13993077-standard.jpg

Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan says his fifth year of eligibility has officially been granted by the NCAA.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ANN ARBOR -- Desmond Morgan says it's official.

He'll be back for a fifth year at Michigan.

The move has been expected for some time, though the Wolverine linebacker made it 100 percent Tuesday by posting confirmation that he's been granted a fifth year of eligibility via Twitter.

Morgan missed the final 11 games of the 2014 season due to an arm injury, and qualified for a medical redshirt -- as he was a fourth-year senior last season.

The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Morgan was a starter during portions of his first three years on campus, and a full-time starter as a sophomore (2012) and junior (2013).

He made 229 tackles during his first four years and presently ranks No. 24 on the school's all-time total tackles list.

Morgan's return will help bolster an experience linebacker crew, but one who will have to replace major production lost from senior Jake Ryan. Ryan moved to inside linebacker prior to the start of the 2014 season -- a spot Morgan had started at during his previous two years.

Strong-side linebacker James Ross and weak-side linebacker Joe Bolden will also be back for the Wolverines, as will key reserves Ben Gedeon, Royce Jenkins-Stone and Mike McCray.

How Michigan deploys its linebackers in 2015, though, remains a question mark.

New defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has run both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes during his career, and said Michigan will be multiple defensively this season.

-- Download the Michigan football on MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Download the Michigan basketball on MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Nick Baumgardner on Twitter

-- Like MLive's Michigan Wolverines Facebook

