The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
W I D E R E C E I V E R S 58 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW work is put in, in the offseason," Karsch commented. "They're going to have to grow up quickly." Bell is one to watch when he does grow in experience, Campbell cautioned. "His development this spring was out- standing," Campbell said. "He's a play- maker, and he can go get the football. He probably has the biggest catch radius of our receiver room. He was more raw at the receiver position than Ronnie was coming in. He's probably a year behind Ronnie but excited. He's got a high, high ceiling. He's going to have a great career at Michigan." O'Leary did manage a pair of catches for 13 yards and 1 touchdown last sea- son. As for Charleston, he'll be look- ing to build upon a solid final year at Youngstown State. He finished third on his team in receiv- ing last year, making 33 catches for 503 yards and 4 touchdowns. He set a sea- son high with 6 catches for 119 yards in Youngstown State's 48-28 victory over Robert Morris. Charleston also made 3 catches for 18 yards in a loss to Michigan State. Walker, meanwhile, has made 1 catch for Michigan, a 4-yard grab against Con- necticut in 2022. The Wolverines are counting on his size, speed and mobility to make a difference for them in his re- turn to The Big House. The search for depth may not be over, either. Campbell noted he's looking to construct a dynamic, explosive offense and pays little heed to the fact that he'll be doing so with those serving backup roles to the 2023 starters. He insists it's their time, and they wholeheartedly concur. For the receivers, it comes down to production, and who among them can rise up when the pads go on again. ❑ [FYI] ❱ According to Pro Football Focus, leading receiver Roman Wilson (48 catches, 789 yards, 12 touchdowns) was targeted 67 times last season, just ahead of Cornelius Johnson, who was targeted 66 times (47 receptions, 604 yards, 1 touchdown), with each of their target totals being higher than U-M's returning wideouts combined. Sophomore Semaj Morgan (27), junior Tyler Morris (21), sophomore Fredrick Moore (6) and senior Peyton O'Leary (2) totaled 56 targets for the year. ❱ Morgan averaged 7.1 yards after the catch per reception last season, ranking second in the Big Ten among wide receivers who reeled in 20 or more catches. His 2.72 yards per route run also checked in second in the league. Eighteen of Morgan's 22 receptions came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. ❱ Morris saw 8 of his 13 receptions and 135 of his 197 receiving yards come on third down in 2023. His lone touchdown of the year came on a third-and-10 play to put Michigan up 13-7 in the Rose Bowl against Alabama, a 38-yard connection that stood as one of 15 U-M passing plays of 30-plus yards on the season. ❱ The highest reception count by a U-M wideout under head coach Jim Harbaugh (2015-23) was 62 by Ronnie Bell in 2022. Prior to that, Michigan didn't have a wideout surpass the 60-catch mark in a season since Devin Funchess in 2014 (62). QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Ron Bellamy (3rd year; 4th year at U-M) Returning Starters: None Departing Starters: Cornelius Johnson (44 ca- reer starts), Roman Wilson (23) Projected New Starters: Tyler Morris (4), Fred- rick Moore, Semaj Morgan Top Reserves: Peyton O'Leary, Kendrick Bell, Amorion Walker, C.J. Charleston (23 at Youngstown State) Wait Until 2025: Channing Goodwin, I'Marion Stewart Newcomers: Charleston, Goodwin, Stewart Rookie Impact: Stewart Most Improved Player: Moore Best Pro Prospect: Morris ❱ ❱ X-FACTOR X-FACTOR Sophomore FREDRICK MOORE is one of the fastest players on the team, and he's shown flashes of brilliance as a pass catcher and weapon with the ball in his hands in each of the last two spring games. He had 2 catches for 76 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown, to lead the Maize squad to a 17-7 win in 2024. The Wolverines have snaps and targets up for grabs this fall, and he could command a good number of them. Fredrick Moore had 2 catch- es for 76 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown, in the 2024 spring game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL