Michigan football's Mike Morris out, Mazi Smith in uniform for Big Ten championship game

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read
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Michigan football had two first team All-Big Ten defensive linemen, but will only have one of them available for the Big Ten championship game.

Mazi Smith, who was charged with felony gun possession on Wednesday which stemmed from an arrest on Oct. 7, is in uniform and went through warm ups on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for No. 2 Michigan's (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) clash with Purdue (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten). Smith was driving without his license on him when he was pulled over for speeding in Ann Arbor around 9:35 a.m. that Friday morning and admitted to police on the scene he had a gun.

Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) meditates before the Big Ten championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) meditates before the Big Ten championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

His attorney, John Shea, said Smith had applied for a CPL at that time and has since obtained it. The 6-foot-3, 337-pound senior was arraigned on Thursday afternoon and had a probable cause hearing scheduled for Dec. 8.

Smith posted a $5,000 personal bond and the magistrate, Elisha Fink, granted him license to travel with the team for the Big Ten title game, but he cannot possess illegal weapons, illegal drugs, or consume alcohol.

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"We are aware of the charge against Mazi from a traffic stop back in October. Mazi was honest, forthcoming and cooperative from the very beginning and is a tremendous young man," said athletic director Warde Manuel in a statement. "He is not and never has been considered a threat to the University or community.

"Based on the information communicated to us, we will continue to allow the judicial process to play out. Mazi will continue to participate as a member of the team."

Michigan linebacker Mike Morris (90) celebrates the Wolverines' 45-23 win Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Michigan linebacker Mike Morris (90) celebrates the Wolverines' 45-23 win Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Mike Morris, is not in uniform for the title game. Morris was injured late in the fourth quarter of Michigan's 34-3 victory over Nebraska. After sitting out the following week against Illinois, Morris dressed for the game at OSU but was limited, playing just 11 snaps.

The Wolverines will also be without the services of star running back Blake Corum, who is out for the season. Corum posted on social media on Saturday that he underwent a "successful" knee procedure and that he won't make the Big Ten title game but "best believe my guys are ready"

Corum finished the season with 247 rushes for 1,463 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 80 yards and a score.

Donovan Edwards figures to get the bulk of the workload on the ground, but he is still wearing a brace over his right hand and thumb. That bandage didn't seem to slow him last week at Ohio State, when he had career highs in carries (22) and yards (216) with two touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football Mike Morris out for Big Ten championship game