Michigan Football in Desperate Need of Running Back Production

Michigan football needs better production from its running backs before taking the next step, but there isn’t much currently solidified for the future.

The last time Michigan had a running back eclipse 1,000 yards in a season was Fitzgerald Toussaint in 2011, Brady Hoke’s first year. Since then, there’s a been a major lag in production from the Wolverines’ tailbacks.

It wasn’t a big deal with Denard Robinson at quarterback because he could easily mask those flaws. Then with Devin Gardner, there was a chance to do the same thing, but Hoke pretty much screwed that one up. Now that we’ve completed the first 12 games of the Jim Harbaugh era, there’s no question what Michigan needs: a horse of a running back.

For a little while it looked like De’Veon Smith was going to be that guy this season. He had some spotty performances to begin the season, but he was clearly Michigan’s best shot at moving the ball on the ground.

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For most of the second half of the season though, no one really knows who Michigan’s best running back was. Smith continued to get most of the carries, but it was very much by committee in the backfield; nothing much came out of it.

The Wolverines are going to have a lot of bodies at running back next year, but will there actually be any depth?

Here’s what it’s looking like:

To be clear, I’m not projecting a depth chart or anything like that; I’m just laying out the big-hitters from this season. It’s important to note that Sione Houma got in on the action from time to time, especially when it become clear that the run game was really suffering. And yes, I included Jabrill Peppers.

My point here is that Michigan is losing four players to eligibility after next season, and one of them easily amassed more yards than anyone else.

Michigan currently has two running backs committed to the 2016 class: Chris Evans (Indianapolis, Indiana), who’s rated as a four-star talent by 247Sports, and Kiante Enis (Winchester, Indiana), who’s rated a three-star talent.

All eyes right now are on Kareem Walker, who 247Sports has ranked as the No. 1 running back in the 2016 class.

Walker decommitted from Ohio State on Nov. 3 and has since shopped at Alabama and Auburn on official visits. He’s also go an official scheduled at Ole Miss on Dec. 5.

Wolverines running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley dropped in on Walker the other day and apparently left a good impression.

Since Walker’s decommitment from the Buckeyes, Michigan has skyrocketed on the 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions, with 71 percent of voters now saying the running back will land in Ann Arbor.

Walker last visited Michigan on Oct. 10. There aren’t any reported plans for another trio, but we can expect an announcement soon because of his plans to enroll in the spring semester.

Getting Walker would mean the world to the future of power football at Michigan.

Next: Peppers, Lewis first-team All-Big Ten selections

Things should be steady enough next season, but there’s a lot of uncertainty after that. It’s a position the Wolverines need to secure before taking that next step.