ANN ARBOR, MI — A season ago, 5th-year senior wide receiver Ronnie Bell quickly became the focal point of Michigan’s solid passing attack. Despite tearing his ACL in Week 1 of the 2021 season (during the Wolverines’ 47-14 win over Western Michigan), it was clear that Bell was JJ McCarthy’s favorite pass-catcher from the very beginning. Now, with Ronnie Bell leaving the program for the NFL Draft, Michigan football needs a new face to step up and fill Bell’s sizable shoes: Tyler Morris.

Michigan football is hopeful that Tyler Morris catches his stride in 2023

Even if you have been following Michigan football for quite some time, there is a good chance that you have not heard the name Tyler Morris before. Out of high school, Morris was rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, and ranked as the No. 133 player in the nation, the No. 22 wide receiver in his class, and the No. 4 player in the state of Illinois — he signed with Michigan as a member of the 2022 recruiting class.

Yet, during Morris’s senior year of high school, he tore his ACL, which has largely hindered him throughout his college playing career thus far. Heading into the 2023 season, Morris looks to be back at full strength. A season ago, Tyler Morris donned the No. 13 jersey, which has been frequently worn by fan favorites — such as Eddie McDoom — in the past; however, in 2023, Morris will pay tribute to former Michigan football standout Ronnie Bell and don the No. 8 jersey.

What can Wolverines fans expect from Morris this season?

If Michigan football is lucky, Morris will live up to the jersey number and step into a starting role — Morris knows that there is a lot to learn, but he is up to the challenge.

“I feel like it’s going good. For me just a lot more comfortable,” Morris told the media during the Wolverines’ spring practices. “Last year, freshman year, you’re trying to figure everything out. You don’t know the offense, you don’t really know just how to program works completely. I was still trying to come back from my knee a little bit. So this year, I feel like I’m just more comfortable, used to things, know how it goes. So it’s not too much, trying to figure everything out as much.”

This year’s Michigan football offense is incredibly fast, and with that speed comes a lot of danger for opposing defenses.

“I think just how fast it goes. We’re putting plays in, everything’s moving fast, you got to figure everything out,” Morris said. “There’s different situations that in high school you’re not thinking about that. There’s just — you’re kind of just playing football. So just a lot more thinking and details that go into it now.”

If you want to play for Michigan football as a wide receiver, you’re going to need to know how to block. There is no getting around that fact — the Wolverines simply run the football too often for anyone that touches the field to not get out front and block.

“I have no issue with blocking. That’s just part of the game,” Morris said. “You can’t be a receiver and expect to only go catch to score touchdowns and all that. Especially being at our school, we’ve got great backs. So we’re going to run the ball and you’ve got to be able to block. I just feel like it’s a mindset being physical and not being scared to go hit somebody.”

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ANN ARBOR, MI — The Michigan Wolverines recently inked one of the best recruiting classes in the country. For quite some time — before other schools began adding massive amounts of portal commits — the Wolverines boasted the No. 1 class nationally. Still, Michigan football managed to ink an incredible transfer portal class, including seven total commits — three of which are from fellow Big Ten programs. Jack Tuttle, Michigan’s newest quarterback addition, recently took some time to explain why he decided on the University of Michigan despite knowing that JJ McCarthy will be the team’s starter.

Why did new transfer portal quarterback Jack Tuttle choose the University of Michigan?

When asked about why he chose the University of Michigan, here is what transfer portal quarterback Jack Tuttle had to say (per Yahoo Sports):

“So there were a lot of relationships,” Tuttle said. “Obviously, relationships for me to come here. I knew Coach Harbaugh, Coach Hart before. And that’s what really sparked coming here for me.”

Mike Hart, the all-time leading rusher at the University of Michigan and current running backs coach, was at Indiana before taking the RB coach opening at Michigan. This explains why Tuttle and Hart were familiar, and likely played a decisive role in him choosing Michigan football. For Tuttle and others, transferring schools comes with many challenges, especially when going from a small program like Indiana to one of the biggest in the world.

“I guess just adjusting to — I know every program has a different culture,” Tuttle said. “Adjusting to that, and the new locker room and the people — which obviously has been fantastic. So, AJ (Barner) and I both came from same place (Indiana) so that’s been helpful when we’re rooming together. And so it’s been a pretty good transition for both of us.”

Jack Tuttle is entering his sixth season of college football, and frankly, he wants to win a national title.

“For me, personally, it’s not over till it’s over,” Tuttle said. “That’s kind of something I live by. And my dad and I have always talked about it’s not over till it’s over. And, people (ask), why Michigan? Why come here? What’s your goal here? I have a couple of goals. But the main goal right now, and what I’m focused on is doing everything I can to help this team win a national championship and achieve all its goals.

“So that’s where my work is going to right now. That’s what I’m striving for. And I’m going to help and do whatever I can to make sure we achieve that goal.”

Even though the new Michigan football transfer portal quarterback knows he is not going to start over JJ McCarthy, he is still happy to be a part of the incredible QB room and culture at the University of Michigan.

“I’m gonna come in and compete. And J.J. has been phenomenal,” Tuttle said. “That whole quarterback room has been great — Coach Kirk [Campbell]. And I’m blessed, honestly blessed to come into that situation and be around those guys and beat and have fun. And I’m gonna do whatever I can to help this team win.”

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

The Michigan Wolverines are heading into a season full of massive expectations. While Michigan football always has tons of pressure to perform well on the field, this year the expectations are especially high — the Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten titles and made the CFP twice in a row while finishing no worse than 12-2 over the past two seasons. Now, heading into the 2023 season, Michigan has its best roster (on paper) that fans have seen in decades. The leader of the team, rising junior quarterback JJ McCarthy, was recently ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten by 247 Sports.

JJ McCarthy ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten by 247 Sports

Recently, ahead of the new season this fall, Michigan rising junior QB JJ McCarthy was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten. After leading Michigan football to an impressive 13-1 (10-0 Big Ten) season which ended with a conference title and CFP appearance, the Wolverines are looking to go from “good” to “great” at the quarterback position this year. If Michigan football is to win a national championship this season, McCarthy will have to meet these massive expectations.

Here is 247’s explanation as to why McCarthy is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten conference.

This offense should be a well-oiled machine on the ground with Blake Corum returning and will only ask McCarthy to do what he has to in the passing game. He’s a threat with his legs as well. McCarthy accounted for 27 total touchdowns this season and will enter the 2023 campaign with a chip on his shoulder after leading the Wolverines to 13-straight wins prior to an upset loss to TCU in the playoff. And this time around, there’s no McNamara behind him after the former Michigan signal caller transferred to Iowa.

JJ McCarthy is ranked ahead of some notable names and schools, such as Drew Allar (Penn State), Kyle McCord (Ohio State), and others.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!