As fans and media members predict the success of the Michigan Wolverines in 2024, much of the discussion revolves around the return of veteran players such as Donovan Edwards, Colston Loveland, Will Johnson, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. While this group of players will undoubtedly be essential to Michigan defending its status as the reigning national champions, the truth is that the Wolverines need their younger players to step up as well.
Here are four sophomores who are poised to break out in 2024.
Semaj Morgan, WR
You could argue that Morgan's breakout season came as a freshman in 2023, when he finished fifth on the team in receptions (22), sixth in receiving yards (204) and third in receiving touchdowns (2). But for anyone who followed his performance last season, it's clear that his potential is much higher. The Wolverines lost two of their top wide receivers to the NFL Draft during the offseason (Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson), and Michigan's offense needs a young wide receiver to take a big step forward in 2024 for it to be successful across the board. You could put Semaj Morgan at the top of that list.
Frederick Moore, WR
Speaking of young wide receivers who need to step up in 2024, Frederick Moore was another player that was talked about in the spring. Nearly every coach and player who took to the stage during spring media availability named Moore as a player to watch. [Cleveland Browns and former Alabama receiver] “Jerry Jeudy,” Semaj Morgan said, “is a great route runner. He'll catch the ball. And he tracks great too.” [the ball]The same goes for , . Ultimately, the stats will tell the whole story, but Frederick Moore looks set to have a big year in his second season.
Jair Hill, David
Jair Hill was another name that was mentioned frequently during spring training. Hill appeared in four games as a freshman at defensive back for the Wolverines, earning Defensive Freshman of the Week honors for his performances against ECU and Nebraska. Michigan used the transfer portal to add four veterans to its secondary, but it's hard to imagine a scenario in which Hill doesn't play a key role on defense this fall.
Enou Etta, DL/EDGE
Though he was recruited as an EDGE prospect, Enou Etta has seen most of his time play on the interior of the defensive line these days due to his size and strength. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant obviously see a lot of practice in big games, but the Michigan defense also likes to rotate players as much as possible to keep everyone fresh. The ability to rotate players was one of the biggest reasons the Wolverines were so dominant defensively in 2023, and Etta will likely be a big part of the rotation in 2024.
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