Jim Harbaugh breaks down two emerging forces for Michigan football
Michigan Wolverines football is five games into the season, and players are beginning to separate themselves. There are the stars, fellow starters, backups and spot contributors. A few are emerging as standouts, including graduate tight end Luke Schoonmaker and senior EDGE Mike Morris.
Schoonmaker came into the season as a proven commodity, landing on the Mackey Award preseason watch list. But he was set to rotate with senior Erick All, who’s also considered one of the nation’s top tight ends. All has been out the last two games, though, and there’s no indication that he’ll be back on the field soon.
Schoonmaker has made the most of his opportunity. He’s currently second on the team with 14 catches and third on the squad with 162 receiving yards. He has 1 touchdown catch. His 162 receiving yards are the 30th-most in the country by a tight end.
“I always thought Schoony was really good, but he’s playing even better than I thought,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said on the Inside Michigan Football radio show Monday night. “He’s going to be a really good pro tight end.”
Since All has been out of the lineup, Schoonmaker has made 11 grabs for 117 yards, and he’s become a favorite target of Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
“Keep her going, Schoony,” Harbaugh said. “It’s somebody that I think J.J. is really comfortable with and knows that he’s that security blanket type of receiver.
“And the blocking is so good. He’s blocking really good on the perimeter, he’s blocking really good in-line, he’s blocking really good inserting. Man on man, in the man schemes, in the zone schemes. He’s just really blocking well and running fast.
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“He’s doing everything that you could really ask for and he’s doing it with the same attention to detail that you always see out of Luke Schoonmaker. He’s a real pro already in his approach and his preparation.”
On the end of the defensive line, Morris has taken a big step forward in his game. He’s leading the team with 4 sacks, 2 of which came last week against Iowa. His 18 pressures are tied for the 22nd-most among edge rushers nationally, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
“A very strong player,” Harbaugh said of the Michigan EDGE. “Really good against the run, and to see him get the push and be able to get some bend around the offensive tackle and create that pass rush, great to see. After the game, I saw big Mike, Mike Sr., and Melanie Morris. You didn’t have to say anything, it was like, yeah, we know. Big hug; they were as happy as could be, so proud.”
At his Monday press conference, Harbaugh revealed that Morris was firing up his teammates during halftime of the Iowa win before “walking the walk” in the second half. He’s been a vocal leader for the defense.
“Like most players, he’s playing emotionally,” Harbaugh explained. “Emotional people play and coach this game, and to see him kind of letting it out and letting it rip is great to see. There’s been consistency in his game. More production on a consistent basis, and yeah, just have at it, keep letting it rip that way.”
