Michigan Football: Four Utes to Watch Against the Wolverines

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Nov 8, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) runs with the ball while Oregon Ducks linebacker Joe Walker (35) attempts to make the tackle during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Oregon won 51-27. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Devontae Booker (RB)

I mentioned earlier how Travis Wilson isn’t Utah’s biggest threat on offense. That’s because Devontae Booker emerged last season as one of the better running backs in the nation.

Booker played his ball in 2011 and 2012 at American River College and sat out in 2013 to finish coursework. So he was relatively unknown when he hit the big stage at Utah, and thus surprised everyone by rushing for 1,512 yards and 10 touchdowns on 292 carries.

He made up for Wilson’s inefficiency at least twice last year in wins over UCLA and Oregon State, and he’ll be running behind an offensive line this season that has a combined 56 starts from five players.

Michigan’s front kept Booker from doing too much in last season’s meeting, limiting him to only 34 yards on 11 carries.

The Wolverines’ front is going to be solid again this time around, but Booker will also be a better back than he was 12 months ago. If he’s truly an elite back (and a dark horse candidate for the Heisman), he’ll give Michigan much more to worry about.

Next: Analysis: Michigan's First 2015 Depth Chart

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