Michigan wide receivers: Expect 'a lot' from C.J. Charleston, other breakout candidates

Michigan Wolverines football junior wide receiver Tyler Morris hit 20.8 MPH while darting down the sideline for a 38-yard touchdown to give the Wolverines a lead late in the first half against Alabama last season, per Reel Analytics.

Morris has become the leader among the Wolverines’ wideouts, and he’s out to prove this season that he’s a complete receiver with all the tools required for being a go-to target. Last season, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder notched 13 catches for 197 yards and the aforementioned score.

Sophomore wideout Semaj Morgan said Morris’ game is “scary.” Morris attempted to explain what he thought his teammate meant.

“Can do a little bit of everything,” Morris said. “Sometimes, people don’t necessarily see me as someone who can stretch the field or is necessarily fast, but I feel like I can do it all. That’s something that I want to bring to the team this year is whatever role we need, I can step up and next a play.”

The Michigan wide receiver room has a similar mentality, after losing two NFL Draft picks from last season in Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson.

“That we can play,” Morris said of what the group wants to show. “We don’t have a lot of experience in the room, but we know who we are, we know we can all make plays. So Saturday, we’re taking it really to just prove to ourselves that we are who we think we are and we can go out and play.”

Morris and Morgan, who hauled in 22 catches for 204 yards and totaled 4 touchdowns last season, can’t do it alone. Others will have to step up, and Morris is confident in his Michigan teammates.

Graduate wideout C.J. Charleston is expected to play a role, after transferring in from Youngstown State. The 6-foot, 190-pounder registered 33 catches for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Penguins in 2023.

“A lot,” Morris said of what fans should expect out of Charleston. “He’s a guy that came in, an older guy with experience that just showed that he can play at this level. I’m expecting him to definitely have a significant role on our team this year.

“He’s a quick guy, sort of like a Semaj-type player, where they’re just quicker. But he’s all around the field making plays, he’s tough. So I like what he brings to the room.

“I think we got a lot of guys that could step up into that role — [sophomore] Fred[rick] Moore, [junior] Amorion Walker, [senior] Peyton O’Leary, [sophomore] Kendrick Bell, C.J. Everybody has had their times in camp where they’ve shown that they could have an impact. I think we have a really deep room.”

Michigan freshman Channing Goodwin was also mentioned by head coach Sherrone Moore as someone who will likely contribute in some form or fashion.

“He’s smart. He’s really smart,” Morris stated. “I was just talking to some guys about this, but he’s probably the smartest freshman I’ve seen since I’ve come in here. He just picks up the offense really well. I’m definitely expecting a lot from him.”

Goodwin’s father, Jonathan Goodwin, was an offensive lineman at Michigan, which has benefitted the now freshman.

“With Channing, I think he brings a different level of maturity, just with his dad playing here … and I’m not 100-percent sure if that’s why or that’s just him, but that’s just him,” Morris said. “He comes in, he’s all about his business, he picks up stuff really fast. That might just be how he was raised, coming in here, understanding the level of it and the expectation of being here.”

Bell is also a legacy player, with his brother, Ronnie Bell, having led Michigan in receiving yards in three different seasons (2019, 2020, 2022).

“And then Kendrick, his older brother being Ronnie, it’s kinda the same thing,” Morris pointed out. “He comes in, he’s similar to Ronnie. He’s gonna have a good time, but he’s gonna also take this serious.

“So I think it varies player by player, but when you have somebody that came here before you, you come in here with a certain understanding of how it’s supposed to go.”

Michigan has two quarterbacks still battling for the starting job, senior Davis Warren and junior Alex Orji, and Morris feels comfortable with whoever wins out.

“We’ve gone through camp getting reps from a few different guys,” Morris said. “Whatever Coach Moore goes with is what we’re ready for. That’s really just what it is. We’re taking reps with both guys, and we’re ready for whoever it is.

“I gotta run my routes regardless. Whoever’s out there, that’s who I’m rolling with, and I’m going to support whoever they choose.”