Michigan football: A receiver who is ‘going to make a big name for himself this year,’ the center battle, more
The Michigan offense is still looking for playmakers at the wide receiver position to complement veterans Cornelius Johnson and Roman Wilson, and there are several candidates. Receivers coach Ron Bellamy has been “coaching them up,” junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy said Monday, and one in particular is developing a rapport with the starting QB.
In reality, the McCarthy — Tyler Morris relationship started several years ago in Illinois, before McCarthy left for Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy. The two became close friends and teammates at a young age and have grown together. It’s no surprise, then, that Morris has been mentioned as one of the young receivers to watch this fall. He’s now wearing No. 8, and Bellamy told us this spring there were times he and head coach Jim Harbaugh would look at each other after a play to make sure they weren’t still seeing Ronnie Bell out there.
“Tyler Morris, he’s going to make a big name for himself this year,” McCarthy said of the Michigan sophomore. “I’ve had that connection built since my sophomore year in high school. He’s also going to do great things.
“… That’s like a special connection to me, going back to [high school]. I used to call him Simba …. he’d call me Mufasa, stuff like that [from The Lion King]. Going back to eighth grade, the freshman year when we played 7 on 7 together, that’s my guy … one of those things where I could close my eyes and throw the ball, and I know where he’s going to be out of his break. Having that with everyone is my goal right now, but with T-Mo it’s just like that (snaps fingers). It’s money.”
But there are others who have stepped up as well, McCarthy added. Former walk-on Payton O’Leary had a huge spring game and has picked up where he left off. Michigan sophomore Darrius Clemons also got a mention, as did others.
“The young bucks … Fredrick Moore, Semaj Morgan, Karmello English,” McCarthy said of the Michigan freshmen. “All those guys are showing up on tape, so they’re doing a great job. Coach Bellamy’s doing a great job coaching them up. Same with Coach [G.A. Andrew] Goodrich. It’s just been a lot of fun seeing those guys kind of mold into their own.”
Michigan center position is still a two-man race
McCarthy is familiar, too, with another of his former prep teammates in center Greg Crippen. Crippen is battling Stanford transfer Drake Nugent for the right to start, and both have had outstanding summers. Though he’s had experience with Crippen, McCarthy is still getting used to playing with Nugent.
“It’s been a really smooth transition. Obviously, he’s a savvy vet, so everything’s just like technically sound,” McCarthy said of the Michigan newcomer. “He knows defenses; he knows the points. All that stuff is great. But just getting those reps, that’s the biggest thing right now with him.
“He’s going to play; both of them are going to play. It’s just going to be a matter of time to see who makes that distance away from each other.”
