Semaj Morgan, Colston Loveland praised for work ethics, star TE draws Travis Kelce comparison
INDIANAPOLIS – Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore comes from an offensive background, and every drop of that expertise will be needed as the team transitions into a year where all but one starter departs from that side of the ball.
Both starting wide receivers need to be backfilled, and Moore thinks he has a future fixture at the position in sophomore Semaj Morgan. Morgan made notable physical strides this offseason and had to put in work in the classroom to earn a jersey number change from No. 82 to No. 0.
“Semaj is probably one of the best-practice players on the team,” Moore said at Big Ten Football Media Days. “I mean he practices so hard that he probably loses about five to six pounds every practice and he’s got to gain it back. But the guy runs hard. And for being a guy that’s so little in stature, he plays like he’s 200 pounds and he’ll tell you that too.
“He’s done an outstanding job of changing his body in a good way to maintain the speed. Got a 4.0 this semester. So that was a big change to allow him to get the number zero, which he wouldn’t stop bugging me about. He’s done an outstanding job and excited about what he’s going to do this year.”
Alongside Morgan in bigger roles are junior Tyler Morris and sophomore Fredrick Moore, who are projected to fill out the top spots on the depth chart.
“Tyler Morris has been awesome,” Moore said. “He’s really taken on a leadership role. Had the big play in the Rose Bowl that surprised people, but really didn’t surprise us. He’s a guy that’s timed a 4.4 [40-yard dash] in high school. People forget he was a highly recruited kid, but tore his ACL in high school and had been recovering and ready to take the reins. He’s done an outstanding job.
“Fred Moore is another guy who had a great spring. Kendrick Bell, the younger brother of Ronnie Bell, has the ability to be great. Excited for him. And then Amorion Walker. And then we talked about Semaj, so. Those are probably the top guys. Peyton O’Leary is a guy we’re ready to see break out. He’s had some good springs and really want to see what he does here in fall camp. And then our young guys, we’ll see what they do.”
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So much attention has been focused on what Michigan loses at wide receiver, but it might not need one of those guys to be the focal point of the passing game. That designation goes to junior Colston Loveland, who many believe to be the best tight end in the nation.
The Michigan head coach compared him to one of the biggest current stars in the world.
“Have you ever heard of Travis Kelce? That’s what you’re looking at [with Loveland],” Moore said. “That dude’s an animal. He’s an absolute animal and the guy just works. He reminds me of Blake [Corum] in that we had to stop Blake from doing extra work like Colson does. ‘You can’t do that much. You have to stop. You got to hold out.’
“The sky is the limit for him. [He’s improved] everything. Run game, looks like a receiver when he’s running routes. It’s going to be awesome to watch him.”
Michigan’s propensity to use the tight end position will continue well into the Moore era. That means Loveland will need a running mate, and they have hyped up junior Marlin Klein throughout the offseason to fill that role.
“Jumping on the scene will be Marlin Klein,” Moore said. “He is probably the freakiest athlete of all of them. He is outstanding. The next guy that I’d say is really emerging is Deakon Tonelli, a redshirt freshman who has all the skill set and size. He walks in here, he looks like a guy that’s probably a junior. We’ll see how he does in training camp with what he does. Zack Marshall‘s done a really good job. So that room is deep and I’m excited for them.”
