Kudos for Walled Lake Western's Entinger for catching Semaj (video)
Didn't realize this was Walled Lake Western's Koen Entringer (3 star back in the day) or that he actually was the first tackler missing and hitting the turf on Samaj's punt return.
Sounds like the kid's 4.3 40 time was legit in high school. Video shows how much ground he had to make up for the tackle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adjrnX8lDaY
Course, Semaj may want to work this off season on his endurance.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:36 AM ^
That was damn impressive, but Kenneth Grant would've chased him down at midfield.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:37 AM ^
That was damn impressive, he even had to cut through a few guys to get there.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
Yeah, I saw that. Live, I thought it was the punter and I couldn't believe the punter ran him down. Then I saw the replay. That dude ran a long way to chase down Semaj!
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
Yeah, I didn't realize until like the 5th replay that the guy who caught Semaj was the guy who dove and missed the initial tackle. He had to double-back and run well over 150 yards on that play, and ended up catching someone else who "only" ran about 90 b/c Semaj was "gassed."
Impressive speed and conditioning.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
I thought he could have easily scored if he would have just stopped and cut back inside. There were only M blockers inside, no Iowa players for 10 yds or more.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:59 AM ^
I rewound the DVR to figure it out. When I saw him pushed out it looked like it was the punter.
I don't think I've ever seen a play like that before. I'm surprised Harbaugh let this kid get away from us.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Apparently he was recruited by us.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
Every coach should show this to every young player.
Never give up on a play.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Semaj's first juke on him and the other Iowa player was sick. Going to be fun to watch Mr. Morgan for the next few years.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:43 AM ^
Can Seth and Brian make some Michigan shirts that say "Have a great day," please?
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
Maybe Semaj was overexcited and was holding his breath during the return? Just speculating on why he'd get winded so fast
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:49 AM ^
I think he maximized his exertion early in the return just to break the initial tackles. There's no point saving anything for the last 10 yards if you don't pass the first 10.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:25 AM ^
Exactly this. I've seen it in tennis too where younger athletes in big matches, like Alcaraz at the French Open this year, started cramping before Djokovic, who also had conditioning issues when he was younger. It doesn't make sense that a 20-year-old would have conditioning issues before a 36-year-old but it is all about not getting too excited in the big moment.
Can you imagine Morgan's heart rate as he's standing back there ready to receive a punt on the 10 or 15-yard line or whatever in the B1G Championship game?
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
In his postgame, Semaj briefly gave props saying he knew him and had played with him before. Walled Lake and West Bloomfield are very close so that makes sense. I’m not sure that the schools played each other but maybe they went to camps together or something.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:44 AM ^
In another game I might have been worried about Semaj not punching it in there; since we were playing Iowa I got laugh at "oh, he's gassed" for the last few yards."
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^
Semaj was out of gas. I could have run him down. Who am I kidding, I probably couldn't catch anyone on the team, especially someone fast like Semaj or Kenneth Grant.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
WOW!!! Props to Entringer!! I thought it was Tory Taylor that got him via angle. But watching that second view, from behind the punter... What a great effort from #4!!
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
True but Semaj slowed down or ran out of steam late. That should have been a TD return.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
I rewatched and the guy was extending his stride like crazy to catch up. Excellent saving play by him, probably felt responsible for missing the initial tackle.
also seemed like Semaj slowed up a little
December 3rd, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Didn't Semaj say that he was also dealing with 'a groin thing'?
December 3rd, 2023 at 4:30 PM ^
Playing with an erection?
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
I'm not sure who it was, but someone on Michigan's return team just as Semaj was getting into the open field was attempting to block Entinger. Instead of impeding him, he looked like he got a boost from the push from the back from the Michigan blocker. If you go back and watch it again you'll notice. Not taking anything away from Entinger.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
Semaj will work on his speed & endurance with Ben Herbert, as did D J Turner.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:14 AM ^
Kid almost came here too.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
In the post-game, Semaj said that he was gassed and that his groin was acting up.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:15 AM ^
I believe it was Quinton Johnson should have kept him off Semaj if he would have made the block instead of trying to catch up to the play downfield.
He probably thought nobody was going to catch Semaj but he cost Semaj a TD.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
Lol he looked so gassed at the end. What a great return though.
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^
I only +1 this because
(a) we scored anyway
(b) Michigan won
December 3rd, 2023 at 11:59 AM ^
Look for Semaj to change numbers next season. 82 is too big and it slows him down. I’m guessing he’ll take 1.
December 3rd, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Herbert should force Morgan to watch the video replay of this before starting each workout.
December 3rd, 2023 at 7:58 PM ^
My question is: How does a well conditioned young athlete like Morgan totally run out of gas after 60 yards?
December 4th, 2023 at 12:03 AM ^
In watching it, I thought Semaj just ran out of gas.
However --
In an interview, the said it was running out of gas and a bit of groin pull.
100 yard dash isn't that big a deal for such football players, so some pulled muscle or cramping adding to it doesn't sound outlandish to me.
Regardless -- wow -- what a great play by Semaj.