The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 CAMERON CALHOUN CB ★★★ Transferred to Utah this offseason. He saw action in two outings in 2023. NATHAN EFOBI OL ★★★ Vying for a backup role at guard this fall, Efobi did not play in any games a year ago. KARMELLO ENGLISH WR ★★★★ The Phenix City, Ala., native left U-M for West Georgia — which competes in the FCS — this summer. His new school is less than 100 miles from his hometown. English caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and appeared in six contests in 2023. ENOW ETTA DT ★★★★ Moved from edge to the interior of the defensive line this spring and is in the mix to enter the rotation this campaign. He saw action in three games last season, notching 1 tackle. BENJAMIN HALL RB ★★★ Registered 15 carries for 69 yards and caught 1 pass for no gain in three games as a freshman. Head coach Sherrone Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell have mentioned him as a contender to earn playing time behind senior Donovan Edwards and graduate Kalel Mullings. AMIR HERRING OL ★★★★ The West Bloomfield (Mich.) High product left U-M for Kansas following spring practices. The guard saw time in one tilt in 2023. JASON HEWLETT LB ★★★ Did not see the field in any games last season. JYAIRE HILL CB ★★★★ Appeared in four games and notched 8 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, as a fresh- man. He entered fall camp as the leader at the starting cornerback position on the opposite side of the field to junior Will Johnson. BRANDYN HILLMAN S ★★★★ Burned his redshirt by competing in nine outings last season, recording 2 tackles. He's competing with several vet- erans for playing time at safety. BREEON ISHMAIL EDGE ★★★ Did not make any game appearances as a freshman. AYMERIC KOUMBA EDGE ★★★ Appeared in one contest last season. EVAN LINK OL ★★★★ In the mix to add depth at tackle this season, Link sat behind a plethora of ex- perienced linemen a year ago and did not get in any games. ZACK MARSHALL TE ★★★ Logged snaps in two games a year ago. FREDRICK MOORE WR ★★★ Played in 13 games and caught 4 passes for 32 yards last fall. The 6-foot-1, 181-pounder is competing for a starting job during fall camp and is slated to play a prominent role on the offense. HAYDEN MOORE LB ★★★ Moore failed to see the field last fall and subsequently transferred to Washington. SEMAJ MORGAN WR ★★★ An honorable mention All-Big Ten standout per the coaches and media, Morgan appeared in all 15 games last season. He reeled in 22 catches for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushed 4 times for 67 yards and 2 scores. He also returned kicks (12 for 186 yards) and 3 punts for 101 yards, including an 87-yarder in the Big Ten championship game against Iowa. He's in line to start this year. TREY PIERCE III DT ★★★ Saw time in 13 outings last season, recording 2 tackles, and was praised by former position coach Mike Elston as one to watch in the future. He missed the spring game with an injury but has practiced during fall camp and could factor into the two-deep this year. ADAM SAMAHA K ★★★ Made an extra point against Indiana in his lone appearance as a freshman. He was the No. 1 kicker in the spring and is now battling with junior Dominic Zvada, an Arkansas State transfer who joined the team this summer. DEAKON TONIELLI TE ★★★★ Didn't see game action last season. DJ WALLER JR. CB ★★★ Was set to vie for a top cornerback job this season, prior to transferring to Ken- tucky, where he's projected to start. He played in 11 games and made 12 tackles with 1 pass breakup for the Maize and Blue in 2023. ❏ * On3 Industry Ranking REPORT CARD Players In Class: 25 On3 Consensus Team Ranking: 18th Players Still At Michigan: 19 Michigan missed on some of its top targets in the 2023 class during the recruiting pro- cess, leading to the lower-than-usual ranking. This group has potential, but it unusually saw six players transfer out after their freshman seasons. TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE WR Semaj Morgan: The fast and quick slot receiver, jet sweep specialist and return man was a spark plug for Michigan last season, with all 4 of his touchdowns coming at crucial points in Big Ten games. He was third among U-M wideouts with 22 receptions and 204 receiving yards and second among the same group with his 2 touchdown catches. UNSUNG HERO RB Benjamin Hall: He ran 13 times for 96 yards and a touchdown in Michigan's 2023 spring game, coming seemingly out of nowhere as an early enrollee freshman who was overlooked as a prep pros- pect. During the 2023 season, though, Hall was buried behind Blake Corum, Michigan's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, senior Donovan Edwards and graduate Kalel Mullings — all of whom stayed relatively healthy throughout the year. That limited his opportunities. The 5-foot-11, 235-pounder was ready when his number was called, though, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and notching first downs on 4 of his 15 rushes. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL CB Jyaire Hill: The No. 166 overall recruit in the class and Michigan's second-highest-rated commit per the On3 Industry Ranking — behind only edge Enow Etta (No. 123) — Hill is primed to break out this fall. He entered camp on top of the depth chart and will have to fend off graduate Aamir Hall, an Albany transfer, and others, but coaches and teammates have raved about his abilities. He's also said to have gained a better understanding of the defense in Year 2. C-