Michigan Football should roll with Zach Charbonnet as starting RB
The running back position seems as murky as ever for Michigan football heading into the season opener but with Zach Charbonnet, it shouldn’t be.
One of Michigan football‘s most hotly contested position battles this fall has come at running back. The three biggest names are familiar in Tru Wilson, Zach Charbonnet and Christian Turner. However, it sounds like UM still has five guys in the running to get carries.
When running backs coach Jay Harbaugh spoke to reporters this week, he reiterated that Hassan Haskins and Ben VanSumeren were still in the mix to get touches, which is something Harbaugh had said going back to August.
Here is what Jay Harbaugh said recently via Wolverines Wire:
"“Being able to play multiple guys at once is one thing. I think obviously you have to have guys that are good enough to warrant doing that. It allows you to be able to put multiple guys on the field at once. And it also lets you survive a season, because it’s hard to keep a guy healthy, one or two guys healthy, for 13 games.”"
Jay Harbaugh is correct that keep running backs healthy can be difficult. And to Michigan football fans, the platoon system at running back isn’t anything new. It’s been standard operating procedure except for the last year and a half when Karan Higdon established himself as the guy.
Yet, Higdon is now gone and Chris Evans is suspended. That leaves Wilson and Turner as the most experienced runners coming back. Experience is important, especially when it comes to Wilson and his ability to pass protect.
However, when it comes to the starting running back job, Michigan football should just get it over with and call Charbonnet the guy. The 6-foot-2 freshman is the Wolverines top offensive recruit from 2019 and if you listen to Jim Harbaugh, he’s as good as advertised.
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“Zach Charbonnet (is) coming on like a freight train,” Harbaugh said a couple of weeks ago. “He is really, really playing well. Sees holes, can run, got a real knack catching the football and understanding and learning the game as well.”
While no one has questioned his running ability, there is reason to worry about how he will handle blitz pickups and pass protection, an area where Wilson excels. The senior also averaged more than five yards per rushing attempt last season, so he’s no slouch.
Wilson also isn’t Charbonnet. Turner, another back with potential, should also see plenty of time but even he feels like more of a backup. Not because he doesn’t have talent, he has shown since last year’s Peach Bowl that he has plenty, it’s just that Charbonnet seems to have more.
So if he’s really as good as both Harbaughs have said he is and if all the hype is true, it’s time to turn things over to him. Michigan football has been desperately in need of a star running back, someone who can effectively carry the offense and be the bell-cow.
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Charbonnet feels like he could be that guy and that’s why it wouldn’t be shocking if he assumes the starting job Saturday and doesn’t give it up until he declares for the NFL Draft in a few years.