Latest buzz: Michigan football freshmen turning into rising stars

This year’s Michigan football freshmen have been the talk of the town since spring ball and fall camp gave the coaching staff its first look at what they can do. Heading into the 2023 season, which kicks off this weekend against ECU, three freshman wide receivers are garnering tons of hype; today, wideouts coach Ron Bellamy added to the hype surrounding the impact that these freshmen can make for the Maize and Blue.

Michigan football freshmen continue to garner high praise

Two of the Wolverines’ top wide receivers are injured right now: Tyler Morris and Peyton O’Leary. Morris, who was a projected starter, and O’Leary, who stood out in the spring game, are likely to see limited (if any) reps throughout the first few weeks in order to get back to 100%. Because of this, some Michigan football freshmen may have a massive opportunity coming up.

“We did have some guys down,” Ron Bellamy explained. “But we’re not saying, ‘Oh, these are freshmen.’ They went out there and executed things. And it’s been great. It’s been great to watch those guys … We know being a freshman comes with mistakes, but, uh, those guys are, you know, they strive to be perfectionists. Day in and day out, those guys say, ‘Just give me more. I want more. Feed me more.’ They are texting late at night, asking for more information. Those are the qualities of a champion.”

Freshman wide receivers to watch this weekend

Semaj Morgan, Fredrick Moore, and Karmello English are three Michigan football freshmen to watch throughout the coming season. This weekend, it is expected that JJ McCarthy will get a lot of chances to throw (since QB coach Kirk Campbell is calling plays), which means this freshman trio may stand out among the game’s top performers. While wideouts like Roman Wilson have been hyping these freshmen up, wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy took the time to add to the hype.

“What I love about them (the Michigan football freshmen) is they love football,” Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy said. “And I love their approach to the way they attack football every day. All three of them came from great high school football programs. Those guys understand the commitment to success … They understand and show up every day. You learn, and then you try to learn from the mistakes that you’ve made. Every day you see growth. And that’s what’s super encouraging as a coach. They have the trust of the coaches and the players. They’re still young, but every week, every day, every opportunity they have, just keep building their confidence up and let it roll.”

Another fast riser for the Wolverines

Don’t forget about Darrius Clemons, another young rising wide receiver, who has also been impressive thus far.

“Darrius is doing a good job as well,” Bellamy continued. “I think everyone’s just excited. The freshmen had a good camp, and those guys probably played a little bit more than some of the other guys. Some of the other guys had little things that they were working through … But I think that was just a little excitement like, ‘Whoa, the freshmen are off to a good start.’ D.C. has done a fantastic job coming back, and he’s ready to roll.”