Michigan football: Roman Wilson predicts Darrius Clemons will 'shock a lot of people' this season
Michigan Wolverines football is tasked with replacing wideout and two-time captain Ronnie Bell — who led the team in receiving three of the last four seasons — both in terms of production and leadership. Two veterans, graduate Cornelius Johnson and senior Roman Wilson headline the receiving corps, but young players are expected to step up and help fill the void, too.
“One thing that did help the void is I stepped into a leadership role a bit more, help the young guys who are coming up,” Wilson said. “Besides me and CJ, other people are going to have to play, that haven’t really played a lot of minutes. Just me helping them and pushing them in the right direction is going to help a lot.
“For us to be able to replace Ronnie, I feel like it’s going to be hard. [He’s] someone that’s very passionate about the game, that’s always ready to work and someone that’s always motivated. Especially in the game … I’m not going to say it’s going to be hard to replace him, but it’s going to be hard to do the things that he did on the field consistently.”
Sophomores Darrius Clemons and Tyler Morris played sparingly last season but have big opportunities ahead of them. Early enrollees Semaj Morgan and Fredrick Moore are also in the mix.
“Fred and Semaj are really good additions to our team, being young guys, and as far along as they are, I think they’re both really good,” Wilson said.
“Tyler Morris, Darrius and all the guys look really good. I think the wide receiver room is in really good hands. They look good.”
Clemons, in particular, has all the tools, his Michigan teammates and coaches have said. The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder was a top-100 recruit out of high school and could be a difference-maker at the outside receiver spot.
His work ethic has stood out to Wilson this offseason.
“When I came in for the winter cycle … I’m from Hawai’i, so I don’t really go home that often, so I’m kind of always in the building,” Wilson stated. “To see him working out by himself, and then we get to the winter cycle, and for him to be as strong as he is in the weight room, it’s pretty shocking. He’s a pretty strong guy.
“I think he’s going to shock a lot of people when he gets his opportunity this year.”
Morris, who plays more out of the slot, saw time when Wilson went down in the Fiesta Bowl and had a key third-down pickup when the game was still in doubt at Rutgers. Wilson also touched on how he’s impressed.
“He looks really good,” the Michigan wideout said of Morris. “He looks like a well-seasoned guy. He’s playing really well. He looks good. He almost looks like a vet out there, so I’m happy for him.”
