Four sophomores ready for a groundbreaking season

As fans and media try to predict the success of the Michigan Wolverines in 2024, much of the discussion revolves around the returning veteran talent – guys like Donovan Edwards, Colston Loveland, Will Johnson, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. While this group of guys is certainly crucial to Michigan’s hopes of defending its current status as reigning national champions, the truth is that the Wolverines will need big performances from some of the younger guys on the roster as well.

Here are four sophomores who are ready for a breakthrough season in 2024:

Semaj Morgan, WR

One could argue that Morgan’s breakout year came in his freshman year in 2023, when he ranked 5th on the team in receptions (22), 6th in receiving yards (204), and 3rd in receiving touchdowns (2). But for those who closely followed his performance last season, it’s clear that his potential is much, much higher. The Wolverines lost their two best wideouts to the NFL Draft during the offseason (Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson), and the overall success of the Michigan offense will require some of the younger wideouts to take a big step forward in 2024. You can put Semaj Morgan at the top of that list.

Frederick Moore, WR

Speaking of young wideouts who will have to perform in 2024, Fredrick Moore is another player who was talked about a lot in the spring. Almost every coach and player who took the podium during the spring media presence highlighted Moore as a player to keep an eye on. “Fredrick Moore, I would say he’s like (Cleveland Browns and former Alabama receiver) Jerry Jeudy,” Semaj Morgan said. “He’s a great route runner. He’ll catch the ball. And he can track (the ball) well, too. The stats will ultimately speak for themselves, but it definitely sounds like Fredrick Moore is on the verge of a big sophomore season.

Jyaire Hill, DB

Jyaire Hill is another player whose name has been mentioned frequently throughout spring ball. As a freshman, Hill made four starts at defensive back for the Wolverines and was named Defensive Freshman of the Week for his performances against ECU and Nebraska. Although Michigan has signed four veterans to bolster the secondary, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Hill doesn’t play a significant role on defense this fall.

Enow Etta, DL/EDGE

He was recruited as an EDGE candidate, but the combination of Enow Etta’s size and strength means he plays most of his time inside the defensive line these days. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant will obviously get the lion’s share of action in big games, but Michigan’s defense also likes to rotate players as often as possible to keep everyone fresh. This ability to rotate players without a drop-off in performance is one of the main reasons the Wolverines were so dominant on defense in 2023, and it’s very likely that Etta will be a key part of the rotation in 2024.

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