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Michigan first-year tight ends coach Sherrone Moore always comes to work with a smile on his face, and for good reason.
There are days head coach Jim Harbaugh even asks him what he’s grinning about.
“He says, ‘you’re always smiling,’” Moore said. “I say, ‘my feet are hitting the ground.’
“Maybe I have a different energy, a little new youthful blood. I’m younger, probably the youngest coach on the staff. I’m blessed to be here, excited about his opportunity … I’m only 32, so I’ll try to make everybody smile.”
He’s got plenty to like about his tight ends group, he shared Tuesday. There was one spring at Central Michigan he only had two to work with due to injuries … he’ll have no such issues at U-M, even with Tyrone Wheatley Jr. out with a broken foot.
“It’s a great group,” he said. First of all, they’re great kids. The staffhas done an outstanding job recruiting quality kids, very smart individuals. From a skill standpoint, playing the tight end position, the sky is the limit with this group.
“Each kid presents a different issue for different defenses. All of them have their strengths, all have their weaknesses, but as a group they’re going to be really dangerous. It’s going to be a great group to work with.”
Redshirt junior Zach Gentry and junior Sean McKeon will likely lead the group in receptions.
“They’re both outstanding threats in the passing game,” Moore said. “Zach obviously at 6-7 is a mismatch nightmare with his size and strength. He’s 265 pounds right now just getting bigger and stronger.
“Sean, he’s just so cerebral. He’s strong for a guy his size, so athletic. Both can play multiple positions … watching those guys and Nick [Eubanks] and Tyrone [Wheatley], both bring different aspects to the game.”
Moore has seen them all on film, studied and graded them heading into the spring. He’s done the same with freshman Mustapha Muhammad, a player who arrives in June and who could make an early impact.
“He’s an extremely talented young player with high upside, very smart kid, very sharp, comes from a really good family,” he said. “I think he can bring a different aspect of athletic prowess.
“He has great ball skills, great speed, athletic ability. He’ll just bring a different flash, a really god player, new life and new blood to the team and to the room.”
NOTES
• Wheatley Jr. is progressing from a broken foot suffered last month.
“It’s been really good. I try to keep in touch with him every day, if not then every other,” Moore said. “He’s trying to do what he can with that foot injury, but he’ll be back for the summer season and ready to go.”
• Moore said working with Harbaugh is everything he hoped it would be.
“He’s phenomenal. I learn something new from him every single day,” he said. “He’s an outstanding leader, coach, teacher, all of the above. Just meeting him and getting to know him a little bit, he’s an outstanding human being.
“I love working for him. It’s been really fun so far and I’m ready for this adventure to keep it ongoing.”
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