Michigan Football: What You Need to Know About Wolverines LB Desmond Morgan

Desmond Morgan had a pretty impressive freshman campaign for Michigan. He grabbed a starting spot from fellow linebacker Brandin Hawthorne around midseason and never looked back.

Will he be starting for the next three years on this Michigan defense? Maybe, but he'll certainly have to fend off the great crop of freshmen linebackers that are arriving.

There is plenty of intrigue and and interest surrounding Morgan, as we take a closer look at the young Michigan linebacker.

Morgan Was Lightly Recruited Out of High School

Some people may not realize this, but Morgan was somewhat of a "nobody" out of high school. Northwestern did offer him a scholarship, but other than that his most impressive offers were from the likes of Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo.

Heck, nearby MAC schools Toledo and Western Michigan didn't even offer him. The fact that he started on a very good Michigan defense as a true freshman is all the more impressive.

Morgan is a perfect example of the amazing eyes that Hoke and Mattison have for great defensive talent, even when nobody else sees it.

Morgan Took Brandin Hawthorne's Starting Spot Midway Through the Season

Even though Brandin Hawthorne started for the first half of 2011, Morgan was able to claim the starting spot from him in late October.

Whether it was because Hawthorne wasn't playing well enough or because Morgan was just that good can be debated, but either way it's still impressive.

Morgan not only began starting over Hawthorne, but he rarely came off the field once he became a starter. We rarely saw Hawthorne anymore in November, and Morgan was the reason why.

Hawthorne will be a senior here in 2012, but in all likelihood, Morgan will still be starting over him.

Some People Think He Will Eventually Be Unseated by One of the Younger LBs

It seems to be a popular opinion that Morgan is only keeping the starting spot warm for one of the freshmen linebackers.

Morgan's critics will say that he is too small to be a four-year starter, as he stands only 6'1", and that there is too much talent behind him that is more suited to start.

Yes, Joe Bolden, James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone all look like they have very bright futures ahead (especially Bolden and Ross), but that doesn't mean that one of them will unseat Morgan.

I think that Morgan will hold his own just fine, and that we won't see him take a backseat to anybody.

Morgan's Style of Play Resembles Michigan LBs of Old

I can't help but be reminded of great Michigan linebackers of the past when watching Morgan play.

He is a guy who is going to hit you hard, and isn't afraid to get dirty doing it. Morgan just seems like the kind of guy who is an extremely hard worker, and is going to play hard every single snap.

He also seems like the kind of guy you'd want on your team, and the kind of guy you like to have in the locker room.

Will he go on to have a, not good, but great career? We'll see.

Conclusion

Desmond Morgan will be a very important piece to what is, in my opinion, a very good linebacking core. A lot of people don't seem to think so, but I just don't see the reasons for all the criticism surrounding this unit.

What's even more fun to think about is the fact that both Morgan and Ryan will only be sophomores here in 2012, and will be around for a while yet. Imagine how much better this unit will be once these two guys are experienced veterans, and the great crop of freshmen linebackers begin to emerge.

That once again brings up the topic of Morgan potentially someday losing his starting job to one of those good young linebackers, but I just don't see it happening.

As I mentioned, I think Morgan will go on to have a very good career, being a stud linebacker at Michigan for years to come.