FOOTBALL

Michigan football is in an era of elite running back duos

This could be one of, if not THE best eras of running back play in Michigan football history.

Published

2 months ago

January 10, 2023

Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) rushes in the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan football just received the news of the offseason as star running back Blake Corum has officially announced his return to the Wolverines in 2023. His return is huge for Michigan as the combination of Corum and Donovan Edwards proved one of the most unstoppable duos in all college football in 2022.

Those two running backs will both be back for the 2023 campaign. Michigan looks to make the College Football Playoff for the third season in a row and win the National Championship.

The combination of Corum and Edwards is just the most recent of a line of elite running back duos that Michigan football has boasted over the years. We can go as far back as when Michigan had a backfield of Tyrone Wheatley and Tim Biakabutuka. During the 1994 season, Wheatley and Biakabutuka combined for 1,927 yards and 21 total touchdowns. Both players are now viewed as two of the greatest running backs in Michigan football history.

In 2022, Corum and Edwards combined for 2,454 yards and 28 total touchdowns. In 2021, Hassan Haskins and Corum combined for 2,279 yards and 32 total touchdowns. Over the last few years, Michigan football fans have been lucky enough to witness some of the best running back duos in Michigan football history, and it doesn’t appear that this trend will go away soon.

2018, Karan Higdon-Chris Evans

As an isolated event, this was a big moment for Michigan fans and the entire Michigan football program. Before the 2018 season, no Michigan player had run for over 1,000 yards in one season since Denard Robinson did back in 2012. That was until Karan Higdon achieved the feat in his senior season.

This was a sign of things to come. Michigan football has always been at its best while having an elite runner on the team, and the Wolverines finally found it once again. In 2018, Higdon ran the ball 224 times for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Compared to the numbers Michigan backs are putting up in today’s college football, Higdon’s numbers don’t seem like much. In reality, however, 1,000-yard rushers are not easy to come by, and his season would ultimately bring the Wolverines back to an identity they’d created over 100 years of football.

Run. The. Ball.

However, Higdon wasn’t the only running back to find success in the 2018 season. Chris Evans was more than capable of finding success on the ground, running the ball 81 times for 423 yards and four touchdowns. Evans also found plenty of success through the air as a pass catcher, making 18 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.

While it might be easy to overlook this season and its accomplishments, that year ultimately pushed Michigan back to its roots, helping them to the next level with elite running back duos.

2021, Hassan Haskins-Blake Corum

Thunder and lightning were a combo for the ages.

Hassan Haskins, the thunder of the duo, was the heart and soul of the Michigan offense in 2021. Often viewed as soft-spoken but never afraid to take a hit or jump over one, Haskins was everything for that offense.

He would go on to run the ball 270 times for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns. His season was elite and one of Michigan’s best in many years. It was so good that his 20 touchdowns would be a school record in season touchdown runs, led by the five he scored against Michigan’s rival, Ohio State.

Blake Corum, the lightning of the duo, was no slouch himself. Hindered towards the back half of the season by a lower-body injury, Corum easily could have reached 1,000 yards rushing had he stayed healthy. Ultimately, he would finish the year having run the ball 144 times for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Even through injury, Corum found a way to break some long runs throughout the entire season, and it was clear that once Haskins graduated, there would be no drop-off at the running back position. He was too good not to continue to impress.

For many reasons, the 2021 season was exceptional all around. Michigan went on to beat Ohio State for the first time since 2011. They won the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 2004 and made it to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

As if all of that weren’t enough, this would be the start of a long line of running back duos dominating all of college football for years to come.

2022, Blake Corum-Donovan Edwards

The 2022 outing was yet another incredible Michigan football season, even better than the 2021 outing. Michigan went on to win their second Big Ten Championship alongside their second College Football Playoff appearance. As if that weren’t enough, they would even go on to have the program’s first-ever 13-win season.

Unsurprisingly, another running back duo spearheaded the efforts as Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards hit an absolute home run in 2022. Sure, that may be the wrong sports reference to make in a football article, but let’s go with it.

Following a sophomore season where he nearly broke 1,000 yards, Corum blew his previous career best out of the water by running the ball 247 times for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns. This success was found all while being sidelined for multiple games through the season with another lower-body injury.

Still, if it hadn’t been for this injury, we might not have realized just how good Edwards would also be. Edwards would run the ball 140 times for 991 yards and seven touchdowns, just a step down from Corum’s numbers the year prior.

If Hassan Haskins and Corum were thunder and lightning, then Corum and Edwards were lightning and lightning because they both had blazing speed. While Corum’s longest run of the year was 61 yards, Edwards found a way to run one for 85 yards. Running backs only make explosive plays like that if they have speed along with overall talent.

This was the first time Michigan’s had back-to-back seasons with 1,000-yard rushers since Denard Robinson did it from 2010-2012. While the 2018 season might have been a sign of things to come, this season may have been a sign of things to stay.

Future of Michigan football, CJ Stokes-Cole Cabana

The future for Michigan football running backs is very bright. First, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will be the stars of the show once again for the 2023 season, so there should be no issues whatsoever. Both are incredible players, and if 2022 were any indication, I would not be surprised if Michigan found itself with two 1,000-yard rushers next year.

Once we get to 2024, that is where speculation starts to come into play. Corum will likely be in the NFL by that point, and Edwards could also choose to make the jump if he’d like. Still, I think Edwards should take his senior year to prove what he can do as the lead back of a team.

We saw what it did for both Hassan Haskins and Corum, so there’s no doubt that Edwards could benefit from it. The questions then move toward who will come up as the second back behind Edwards.

In my mind, there are two main guys who could easily fill the role. Those names are CJ Stokes and Cole Cabana.

Stokes was a part of the class of 2022, so he’s already had one season under his belt with the program, and he’s shown himself to be more than capable as a Big Ten running back. In his freshman season, Stokes ran the ball 55 times for 273 yards and a touchdown, showing plenty of flashes throughout the season. Don’t get me wrong, though; he also made plenty of mistakes. He’ll need to clean up his ball security if he wants to see extended playing time in 2023, and this could do wonders for him in terms of momentum for the 2024 season.

On the other hand, Cabana hasn’t played a single down in college, but this kid could be special. He’s a part of the 2023 class and will be a true freshman with next year’s team.

As a senior at Dexter High School, Cabana ran the ball for 1,518 yards and 27 touchdowns. That’s not even including the additional 916 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns he accumulated in other facets of the game.

Cabana is currently viewed as the No. 9 running back and the No. 2 player out of Michigan in the class of 2023, per 247 sports. Already as a high school senior, he has more than enough talent to show that he could make an immediate impact at the college level.

I do not want to predict that these guys will be as good as Denard Robinson, Hassan Haskins, or Blake Corum. What I am willing to do, however, is say that these players have the potential to be great.

Along with the individual aspect, the future of Michigan running back duos has the potential to be great. It’s all just a matter of continuing to improve. Luckily, if Michigan’s coaching staff has shown anything over the last few years, they are more than capable of developing their ball carriers into stars in college football.

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Major outlet ranks Jim Harbaugh as No. 1 coach in the Big Ten

A major outlet ranked Jim Harbaugh as the best coach in the Big Ten.

Published

11 hours ago

March 23, 2023

CJ Mangum

Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh throws prior to the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR, MI — Over the past two seasons, the entire identity of the Michigan Wolverines’ football program has changed. Before 2021, the Michigan football team was coming off of a 2-4 season in 2020; before that, the Wolverines were managing 8-10 wins per season, though consistantly losing to Ohio State, their bowl game, and saw frequent losses to Michigan State and Penn State. Since that 2021 season, everything has changed for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines — in fact, Harbaugh is now thought of as the best coach in his conference.

Jim Harbaugh changes everything for Michigan football in 2021

After arguably the worst season in Michigan football history (2020), Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines decided to go all-in on the 2021 season. At his Big Ten media presser, Harbaugh claimed that Michigan would accomplish its goals (beating Ohio State, Michigan State, winning the Big Ten, and more) or “die trying.” The Wolverines did exactly that — Michigan football finished the regular season with an 11-1 record after downing Ohio State 42-27 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines then won the Big Ten title for the first time since 2004; however, were dominated by Georgia in the CFP.

A season later, Michigan football appeared to improve as Jim Harbaugh led his team to a 12-0 finish — including massive 20+ point wins over Michigan State, Penn State, and Ohio State — before winning the program’s first-ever 13th game in a single season. While the Wolverines still fell short against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, the 2022 season was monumental for Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football.

Heading into the 2023 season, Michigan appears to have its best roster during the Jim Harbaugh era (since 2015). In fact, right now, the Wolverines come into the season favored against every major program that it must face: Penn State, Michigan State, and Ohio State. If the Wolverines aren’t competing for a Big Ten title this year, most fans will call the season a disappointment.

On3 ranks Harbaugh No. 1 in the Big Ten

Of the 14 coaches in the Big Ten, On3 claims that none are better than Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. Here is what On3 had to say about Harbaugh and why he is ranked No. 1:

It took some time, but Jim Harbaugh fulfilled his promise of beating Ohio State and delivering his alma mater a Big Ten Championship.

Then he did it again last season. The Wolverines are 25-3 the last two years, with a pair of conference titles and College Football Playoff berths. While Harbaugh has downplayed some of the major cultural and philosophical changes he made before the 2021 season, he deserves credit for pivoting and overhauling his staff.

In eight years at Michigan, Harbaugh has five seasons with at least 10 wins. Although the yearly NFL rumors remain a distraction, the Wolverines don’t look like they’re going to slowdown at all under Harbaugh, either. They bring back a loaded squad in 2023 — with Harbaugh supplementing the depth chart with several key additions from the transfer portal — and will be the favorites to three-peat in the Big Ten.

While I weigh the present more than the past, Harbaugh’s coaching resume also includes jumpstarting Stanford’s program (12-1 season in his final year) and four years with the San Francisco 49ers where he never had a losing season, played in the NFC Championship Game three times and lost to his brother John Harbaugh in the Super Bowl.

The next three coaches behind Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are: Ryan Day (Ohio State), Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), and James Franklin (Penn State).

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

FOOTBALL

Tom Brady’s son is looking to attend the University of Michigan

The son of a Michigan legend is dreaming of attending his father’s alma mater.

Published

13 hours ago

March 23, 2023

CJ Mangum

Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh laugh during warm ups prior to the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a few decades since former Michigan captain Tom Brady suited up in the Maize and Blue. From 1998-1999, the greatest football player of all time donned the winged helmet and led the Michigan football team to a 20-5 record, two bowl wins, a Big Ten title, and more during his time as a starter. Since then, the program has seen its ups and downs, and Tom Brady has seen action with two NFL franchises and won a league record seven Super Bowls — he also appeared in 10 Super Bowls. Now, decades after the fact, Tom Brady’s son is looking to repeat a bit history and attend the University of Michigan.

Tom Brady’s son, Jack, dreams of attending the University of Michigan

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Tom Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bundchen claims that Tom Brady’s son Jack wants to attend school at his father’s alma mater. Brady, who recently played his final football game ever (assuming this retirement sticks, unlike his last one), played five years of football in Ann Arbor in the 90s. He was a part of a few Big Ten title-winning teams, as well as the infamous national championship team in 1997.

From Vanity Fair: The whole brood is thriving, and Jack remains her bonus child. “I love him so much,” Bündchen says of Jack, who is “quarterbacking”—very much a verb in this household—with aspirations of going to his father’s alma mater, the University of Michigan.

Tom Brady himself also mentioned that his son Jack has some better qualities than him — he claims that his only specialty in life, unlike Jack, is throwing a football. Like Tom, Jack Brady loves playing football and is currently a quarterback, which is something that his father plans on helping him with.

“I don’t have a lot of specialties in life other than probably throwing a football,” Brady joked. “He’s way smarter. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s just a great kid, but I can definitely help him at quarterback.”

It would be a massive move for the University of Michigan community to have Tom Brady’s son enroll nearly 30 years after his father attended. The school, program, and town have changed quite a bit since Tom Brady led his 1999 Wolverines to a 1-point win over Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl; however, Michigan’s profound love for Tom Brady has not subsided one bit. In fact, over the years, the school has grown to appreciate all that Tom does for it more and more.

FOOTBALL

Michigan’s converted defensive back is going to be better than people think

The Wolverines have an insane athlete on their hands.

Published

2 days ago

March 22, 2023

CJ Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MI — Just before the start of spring ball, the Michigan Wolverines decided that — in order to address cornerback depth issues — a former three-star wideout would be moved to cornerback. Since making this call, the massive Amorion Walker has turned into a spring ball standout, and according to coaches and players, is a freak of nature on the football field. However good you think Amorion Walker is going to be, he will likely be better.

Michigan football converted DB Amorion Walker turning out to be a stud on the football field

Since the start of Michigan football spring ball, the Wolverines’ newly converted cornerback — Amorion Walker — has been turning heads among the players and the staff. Here are some of the comments that others have made on Walker’s ability per The Michigan Daily.

“(Walker) has gifts that a lot of people don’t,” standout defensive back Mike Sainristil told The Daily during Michigan football spring practices. Walker’s unique athletic ability and mix of an incredible frame (6-foot-4, 180-pounds) “He’s 6-foot-3, moves like he’s 5-foot-10. He plays like he’s 225, he’s tall, he’s lengthy. He runs a 4.2, 4.3 (40 yard dash). His skill set is rare.”

Just because Walker came to Michigan as a receiver does not mean that he has not dreamed of getting this opportunity for awhile. In fact, Amorion Walker would have things no other way — he is ready for his new challenge.

“I always wanted to play both ways,” Walker said last week. “I still love the defensive side of the ball. That was actually the first position I ever played. So, it’s kind of where I get my background.” He continued, “I’m trying to lose the receiver tendencies that I have from playing it for a long time … Just trying to get back into the DB motion and back to where I used to be before I made the switch.”

The praise for Amorion Walker and his athletic talent are not just from outsiders, either; Walker knows that he is an incredible athlete. “I definitely am one of the best athletes in the country, for sure,” Walker said. “As far as running and jumping and being able to change direction.”