Mike Morris debuts at #22 in Kipers Big Board
Link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/insider/story/_/id/34633986/2023-nfl-draft-rankings-mel-kiper-big-board-top-prospects-every-position (paywalled)
"22. Mike Morris, DE/OLB, Michigan
HT: 6-6 | WT: 292 | Previously: NR
It's rare to see a guy as big as Morris playing on his feet as a stand-up edge rusher, but he moves extremely well for his size. Morris could be considered a bit of a late bloomer, but he was playing behind two great talents last season (Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo); he had only a half-sack in three starts in 2021. This season, Morris has 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and he pops when I put on the tape because of his size and traits. He could keep rising as we get closer to the draft in April."
November 3rd, 2022 at 1:57 AM ^
He's too short. Should probably stay another year to get taller.
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:00 AM ^
He can use the machine in the Pit of Despair to get taller. It worked for the Dreadpirate Roberts.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^
But, it was a suction machine, sucking the life out of him. It wasn’t a rack.
sorry, it’s my favorite movie
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
Waaaaaaayyyy too short. Another year with Herbert should fix it!
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:34 PM ^
we wish he was a little bit taller
but he's still a baller
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:15 AM ^
D-line and O-line depth getting pretty impressive at UM these days.
Kudos to Elston, Moore and the strength staff.
Teams built inside-out like this, with strength up front, generally have a high floor.
At that point, up to the skill position players and most importantly the QB to determine the ceiling.
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:40 AM ^
I agree with you. WR recruits may be a tough pull if the narrative that we are just a run team continues. I would love to see the offense open up a bit, but I just dont see it happening this year (unless it absolutely has to)
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^
WR recruits may be a tough pull if the narrative that we are just a run team continues.
Will they?
This is Harbaugh’s eighth year. They’ve played like this every year. They didn’t throw much to DPJ or Nico either. That narrative has been out there a while now.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:55 AM ^
Our defensive line has been really impressive since Harbaugh took over.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
(John)Harbaugh took over.
Loving John.
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:53 AM ^
Edge U
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:19 AM ^
is it possible this year's team is better overall than last year's?!?
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:20 AM ^
That question can only be answered once we need JJ and the offense to firebomb someone in the passing game
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:51 AM ^
considering our record..... yup....
5 more wins will go a long way to cementing that. 7 more wins would be ideal..... we're all about overkill!
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
I think the 2022 team probably is better than the 2021 team. Per SP+, 2022 would be about a 4-point favorite over 2021 (assuming CFB talent across the FBS universe is ~= to 2021). Also, this team has not had a Rutgers-level game that was a legit nail-biter against a bottom tier Power 5 team.
Whether this team has a better season than the 2021 team will be determined in a few weeks.
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:25 PM ^
Whether this team has a better season than the 2021 team will be determined in a few weeks.
Yep, and when that determination pretty much comes down to one game, it's very possible that this team could be better and have a worse season.
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:20 AM ^
He also did top 10 by position group.
RB - Corum just missed the top 10
OT - Ryan Hayes just missed
C - 2 Oluwatimi
DE - 3 Mike Morris
DT - 5 Mazi Smith
K/P - 4 Jake Moody and 8 Brad Robbins
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:26 AM ^
Jake Moody the #4 kicker?!? Absurd. He's the best player in the history of football, college or pro, regardless of position.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:52 AM ^
He's behind the Iowa punter (lol), msu punter (lolol), and Maryland kicker (no lolz, that dude's good).
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:43 AM ^
Yet Blake Robbins is the best kept secret.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
I've never heard of Blake Robbins so I agree.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
Moody was the #2 kicker. Kipers list had punters and kickers on it and there were two punters before the Maryland kicker and then Moody
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
On a different note......considering Corum is spoken about in the top 4 to 7 for the Heisman it was interesting to see Kiper didn't even have him in the top 10 running backs. Now that these kids are making money here you have to wonder if he'll make more money doing another year in Ann Arbor than being what is probably a late mid round pick.
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
It makes sense that people would see Corum as a better college player than a pro player due to his size. If he finishes the season strong enough to be a Heisman finalist, I'd guess he'll move up a little bit (it only takes one team to like you enough to draft you), but there will for sure be RBs drafted ahead of him who are worse in college than he is.
On a side note, as a Dolphins fan, I'd love to see him incorporated into Mike McDaniel's offense.
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:32 AM ^
I hope Corum keeps missing the top 10 RB's list until the 2024 Draft...
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:55 AM ^
If Corum gets at least a 3rd round grade he should probably go. With the short careers of RBs, he needs to go get paid ASAP.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:28 AM ^
I'd agree, unless he can get a whopper of an NIL deal
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
Paging Burger King
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
With NIL, it's possible a Heisman trophy finalist RB could make more in his final year of college than as a 3rd/4th round rookie. Also, I get the mileage argument to leave early, but 200 FBS touches is not the same as 200 NFL touches.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
Imagine what Brice Young is making this year off of Heisman House ads alone.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:57 AM ^
That and he's going to be run into the ground by year' end with the amount of carries he's getting + lack of passing attack.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
10% chance Corum comes back next year. There is no logic to another college year of taking the kind of punishment he endures as a high volume rusher in a Harbaugh offense. He’s been featured. Now go get paid.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:20 PM ^
But why not both? He can stay AND get paid, that’s the whole idea behind NIL.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:08 PM ^
I was gonna type out the same. With how short RB careers are, you've gotta take every year you've got
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:55 AM ^
Yeah I havent seen Corums name much in Mocks. Im sure his stock will rise, but at this point I think hes a 3rd of 4+ rounder on most boards.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:16 AM ^
I think it's likely that 3rd round may be his ceiling given his body type. We obviously everything he can do but it's not something that scouts and GMs tend to value highly in the draft. The only player I can remember recently going in the first two rounds of the draft that was under 5'8" was Clyde Edwards-Helaire to KC.
All that said, I can't blame him if he has a third or fourth round grade and decides to go knowing the sort of punishment his body is taking before he even gets to the pros. Have to do everything you can to preserve payday.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:38 AM ^
He’s probably getting paid pretty well right now :)
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:38 AM ^
RBs have a short life cycle. I completely agree with you, he should go if thats his goal to play in the NFL.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
You're drawing a pretty fine line right at 5'8". There are guys right in that 5'9"-5'8" range that get drafted high - Saquan Barkley (4th overall if I recall correctly) and JK Dobbins (second round?). A ton of NFL RB's are now 5'8" to 5'10" 200-210 lbs, the 6'2" 235 guys are now more the exception than the rule. I also suspect Corum will test well at the combine, even if it looks like he might have lost a few hundredths off his 40 this year with the (I believe necessary) added weight.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
Barkley is 6’0”. Dobbins is 5’10”. I used 5’8” because that is what Corum is (and may be even less than that because media guides tend to round up). I didn’t say Corum won’t have a productive career in the NFL; I think he will. His body type just doesn’t jive with recent early round data.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
This equates to (using last year's draft):
- Blake Corum 4th-5th round (Haskins was RB#11)
- Ryan Hayes 4th-5th round
- Olusegun Oluwatimi 2nd round
- Mike Morris 1st round
- Mazi Smith 3rd round
- Jake Moody UDFA
- Brad Robbins UDFA
When looking at first year pay for NFL players, pretty much all 5th round or better will earn over $1 million from signing bonus and salary. I would anticipate only 6th round or worse players to be on the table for recruiting back from the NFL for that reason. Unfortunately it appears none of the listed players will be on the table for NIL offers for returning (Moody and Robbins are out of eligibility after this year)
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:17 AM ^
Mazi's stock will rise when he hits the combine. It's impossible for him not to at least move up a bit from wherever he's clocking in when people see some of the numbers he's gonna put up.
November 3rd, 2022 at 2:52 PM ^
Mazi should move up into the late 2nd round
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:06 PM ^
Wasn't Chris Hinton thought of in the same vein and he didn't get drafted?
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:26 PM ^
Robbins and Corum make no sense
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:37 AM ^
Kiper also has 12 running backs higher than Corum and Will Levis higher than Bryce Young, so I'm not sure how much stock I would put in his board
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:48 AM ^
I prefer Dane Brugler's board.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
I prefer Dane Brugler’s beard
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
I mentioned this above, but Corum isnt showing up on many mocks yet.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:18 AM ^
He'll be over 300lbs after he feasts against Rutgers on Saturday.