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Friday, August 30, 2024

2024 Season Countdown: #16 Semaj Morgan

 

Semaj Morgan (image via MLive)

Name: Semaj Morgan
Height: 
5’10”
Weight: 
174 lbs.
High school: 
West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield
Position: 
Wide receiver
Class: 
Sophomore
Jersey number: 
#0
Last year:
 I ranked Morgan #68 and said he would be a backup wide receiver (LINK). He caught 22 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns; ran 4 times for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns; returned 12 kickoffs for 186 yards; and returned 3 punts for 101 yards.
TTB Rating:
 76

Semaj Morgan was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the 2023 season. Coming in as a receiver who's a little undersized without the most impressive athletic profile, it wasn't clear if he could carve out a role as a freshman. After all, he was a 3-star, the #70 wide receiver, and #501 overall in the 247 Composite. But he turned out to be one of Michigan's most exciting players overall. He broke off an 87-yard punt return against Iowa that would have gone for a touchdown if not for an outstanding chase down tackle by an Iowa safety. He caught a short pass against Indiana where he looked to be 100% cornered . . . and then he bobbed and weaved and found the end zone. Altogether, he was more elusive and creative with the ball than I expected.

Even though I think Tyler Morris will catch more passes than any other receiver, I'm ranking Morgan ahead of Morris. Overall, I think Morgan offers a variety of skills (receiving, rushing, returning) that other receivers on this squad don't have. The coaches seem to be pretty high on him, too, because they rewarded him with the #0 jersey for this season. I still have questions about whether Morgan can become a downfield threat and/or win jump balls this year like Jeremy Gallon, another short-ish receiver, used to do. But whether it's returning a punt, running a jet sweep, catching a screen, or turning a hitch into a 40-yard gain by forcing missed tackles, I think Morgan is going to be a dynamic player in 2024.

Prediction: Starting wide receiver; 33 catches for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns

2 comments:

  1. On the Indiana TD, Morgan won my fandom. Dude was a bulldozer ... tiny, but no Hoosier was bringing him down. Harball type play

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  2. Semaj is a proven playmaker. But not a proven WR.

    I have Morris as the clear WR1 because I think he'll be the go-to on 3rd downs but I love the optimism on Morgan and agree he'll be a dynamic player in many facets of the game. Love his toughness. The short WRs often don't get enough attention because of eye tests but Morgan's freshman season was incredibly impressive.

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