Michigan football appears to have found its WR1
Michigan football wide receivers haven’t put up huge numbers in the last decade or so, mainly because they didn’t have to. The Wolverines won three straight Big Ten titles and a National Championship by leaning heavily on the running game (yes, “manball” works), with the pass catchers proving equally as vital as blockers.
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But when the time called for it, they almost always responded. Roman Wilson in the Rose Bowl comes to mind — a huge, fingertip grab to set up a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter — as does Tyler Morris’ big play. Morris scored on a catch and run touchdown in which he outran the Alabama defense to the sideline and the end zone, finally showing what he could do on the national stage.
You ain’t seen nothing yet, Michigan sophomore receiver Semaj Morgan said Monday.
“The play against Alabama … he’s way crazier than that,” Morgan said.
As you’d expect from a former top 100 prep receiver nationally.
Morris has had a “phenomenal camp” so far, receivers coach Ron Bellamy praised last week, and all indications are he’s ready to step into that WR1 role. It doesn’t have to be a 1,000-yard guy — probably won’t be — but as Ronnie Bell proved during his tenure, WR1 in this offense can be extremely valuable.
Besides both being No. 8, there are other similarities between Bell and Morris, Bellamy said.
“I think Tyler had an opportunity to play with Ronnie for a year and model a lot of things that he does off Ronnie’s game,” the Michigan receivers caoch said. “The movement skills, in and out of breaks, his ability to go track the ball, high-point it. His ability in the run game … he shows up.
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“He’s physical; you can move him around, and he’s pretty much a cerebral player. He could be on that [Bell] level.”
He’s certainly made an impact in camp. Though there hasn’t been much film of Michigan fall practice, one clip in which he put an incredible move on All-American corner Will Johnson (see below) stood out. His ability to stop, start, and accelerate is next level.
“Tyler is going to be a very productive receiver here at Michigan. He’s one that could do it all; he doesn’t have any limitations,’ Bellamy said. “He’s not the guy that’s just like, ‘oh, he can move the chains.’ He can stretch the field vertically, intermediate routes. You can put him on screens. You can do everything with Tyler. He’s really morphed himself into being a complete receiver.”
Ready to take his game — and hopefully, the Michigan offense — to another level.
