Mike Hart breaks down Michigan’s elite running back depth in 2023

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — We are only a few days removed from the Wolverines’ first on-field performance of the season: the 2023 spring game. The Michigan football spring game served as the fans’ first look at this year’s roster; however, star running backs like Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum did not see the field due to injury, leading many wondering where the Wolverines’ stand as far as depth beyond their two top 10 backs. After the spring game, Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart broke down what he sees and what he likes about the team’s RB depth.

Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart breaks down the program’s RB depth

Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart — who played for Michigan football from 2004-2007 under former head coach Lloyd Carr — is currently one of the top RB developers in the country. Under Hart’s direction, the Wolverines have become known as one of the grittiest run-first programs in the sport, and in 2023, will likely defend that title once more.

“Yeah, I think we’re really deep,” Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart said when asked about the team’s RB depth. “I definitely feel a lot better this time of year than I did last year. We’ve got a lot of depth, you know, guys are competing, as we’re going into fall camp, but definitely feel really good about our running game right now.”

Hart speaks on freshman running back Benjamin Hall

During the Michigan football spring game, the Wolverines saw a few new faces shine, such as true freshman running back Benjamin Hall — a 5-foot-11, 225-pound wrecking ball.

“Well I told him today, he should have had two touchdowns,” Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart said of Hall after the Michigan football spring game. “He failed twice, he stepped out of bounds once and tripped on the other one. I just think he’s, his maturity is, it’s pretty, it’s amazing, I mean, you wouldn’t guess he’s 18 years old, he just turned 18 two weeks ago. So he acts like he’s been here a long time, he studies the offense. He’s just getting better and better every day. He’s just built like a pro, man.”

Hart’s praise for Hall didn’t end there, either. Hart continued, “Those legs are huge, he runs hard, so I’m excited about his future here … He’s Hassan like, he’s hard to tackle, he’s hard to bring down. But his legs are just so thick, if people get him waste down, I mean he’s a big guy, so I would probably compare him to Hassan.”

Even with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards battling injuries right now, the Michigan football spring game proved that the Wolverines’ RB depth is second to none in the Big Ten and beyond.

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