- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 441,634
- Reaction score
- 44
Any time a position group goes through a season like Michigan football’s wide receivers did in 2024, there’s often one inevitable silver lining: the only way to go is up.
Wolverines wideouts had perhaps the least productive season for the position group in Ann Arbor at any point in the modern era. Not a single player in the group had even 250 receiving yards — juxtaposed across a 13-game season that would’ve only been an average of just 19.2 yards per game − or had more than two touchdowns.
The one who came closest, Tyler Morris, had just 248 yards and two scores, but he transferred to Indiana this offseason (and unfortunately for him just suffered a season-ending injury earlier this spring.)
The next leader in the clubhouse was Semaj Morgan, who entered last year with notable fanfare after an impressive freshman year, but took a step back in 2024. He led all wideouts with 27 catches, but managed just 139 yards and one score. Take out the 31-yard touchdown catch against Texas’ backups in mop up time, and it was 26 grabs for 108 yards − or just 4.2 yards per reception.
Outside of that, only Fredrick Moore (11 grabs for 128 yards) and Peyton O’Leary (10 grabs for 102 yards) amassed even 100 yards and frankly, that only happened because of others opting out of the bowl game (like Morris) which provided opportunity for both to cross the threshold. Moore led the team with three catches and 37 yards, O'Leary had one catch for seven yards.
LOTS OF BEEF: Michigan football reloading on defensive line with 'really, really big' guys
In case it’s not clear, the wide receiver group is perhaps at the top of the list for those who need to step up in 2025.
“I mean yeah, we could've produced more,” Moore said Wednesday afternoon inside Schembechler Hall. “We did our part, executed everything we could to the best of our ability. But going into spring cycle we just learned a new offense, getting more detailed, fine tuning stuff, having fun and knowing our why every day we come to practice.”
To be clear, the Wolverines did their best to revamp the room since the 2024 season came to a close.
They added four-star freshman Andrew Marsh from Texas — the highest-rated receiver to commit to U-M out of high school since Donovan Peoples Jones in 2017 — as well as three-star Jamar Browder and also earned a pledge in the transfer portal from Donaven McCulley, the former Indiana quarterback turned wideout.
McCulley redshirted last year, but was productive in 2023, putting up 48 receptions for 644 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. He too spoke Wednesday and was not phased by the idea of U-M wideouts not putting up massive numbers last year.
“They kind of showed me what they wanted to do in the passing game, he said. “Bringing in coach (offensive coordinator Chip) Lindsey, that helped a lot. Bringing in quarterbacks, got guys who can really throw the ball, so I think that really helped me make the decision."
Make no mistake, the room is still relatively young. It's counting on players like Kendrick Bell, who had seven catches for 70 yards as a freshman, to take the next step. Same with perhaps someone like a Channing Goodwin or who even Amorion Walker, who's bounced back and forth between offense and defense for years and even left for a spring for Ole Miss before coming back to Ann Arbor.
But make no mistake, the featured wideout in this offense figures to be McCulley, who already has lofty goals for himself, including leading the Big Ten in receiving, amassing at least 1,000 yards and grabbing 10 touchdowns.
But while the 6-foot-5, 205-pound pass catcher does have designs on a big season, he knows well about Michigan's "no block, no rock" mantra for wide outs and tight ends and said physicality is one of his favorite aspects of the game.
"It really helps me settle into the game," McCulley said. "I can make a block and we can score a 70-yard touchdown and that's going to make me equally happy."
Yes, there's still going to be plenty of running in Ann Arbor. Head coach Sherrone Moore's mentality is similar to that of his predecessor Jim Harbaugh where the run is intended to set up the pass, but this will be more in line with modern day offenses in both the NFL and NCAA.
There will be motions, there will be play action and there will be deep shots down field. That's what both McCulley and Fredrick Moore said this week, which echoes sentiments that have been left like a trail of breadcrumbs, from people like offensive line coach Grant Newsome, running back Justice Haynes and offensive lineman Gio El-Hadi.
With new quarterbacks and a new offensive approach, the hope is that Michigan's trip to the bottom of the power conferences in the country in passing offense − the Wolverines' 130.8 yards through the air last season was only better than the three military academies (Army, Air Force and Navy) − will be short lived.
"Every season is opportunity for a reset," Moore said. "Chip, he is a running back friendly coach and a wide receiver friendly coach. We should be more balanced, get more opportunities downfield and more opportunities off play action and stuff like that. So it should be an exciting season."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New-look Michigan football WR room ready to turn heads in 2025
Continue reading...
Wolverines wideouts had perhaps the least productive season for the position group in Ann Arbor at any point in the modern era. Not a single player in the group had even 250 receiving yards — juxtaposed across a 13-game season that would’ve only been an average of just 19.2 yards per game − or had more than two touchdowns.
The one who came closest, Tyler Morris, had just 248 yards and two scores, but he transferred to Indiana this offseason (and unfortunately for him just suffered a season-ending injury earlier this spring.)
The next leader in the clubhouse was Semaj Morgan, who entered last year with notable fanfare after an impressive freshman year, but took a step back in 2024. He led all wideouts with 27 catches, but managed just 139 yards and one score. Take out the 31-yard touchdown catch against Texas’ backups in mop up time, and it was 26 grabs for 108 yards − or just 4.2 yards per reception.
You must be registered for see images attach
Outside of that, only Fredrick Moore (11 grabs for 128 yards) and Peyton O’Leary (10 grabs for 102 yards) amassed even 100 yards and frankly, that only happened because of others opting out of the bowl game (like Morris) which provided opportunity for both to cross the threshold. Moore led the team with three catches and 37 yards, O'Leary had one catch for seven yards.
LOTS OF BEEF: Michigan football reloading on defensive line with 'really, really big' guys
In case it’s not clear, the wide receiver group is perhaps at the top of the list for those who need to step up in 2025.
“I mean yeah, we could've produced more,” Moore said Wednesday afternoon inside Schembechler Hall. “We did our part, executed everything we could to the best of our ability. But going into spring cycle we just learned a new offense, getting more detailed, fine tuning stuff, having fun and knowing our why every day we come to practice.”
To be clear, the Wolverines did their best to revamp the room since the 2024 season came to a close.
They added four-star freshman Andrew Marsh from Texas — the highest-rated receiver to commit to U-M out of high school since Donovan Peoples Jones in 2017 — as well as three-star Jamar Browder and also earned a pledge in the transfer portal from Donaven McCulley, the former Indiana quarterback turned wideout.
You must be registered for see images attach
McCulley redshirted last year, but was productive in 2023, putting up 48 receptions for 644 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. He too spoke Wednesday and was not phased by the idea of U-M wideouts not putting up massive numbers last year.
“They kind of showed me what they wanted to do in the passing game, he said. “Bringing in coach (offensive coordinator Chip) Lindsey, that helped a lot. Bringing in quarterbacks, got guys who can really throw the ball, so I think that really helped me make the decision."
Make no mistake, the room is still relatively young. It's counting on players like Kendrick Bell, who had seven catches for 70 yards as a freshman, to take the next step. Same with perhaps someone like a Channing Goodwin or who even Amorion Walker, who's bounced back and forth between offense and defense for years and even left for a spring for Ole Miss before coming back to Ann Arbor.
But make no mistake, the featured wideout in this offense figures to be McCulley, who already has lofty goals for himself, including leading the Big Ten in receiving, amassing at least 1,000 yards and grabbing 10 touchdowns.
But while the 6-foot-5, 205-pound pass catcher does have designs on a big season, he knows well about Michigan's "no block, no rock" mantra for wide outs and tight ends and said physicality is one of his favorite aspects of the game.
"It really helps me settle into the game," McCulley said. "I can make a block and we can score a 70-yard touchdown and that's going to make me equally happy."
Yes, there's still going to be plenty of running in Ann Arbor. Head coach Sherrone Moore's mentality is similar to that of his predecessor Jim Harbaugh where the run is intended to set up the pass, but this will be more in line with modern day offenses in both the NFL and NCAA.
There will be motions, there will be play action and there will be deep shots down field. That's what both McCulley and Fredrick Moore said this week, which echoes sentiments that have been left like a trail of breadcrumbs, from people like offensive line coach Grant Newsome, running back Justice Haynes and offensive lineman Gio El-Hadi.
With new quarterbacks and a new offensive approach, the hope is that Michigan's trip to the bottom of the power conferences in the country in passing offense − the Wolverines' 130.8 yards through the air last season was only better than the three military academies (Army, Air Force and Navy) − will be short lived.
"Every season is opportunity for a reset," Moore said. "Chip, he is a running back friendly coach and a wide receiver friendly coach. We should be more balanced, get more opportunities downfield and more opportunities off play action and stuff like that. So it should be an exciting season."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New-look Michigan football WR room ready to turn heads in 2025
Continue reading...
