Michigan Wolverines football wide receiver Fredrick Moore — a former three-star recruit — was a breakout candidate last season, but posted only 11 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown and ranked fifth on the team in receiver snaps.
Michigan’s revamped passing attack is highlighted by a new system implemented by coordinator Chip Lindsey and improved quarterback play with freshman Bryce Underwood behind center. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound signal-caller needs reliable targets down the field, though, and Moore could be one of them along with graduate Donaven McCulley, the a clear cut starter on the outside, and senior tight end Marlin Klein.
“Fred Moore — the speed is there,” Michigan radio analyst Jansen said of the Michigan wideout last week during fall camp. “That’s the guy that I think is gonna be the deep threat, and really excited from what I’ve seen from him.”
The speed is evident, and now he has the requisite size to be a formidable force, bulking up from 181 to 191 pounds this offseason.
The expectations are higher, and him having a productive season wouldn’t just be a pleasant surprise anymore for Michigan. The Wolverines need him or someone else to step up at his position.
“Fred’s thing now is, you’re not a freshman,” wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy said. “You played as a sophomore, and we’re counting on you.
“You’re an older guy, and the word we’re chasing for him daily is ‘confidence.’ The more confident he is, the better player he is — and he came into camp super confident.”
Michigan’s 19-13 victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl to end last season is one of the reasons why. Moore had a nice, contested 15-yard touchdown grab on a fade route, and caught 2 other passes to total 37 yards.
“Changed his body up, stronger player, more experienced,” Bellamy said. “The best thing that happened to him was the success he had in the bowl game. Now it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, I know I can do this.’ Now it’s time to take that momentum and carry it over to the ’25 football season.”
Junior Semaj Morgan, a slot receiver, is in a similar boat. He was a major contributor, scoring 4 total touchdowns, on a national championship team in 2023, but had a disappointing 2024 campaign. Last year, he caught 27 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, averaging only 5.1 yards per reception.
Morgan and Moore are upperclassmen now, and Michigan is relying on them to emerge.
“They’re older, more experienced,” Bellamy said of that duo. “They attacked the offseason. They knew last year wasn’t up to our standard, and they challenged themselves. They challenged our room to be better.
“Those guys, being juniors now, have been around the program, their third year. They’ve been ona national championship team and understand what the standards are. Daily, they’re chasing excellence.”
That breakout season he was expected to have in 2024? It’s not too late for that to come and be big time for the Maize and Blue, only in 2025.