Ron Bellamy on Michigan wide receivers, emerging leaders: 'The production has to step up, and they're ready'

Michigan Wolverines football has to replace two NFL Draft picks at wide receiver in Roman Wilson (third round, Steelers) and Cornelius Johnson (seventh round, Chargers) ahead of the 2024 season. The pair combined to register 245 receptions, 3,745 yards and 34 touchdowns in their careers.

Speaking on the ‘In The Trenches’ podcast with host Jon Jansen, position coach Ron Bellamy shared his confidence in the next crop of Michigan wide receivers.

“It’s something we’re excited about,” Bellamy said. We had a great spring with the guys. Now, here’s the thing that I think people forget: They played a lot, in the sense of [junior] Tyler Morris played over 300 snaps last year, [sophomore] Semaj Morgan played over 200. [Sophomore] Fredrick Moore played just under 100 snaps last year. [Senior] Peyton O’Leary came on at the end of the year. So we do have experience.

“Now, the guys understand the production has to step up, and they’re ready. They’re ready for their opportunity, they’re smart, they’re tough. They’re Michigan; they’re Michigan men. And these guys understand what the expectations are. They’re perfecting their craft daily.

“The thing I love about our room is the guys are happy for the next guy’s success. They’re happy for Roman and Cornelius and Ronnie [Bell] the year before. Now, those guys understand that the torch is passed to them, and they gotta bring it. Spring ball was evident of that. The guys had a tremendous spring, and we’re going to just keep growing every day.”

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Morris has stepped up as a leader among Michigan’s group of wide receivers, and so has Morgan, despite being an underclassman entering his second season of college football. Both produced in less significant roles last season, with Morris hauling in 13 passes for 197 yards and 1 touchdown and Morgan grabbing 22 receptions for 204 yards and 2 scores and adding a pair of rushing touchdowns.

“Everyone brings something different to the table,” the Michigan coach said. “I would say the alpha in our room right now is Tyler Morris. He comes in with the most experience; he’s the oldest. And he’s a quiet leader, doesn’t say anything, but when he does his voice is so loud. And the guys understand that. T-Mo wants the best for everyone. Just the way he attacks the game, attacks meetings, attacks practice. Everyone brings it.

“Semaj, he’s a younger guy, but I’d say he’s the vocal guy in our room, which is kinda cool to see a young guy do that. We really haven’t had that since a young Ronnie lead the room like that. And I don’t mind a young guy having a voice in the room, just because I’ve experienced it playing here with guys like [former Michigan wide receiver] David Terrell, the [former U-M linebacker] Larry Footes of the world. Those guys were young; they were dawgs, though. The guys respected them with just the way they approached the game.”

Bellamy pointed out that Morgan has taken his game to another level with his understanding of defenses. His toughness also stands out, despite his diminutive size at a listed 5-foot-10, 176 pounds.

“Semaj, he’s awesome,” Bellamy said. “I love Semaj. Obviously, we’ve been around each other since he was six years old. His dad was an assistant coach for me in high school [at West Bloomfield (Mich.) High], and obviously we were at the same high school.

“Semaj is a dawg. He’s a guy that you show him how to do it once, and he’s going to perfect and keep attacking it and keep attacking it. Semaj is 5-9, but he plays like he’s 6-2. He’s always been like that. He’s a guy that is perfecting his route-running, his overall understanding of the game — the how and why, how are we doing it and why are we doing it — and the game has slowed down for him tremendously in the spring. 

“The great thing about going against our defense is the variations in coverages that you’ll see. The fact that he’s able to decipher that and see what the defense is trying to do with him and the game has slowed down, we all know once the ball’s in his hands, it can be an explosive at any point.

“So he’s really honed in on that, and I think his attention to detail with his route detail has been great. He’s always been a great pass-catcher. And the run game, man, he’s as physical as anyone I’ve ever been around. I always call him my ‘baby Steve Smith.’ Steve Smith [the former NFL wideout] wasn’t the biggest guy, but he played like he was a mountain lion, and that’s Semaj.”

Michigan TE Colston Loveland also sets the tone

Michigan junior tight end Colston Loveland is a preseason All-American, per Lindy’s, and one of the team’s most talented and prominent offensive players. He’s the Wolverines’ leading returning receiver, having caught 45 passes for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2023.

“He’s smooth, man. I love watching him play,” Bellamy said. “[Former tight ends coach and current offensive line] Coach [Grant] Newsome did a great job, has done a great job with him, and [current tight ends] Coach [Steve] Casula has taken that over, and he’s expanding his game. It’s fun to watch him, man.

“He works hard at his craft, and he’s always asking questions and he’s like a sponge, man. He’s taking all that knowledge and absorbing it in meetings. Always I see him in the tight end room, and he’s watching film and he’s watching the [Kansas City Chiefs’] Travis Kelces of the world and some of the other elite guys in college football and throughout the NFL, just trying to expand his game.

“He’s the ultimate team player. As great as he is in the pass game, he’s equally as good in the run game. He’s relentless. He’s a warrior. He’s a guy that, you watch him in practice and sometimes you pause and you show the receivers, ‘Man, this is the best tight end in America, and this is what he’s doing.’ He may have a go route — he’s clearing it out and he’s busting his butt to get someone else open. And if he’s doing it, everyone else should be doing it. I think he sets a great example for this football team, and we’re lucky to have him.”