‘He looks like a statue’: Sherrone Moore on first impressions of running back transfer Justice Haynes

Michigan football added two Alabama players in the transfer portal less than a week before the schools played in the ReliaQuest Bowl: defensive tackle Damon Payne and running back Justice Haynes. Haynes spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide and is a four-star transfer according to On3.

Michigan running back Justice Haynes impressing staff in spring practice

Haynes took 25 carries for 168 yards (6.7 ypc) and two touchdowns as a freshman. Last season Haynes saw an uptick in usage and had 79 totes for 448 yards (5.7 ypc) and seven touchdowns.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, Haynes breaks tackles by using physicality and a low center of gravity. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said Haynes is a physical specimen.

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“You see him as a guy that’s another leader on the team,” Moore said at a press conference Monday. “The dude only eats like one-ingredient foods, that’s why he looks like a statue. He takes care of his body in every way. He’s a leader off the field with how he approaches academics, and social life and everything.

“On the field he has that mentality about him. You can see his experience and him playing in big games before and understanding the game and understanding the moment and understanding how to prepare. So he brings that to that room and to the offense and to the team, so it’s been great to have him around.”

In the bowl game against Alabama, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall got his first start and posted a career-high 100 yards on the ground. Marshall and Haynes will likely lead the way in the backfield, but Moore said the Wolverines have a deep running back room.

“They’ve been awesome, it’s an awesome room. It’s a competitive room,” Moore said. “Again, they’re together just like the quarterbacks, just like every other room, everybody competes but they all align together. They’ve been great. Jordan has kind of picked up where he left off in the bowl game. We haven’t had tackling yet but he’s been great. Ben (Hall) is continuing to climb and do the same thing, so feel good about those guys.

“The young guys, you know, Micah Ka’apana’s doing well, Bryson Kuzdzal is doing well, Donovan Johnson same thing. All those guys are putting themselves in position to be in a good place and we’re just excited about where they’re going.”

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Michigan’s offense will likely look much different this season with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey calling plays, and 2025 No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood expected to be at quarterback. However, Lindsey said he wants to “keep that DNA”, in reference to the Wolverines’ toughness, so the running game will likely remain a staple.

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