The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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56 THE WOLVERINE JUNE/JULY 2021 MICHIGAN RECRUITING 2019, and was the director of player development at UCLA during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. COACH: INTANGIBLES MAKE U-M PLEDGE TYLER MORRIS 'UNIQUE AND SPECIAL' Michigan secured a huge commit- ment in April. Rivals100 La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy wide receiver Tyler Morris — the nation's No. 8 wide receiver and No. 78 pros- pect overall — pulled the trigger and sided with the Wolverines over final- ists Florida and Notre Dame. Tim Racki, his high school head coach, believes the 6-0, 175-pound Morris is the total package. "Everybody has been on Tyler since he was a freshman, and rightfully so," Racki said. "He's mature beyond his years. He's a national recruit for a reason. It's not just his physical traits, but his football IQ is off the charts. Tyler is never satisfied. He was on a state title team as a freshman and was a major contributor for us. "But he wants to be the best of the best. He knows that in order to do that, you have to train and watch film when nobody is looking. He cer- tainly does that. His leadership is what I'm most proud of. It's rare for me to have a junior captain, but he's earned his stripes. All of those intan- gibles you don't see on film make him unique and special." Morris is a tactical route runner, has perhaps the best hands in the class and can play inside or outside. And he has the ability to line up at safety, too, evidenced by a two-interception game April 17 against Niles (Ill.) Notre Dame. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL after the second, which brings an early close to his junior campaign and puts his senior season in jeopardy. Morris racked up more than 1,700 yards of offense and scored 24 touch- downs as a sophomore. Racki be- lieved Morris had improved his game even more prior to the injury. "I can't believe I'm saying this," Rack said. "Tyler could always catch the football, but this year, he's mak- ing some amazing catches. His body control on the sidelines and ability to catch it with one hand, secure the catch, stands out. "You can tell because of his growth physically that he's faster and stron- ger. That has really helped. We've had some great ones here, but he's in the Hall of Fame when it comes to the best hands I've coached." Racki knows after recovering from the injury Morris will be the same playmaker at Michigan he's always been while catching passes from for- mer Nazareth Academy quarterback and U-M freshman J.J. McCarthy. "It doesn't hurt going to a Big Ten school where your buddy [McCar- thy] is the quarterback. Maybe he'll get a couple more touches," Racki joked. "J.J. being there is a benefit." MICHIGAN A FINALIST FOR TOP RB TARGET Quinshon Judkins made a big move in his recruitment. The three-star 2022 running back out of Pike Road (Ala.) High released a final seven of Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State and Yale in late April. For Judkins, the cut came down to which schools he felt fit him best both on and off the field. "It was great to cut the list down, so I could have a group of schools to focus on," Judkins said. "I feel like the schools that I put in there fit me best. My parents thought they were great schools and felt like I could have a good future there. I feel like all the schools in my top seven would be good decisions for me." U-M put an offer on the table for Judkins, the nation's No. 36 running back per Rivals.com, more than a year ago. At the time, former position coach Jay Harbaugh evaluated Judkins and decided to jump in the mix early on. However, a lot has changed since then. Harbaugh moved to tight ends, and ex-Wolverine Mike Hart took over running backs after joining the U-M staff this offseason. While there was a bit of a communication lag, Hart and the 6-0, 201-pound Judkins are now quickly building a connection. "I've been talking to him more lately," Judkins said. "He talked to me about how he moved in and wants to build a good relationship with me. I feel like he's a great person. He played running back at the Univer- sity of Michigan. He told me about the history he had there. He thinks I can do the same thing he did." Strong academically, Judkins added that he loves Michigan's blend of top-level football and education. "Michigan is a great school," he said. "They are definitely high up on the list. Ever since Jay Harbaugh of- fered me, I've had interest in Michi- gan. I like what coach Jim Harbaugh stands for. I like the Michigan cul- ture and the education. I can't wait to go out there and see how they play ball." Judkins does not have any official visits scheduled but added that a trip to Ann Arbor could definitely be in the cards. Judkins hopes to make a decision at some point this fall. ❑ Pike Road (Ala.) High's Quinshon Judkins, the No. 36 running back nationally per Rivals.com, listed a top seven of Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State and Yale. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM On The Web For regular reports on Michigan football recruiting plus videos of U-M commitments and targets visit TheWolverine.com.