Michigan Football: Will Chris Evans realize his potential in 2019?

Michigan football has a number of questions at the running back position but the biggest might be can Chris Evans finally live up to his potential in 2019?

Ever since Chris Evans burst onto the scene for Michigan football back in 2016 with two touchdowns and 118 yards in his first game against Hawaii, big things have been expected of the running back.

However, since then, Evans has failed to live up to that hype. It’s certainly hard to label Evans a disappointment. After all, he has rushed for 400 yards or more in each of his three seasons and has averaged 5.7 yards per rush during his Michigan football career to go along with more than 2,000 total yards from scrimmage and 16 career touchdowns.

Evans has been a solid contributor for Michigan, there is no doubt about that. Yet, he never grew into the starting back some, myself included, thought he could be.

Evans began the 2017 season essentially even with Karan Higdon, but then Higdon passed him and this past season, Higdon was the clear starter for the Wolverines as he racked up more than 1,100 yards, becoming the first Michigan back to reach 1,000 yards since Fitzgerald Toussaint.

Injuries have been a factor in limiting Evans production. He was nagged by injury in 2017, although he managed to play in all 13 games, and this past season, a hamstring injury forced him out for three games.

Whatever the reason, Michigan football fans haven’t seen the same Evans since that first season back in 2016. Not only did he average seven yards per rushing attempt, but he also went over 100 yards twice, something he has only done one other time since (Minnesota 2017).

Evans racked up 191 yards on 13 carries and followed it up with 80 yards on 15 attempts the next week against Maryland. During that two-week span, he scored four touchdowns.  After that, Evans also played well against Ohio State in 2017, turning 11 rushes (67 yards) and five receptions (34 yards) in 101 total yards.

That play down the stretch seemed to indicate good things were on the way in 2018, however, Evans only received 10 carries or more four times and ran for 75 yards or more only three times against Western Michigan, SMU and Rutgers. The game against Rutgers, which saw him break off a long touchdown in the fourth quarter, was the only game in which he went over 100 total yards.

So what does this all mean for 2019?

Well, it means that this is Evans last shot to be the starting running back for Michigan football and even now, winning that job won’t be easy.

While Tru Wilson, who helped fill in for both Evans and Higdon at times in 2018, won’t challenge for the starting job, his ability to pass protect and get tough yards will get him snaps and touches. He won’t be featured, but he will have a role.

The two guys that might stand in the way of Evans starting are a couple of freshmen. The first is redshirt freshman Christian Turner, who ran seven times for 32 yards against Florida. Yet, because he played in only three games, he will still be a freshman in terms of eligibility.

Turner’s explosiveness and decisive style remind of Higdon, with a hint more big-play ability. The would-be touchdown run against Florida that was called back showed just how good this kid can be when he puts it all together. If he can in spring ball and follow it up with a strong showing in fall camp, he could top the running back depth chart.

Incoming freshman Zach Charbonnet, who is already enrolled and will practice with Michigan football this spring is another name to watch. He was one of the top backs in the country in 2019 and seems ready to make an immediate impact.

Even if Evans starts, he will share carries. New offensive coordinator Josh Gattis may prefer more of a committee approach and that could make sense. However, with his big-play ability as a runner and receiver, Evans will play a key role and if he can stay healthy, especially with a new scheme designed to get speed in space, he could flourish.

His receiving skills have always been underutilized and with Gattis calling plays, he will have a great shot to finally realize his full potential — if he can stay healthy and fend off some younger players hungry to supplant him on the depth chart.