Morris Looking to Step Up with Wolverines' Starting Receivers Off to NFL
McCarthy's special 38-yard TD pass to Morris in Rose Bowl recalled as spring practice begins in Ann Arbor
Photos Courtesy of Rose Bowl Game
Michigan receiver Tyler Morris ran by Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson (No. 32) before eluding defensive back Jaylen Key’s (No. 6) tackle attempt to score a 38-yard touchdown in the Rose Bowl.
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Tyler Morris couldn’t have picked a more memorable place and time to score his first touchdown for the Wolverines.
His 38-yard scoring play against Alabama in the Rose Bowl was a thing of beauty, grace and determination.
“Honestly, I think it was perfect timing,” said Morris. “It was the biggest game of the year and arguably in Michigan history…In the Rose Bowl, there’s going to be a million people watching.”
Morris caught the pass from J.J. McCarthy – his high school teammate for two seasons at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Ill. – between the right hashmarks and sideline, and raced to the right sideline. He out-ran linebacker Deontae Lawson and turned the corner at about the 20-yard line, keeping his feet inbounds by inches at times, grass kicking up off his cleats.
His arms churned as he drew a bead on the corner of the end zone. Defensive back Jaylen Key grabbed his left shoulder pad just before the goal line, slinging Morris down and into the bright orange pylon.
Morris put his arms around the pylon while keeping both hands on the pigskin, cradling both as he reached his appointed destination. The official thrust both arms high, signaling the touchdown that gave Michigan a 13-7 lead in a game it won in overtime, 27-20, to advance to the national championship game.
Morris had been impressive during the season as a sophomore reserve who made four starts. He had 13 catches for 197 yards, but made a real statement with that huge play.
He showed he was a gamer, and somebody who could play a big role in 2024 with starters Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson off to the NFL. Spring football, which began Monday, will provide an opportunity to make his case for big-time playing time with new offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell – who is well aware of Morris after serving as the Wolverines’ quarterbacks coach last year.
McCarthy, his old buddy, elected to enter the NFL Draft after a sterling junior season. But they’ll always have that Rose Bowl touchdown to cherish.
“I mean -- just to look back at it – we’ve known each other since we were 13 or 14,” said Morris. “The first time we got a touchdown in college it was special.”
McCarthy raced to the end zone after connecting with Morris and they got facemask to facemask while congratulating one another after one of the biggest plays in the “Granddaddy of Them All.” It came on third-and-10 at a spot where an incompletion likely would’ve brought a 55-yard field goal attempt or, perhaps, a punt.
While running the route, he knew he had single coverage with Lawson, a linebacker who couldn’t keep up with him.
Morris and McCarthy met for the first time at Nazareth Academy – where Morris, one year behind McCarthy, was considering attending.
“When I was in eighth grade, they had a program where you could shadow somebody [the year before beginning high school],” said Morris. “The guy I was supposed to go with was sick. So, I got put with J.J. I didn’t know who he was or nothing like that.
“I spent the day with him and he was cool. He seemed normal. Then kids were coming up to me, saying ‘Do you know who he is?’ Somebody showed me some [recruiting] rankings where he was No. 2. I figured No. 2 in the state. But, no, it was for the whole country!”
A friendship was quickly forged.
“He started trying to get me to come to the school,” Morris said of McCarthy. “That spring, we played seven-on-seven [games] together, and by that point I knew I was going to Naz.”
They teamed up at “Naz” on two teams that both went 13-1. They won the Illinois 7A State championship in 2018 and finished second in 2019.
Morris caught 17 touchdowns among 68 receptions for 1,237 yards for a fabulous sophomore season, and also played defensive back for coach Tim Racki. McCarthy left for IMG Academy – a national powerhouse in Bradenton, Fla. – before Morris’ junior year, and he developed into a four-star receiver and played in the prestigious Army All-American Game. He also won the high jump championship at the 2018 AAU Junior Olympic Games.
His athletic skills, tenacity and intelligence are evident in his play.
Morris also returned nine punts for 88 yards in 2023, and shared Michigan’s special teams player of the week honors against Purdue and offensive player of the week against Indiana with season highs of four catches for 54 yards.
He could very well have a break-out year at receiver in 2024.
“I think I’ve grown a lot,” said Morris. “I mean, the last time I played football before college was the spring of my junior year [at Nazareth].”
Morris was slowed a bit as a Wolverine freshman, coming off ACL surgery. He tore the ligament in the last of a four-game spring season in 2020-21, and missed his senior season of 2021. So, the COVID shutdown and ACL injury robbed him of pretty much the last two seasons of his high school playing career.
“I had missed a lot of football,” Morris said. “So, everything, just the detail in routes, toughness, blocking – all that stuff. I think I’ve definitely grown in all that [at Michigan].
“Going into next year, I think it should be a big year for me with C.J. [Johnson] and Roman [Wilson] being gone. I have to step up. I’ve got to play a bigger role, and I’m ready for that.”
He showed that in the first game of the new year, making the play with his old buddy that will always provide a special memory of a championship season.
SPRING GAME: The annual spring intrasquad football game at Michigan Stadium will have a noon kickoff on April 20, and admission is free. Jim Harbaugh decided to move spring practice back a few weeks before departing to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, reasoning that the Jan. 8 championship game victory over Washington had extended last season beyond anything the program had experienced before with a 15-0 record.
JJ McCarthy’s influence on this team extends even after his leaving for the NFL!
The experience Morris and his teammates got playing meaningful minutes in big games last year will offset their youth. There was a value to resting the starters after racing to huge leads by halftime or the end of the third quarter.