Could Morgan be Michigan’s new WR1?
With the departure of Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson to the NFL Draft , the Michigan Wolverines will be looking to replace 1,393 yards, 95 receptions and 13 touchdowns from their 2023 offense.
Many receivers are hoping to take on more work, but one of the top options is sophomore Semaj Morgan. He stood out as a true freshman last season and is primed to be one of the top pass-catching options this fall.
The story so far
Morgan was a member of the West Bloomfield-to-Michigan pipeline that grew tremendously while Jim Harbaugh was in Ann Arbor. As the No. 11 player in the state of Michigan and the No. 484 overall player in his class, some were surprised how quickly he made a name for himself at the collegiate level.
In Aug. 2023, Sherrone Moore expressed how excited he was for the true freshmen receivers.
“These young freshmen, they’re just making plays. Fred Moore, Karmello English, Semaj Morgan — those guys are extremely explosive, and they’re just making plays day by day.”
Next thing you know, Morgan was making an impression on the field. He scored his first touchdown in the Big Ten opener against Rutgers . A few weeks later, he found the end zone again in one of the most impressive plays of the season:
Semaj Morgan recently announced he will wear 0️⃣ this fall.
The @UMichFootball WR scored four TDs as a freshman, including this highlight vs. Indiana. #TouchdownTuesday x #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/OfKI2xS9tG
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) June 18, 2024
Morgan continued to make the most out of his opportunities and started earning more snaps because of it. By midseason, he started getting carries on jet sweeps, including a 44-yard touchdown run against Purdue:
Semaj Morgan is going to be a problem for opponents next year pic.twitter.com/UM2XvVZQA1
— Swanky Wolverine (@swankywolverine) March 8, 2024
By season’s end, Morgan had four total touchdowns, and the third-most receptions (22) and receiving yards (204) among Michigan wide receivers. He was given an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media.
Outlook moving forward
Morgan and Tyler Morris are the two favorites to be the team’s leading wide receiver in 2024. The pair, along with Fred Moore, will likely see a bulk of the playing time at the position. However, Youngstown State transfer C.J. Charleston and Amorion Walker will also compete for targets in the rotation. Plus, tight end Colston Loveland is still around and is a huge weapon as well.
At 5-foot-10, Morgan is not the biggest receiver, but he makes up for it with his dynamic playmaking skills. Expect to see a lot of motion from both him and Morris in new offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell’s offense.
Morgan will also likely continue returning kicks and punts. He performed rather well doing both in 2023, highlighted by an 87-yard punt return in the Big Ten Championship against Iowa.
He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, so expect Morgan to take a step forward as a second-year player.