Nebraska sucks! Yes. Yes, they do. Nebraska is a 3-7 football team with an interim head coach, no defensive playmakers except outside linebacker Garrett Nelson, and no quality FBS quarterback right now. Nebraska’s best play on Saturday was to call a pass and then let the quarterback scramble up the middle and hope he doesn’t hurt himself. Unfortunately, that play ended one too many times with the quarterback hurting himself. Meanwhile, the two quarterbacks, Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers, combined for 9 rushing attempts and 40 total yards. The team ended up with 146 total yards, or exactly 106 yards that didn’t come on QB scrambles.
That was closer than it should have been. Maryland has scared me for years, because they’ve had offensive playmakers. This goes back to the days of NFL veteran receiver D.J. Moore, but also a variety of running backs like Ty Johnson and Anthony McFarland, Jr. Now the Terps have a stable of good receivers and a couple solid running backs in speedster Roman Hemby and 235 lb. Antwain Littleton II, who I learned during the game had been a 295 lb. recruit. But the defense is catching up to the offense with size and speed in the secondary. They’re turning into a formidable opponent.
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.
The following players (listed in alphabetical order) are Michigan’s best bets, in my opinion, to be drafted in 2023. Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan teams have produced 6.3 NFL draft picks per class during his tenure, so it’s a good bet that Michigan gets around this number of players to be selected.
TE Erick All Senior Erick All was reportedly considering leaving the NFL after the 2021 season, but he decided to return. After a 2020 season in which he struggled with drops, he turned into a reliable target with 38 catches (second on the team) for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a game-winning catch-and-run against Penn State. All is a solid blocker with good speed and run-after-catch ability, and he has a lithe 6’4″, 245 lb. frame. He probably won’t be first round material, but he could be a day two or three pick.
The spring game will be shown on the Big Ten Network on Saturday, April 2, at 12:00 p.m.
Here are a few things I’ll be curious to watch:
WHO TAKES OVER FOR HASSAN HASKINS? Michigan needs to replace its leading rusher and toughest back in Hassan Haskins, a 6’1″, 220-pounder who is off to the NFL after rushing for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. The Wolverines have two very talented running backs left, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, but neither one has proven to be a bruiser or short yardage back. They have home run speed but were listed at 200 and 202 pounds, respectively, last season. Redshirt freshman Tavierre Dunlap (6’0″, 222) might be able to step into the role as a big back, but does he have the instincts and power that Haskins showed? Michigan doesn’t need a leading rusher – that will be Corum or Edwards – but they need someone who can pound the ball inside.
