Sullivan
CB Jeremiah Lowe

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: 2023 BBQ at the Big House

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Michigan’s annual BBQ at the Big House will be taking place on July 29-30. With a lot of connections already made for the current 2024 recruiting class, the BBQ is always largely about making inroads with underclassmen. Below is a list of players expected to make it to Ann Arbor for the BBQ:

TRANSFER

Nigel Glover – LB – Northwestern: Glover is a 6’3″, 210 lb. transfer from Northwestern who decided to leave the Wildcats after head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired. He was a 4-star, the #30 linebacker, and #335 overall in the class of 2023 and was the program’s highest rated signee. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pitt, Purdue, Washington, and West Virginia were some of the other Power Five programs after him out of high school, so that’s a decent offer list but not a great one.

2024

Jeremiah Beasley – LB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Beasley is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jadyn Davis – QB – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Davis is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Blake Frazier – OT – Austin (TX) Vandegrift: Frazier is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Channing Goodwin – WR – Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Goodwin is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jake Guarnera – C – Ponte Vedra Beach (FL) Ponte Vedra: Guarnera is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Luke Hamilton – OG – Avon (OH) Avon: Hamilton is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Ted Hammond – DE – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Hammond is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jordan Marshall – RB – Cincinnati (OH) Moeller: Marshall is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jacob Oden – S – Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Zaquan Patterson – S – Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna: Patterson is a 6’0″, 185 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He’s a 4-star, the #3 safety, and #76 overall. A teammate of 2025 Michigan commit Chris Ewald (see below), this is Patterson’s second unofficial visit to Ann Arbor.

Brady Prieskorn – TE – Rochester (MI) Adams: Prieskorn is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Ben Roebuck – OT – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Roebuck is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Jaden Smith – LB – Charlotte (NC) West: Smith is committed to Michigan (LINK).

I’Marion Stewart – WR – Chicago (IL) Kenwood: Stewart is committed to Michigan (LINK).

Hit the jump for the younger prospects.

2024 Recruiting Update: June 19, 2023

COMMITMENTS

Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman running back Micah Ka’apana committed to Michigan (LINK).

Charlotte (NC) West linebacker Jaden Smith committed to Michigan (LINK).

Chicago (IL) Kenwood wide receiver I’Marion Stewart committed to Michigan (LINK).

ADDED TO THE BOARD

LaGrange (GA) Troup County linebacker Qua Birdsong (4-star, #27 LB, #310 overall) decommitted from Cincinnati after about two months. He took an official visit to North Carolina State over the weekend.

Philadelphia (PA) Roman Catholic wide receiver Tyseer Denmark (4-star, #33 WR, #227 overall) decommitted from Oregon, and crystal balls started flying in for him to commit to the Penn State Nittany Lions.

OFF THE BOARD

Chattanooga (TN) Bradley Central athlete Boo Carter (4-star, #17 ATH, #207 overall) committed to Tennessee. He had officially visited Michigan and is a 7-on-7 teammate of Michigan safety commit Jacob Oden, so there was an opportunity for the Wolverines to land his commitment, but ultimately, he decided to stay home.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel linebacker Aaron Chiles (4-star, #6 LB, #80 overall) committed to Florida. Chiles was considered to be a strong Michigan lean and almost committed on his unofficial visit this spring. He was scheduled to take an official visit to Ann Arbor next week, but he pulled the trigger in Gainesville this past weekend, which was a big weekend for the Gators as they landed four 4-star commitments on Saturday.

Hit the jump for more.