The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2024 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan's third new coordinator in 2024 comes in the form of J.B. Brown, who takes over the special teams phase of the game from Jay Harbaugh, who departed Ann Arbor to take the same job with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks on Mike Macdonald's staff. Brown spent the last three seasons as an analyst and advisor for the U-M spe- cial teams. In that time, the group ranked third, second and 27th nationally in spe- cial teams FEI, which is an opponent- adjusted efficiency rating. His bread and butter has been in helping plan the kick- ing and kick coverage aspects of the game. "Coach Brown has an outstanding mind for special teams and knows how we want to attack that phase of the game," head coach Sherrone Moore said. "He has been a key factor in our special teams success, and he will help us continue to be a leader in this important aspect of the game. I am glad to keep J.B., his wife Jessica and their family here in Ann Arbor and part of the Michigan football program." Brown said: "I am excited for this op- portunity and grateful to Coach Moore. Having been in meetings and at practice the last three seasons, I know how we want to run our special teams units, and I will ensure we are an aggressive group capable of making plays that set up our offense and defense for success. I cannot wait to get working more actively with our players and to get to work for an out- standing set of spring practices." Michigan's special teams should have a mixture of familiar names and players rising up into bigger roles this season. The kicking game is headlined by the re- turn of senior punter Tommy Doman, who punted, kicked off and held for kicks in all 15 games. He totaled 2,346 yards on 53 punts (44.3 average) with a long of 71 yards. He also forced 26 fair catches and downed 18 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. On 99 kickoff attempts, he booted through 68 touchbacks (68.7 percent). Doman's play last season earned him third-team All-Big Ten recognition from the coaches and an honorable mention nod from the media. After three years of upperclassman- heavy kicking with Jake Moody and James Turner, Michigan enters spring camp with a bit of a youth movement at the position. Ypsilanti native Adam Sa- maha should get the first crack at the job after appearing in one game last season, kicking the final extra point of the 52-7 win over Indiana on Oct. 14. Michigan unleashed wide receiver Semaj Morgan in the return game last year, and he racked up 287 return yards and grabbed All-Big Ten honorable men- tion honors as a true freshman. Wide receivers Tyler Morris and Karmello English and running back Kalel Mullings could be in line for expanded return du- ties. Freshman receiver I'Marion Stew- art could also compete as a return man, but he won't arrive on campus until the summer. William Wagner has an additional year of eligibility at long snapper in addition to Greg Tarr, who filled in when Wagner was injured during the 2022 season. ❑ SPECIALISTS Special Teams Break In A New Coach And Starting Kicker ❱ AT A GLANCE Position Coach: J.B. Brown (first season) Returning Starters: P Tommy Doman (Sr.), KR/PR Semaj Morgan (So.), LS William Wagner (Gr.) Departing Starter: K James Turner Contenders To Start: K Adam Samaha (So.), KR/PR Tyler Morris (Jr.) Top Reserves: KR/PR Karmello English (So.), KR Kalel Mullings (Gr.) Newcomer: I'Marion Stewart (Fr.) Senior Tommy Doman averaged 44.3 yards per punt last season, earning third-team All-Big Ten rec- ognition from the coaches. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL