Rising sophomore wide receiver Karmello English is no longer a part of Michigan's football program and is headed to the transfer portal. English played in six games last season. He caught 1 pass for a 4-yard touchdown and returned 1 punt for 8 yards.
English was a 4-star, the #26 wide receiver, and #189 overall in the class of 2023. I gave him a TTB Rating of 82 (LINK).
English was the highest rated of Michigan's three wide receivers in 2023 (four if you include QB-turned-WR Kendrick Bell), but he was very clearly the lowest on the depth chart (except for Bell). Fellow freshman Semaj Morgan became a key component of the offense down the stretch, and classmate Frederick Moore played quite a bit as well. Meanwhile, English played in just six games, none of them after October. Perhaps the depth chart was an issue, and perhaps English just wants to play closer to home.
Michigan lost two receivers to the NFL this off-season (Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson) and isn't bringing in any game-ready prospects in 2024, so I assume the Wolverines will be in the market for a receiver or two via the transfer portal. Channing Goodwin and I'Marion Stewart are both solid prospects, but neither one is expected to be an immediate star. While Tyler Morris and Morgan have both shown promise, the receiving corps is made up of mostly small wideouts who are short and intermediate targets, but the downfield speed and size are somewhat lacking with this roster.
English is the second member of the 2023 class to depart, following cornerback Cam Calhoun, who transferred to Utah.
We've lost Anthony, Walker & Clemons, and now English. Only Anthony showed immediate promise, but combined that's a lot of loss in potential, development & contribution. Perhaps the Run First Run Often, then throw to one of three TEs on the field is discouraging to sit around & wait for, but I'm interested who MICHIGAN will be able to entice out of the portal, given the lack of proven QB for 2o24 ...
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping we can get a QB who drags along a WR buddy with him
Hard to worry too much about WR at the moment with Morris/Moore/Morgan looking like promising options.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the new reality in college football makes it hard to take a high school commitment too seriously. Even when we "win" a recruiting battle like we did with English, that guy can be gone after 1 season. Even when there is plenty of opportunity in front of him with all the veteran departures from the position group... It is what it is. Many guys are just going to be stopping in and passing through.
" downfield speed and size are somewhat lacking with this roster."
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement.
The first part is a talent issue. Michigan has been able to recruit WRs with track speed from DPJ to Roman Wilson to Amorian Walker but only Wilson stuck through to his senior year. Unless we get a development surprise from one of the younger guys or a portal addition that seems like a missing piece for the offense to be able to threaten defenses with. Of course speed isn't everything -- Jeremy Gallon and Braylon Edwards weren't even the fastest WRs on their own teams.
The size thing I think is pretty much irrelevant. Michigan has big receiving targets on the field at TE. Michigan used our one "big" WR, Cornelius Johnson, mostly as a possession guy last year - which is a role that Morris can replace. Morgan is very strong and physical despite being short and brings some of that Gallon energy when it comes to catching contested balls. Gallon was arguably one of the top jump ball catchers in the last decade and Michigan seems comfortable throwing it to Morgan in contested situations already. I'd expect him to expand beyond his mostly slot-heavy role in 2023 to a more DPJ/Bell role where he is moved around in 2024.