Michigan Football: The good news/bad news with Donovan Edwards

Michigan football is in a better position with four-star running back Donovan Edwards than it was not long ago, so here’s the good news and the bad news.

It’s been a pretty solid couple of weeks for the Michigan football program when it comes to recruiting. That’s especially true after four-star tight end Louis Hansen committed Thursday, which was the third commitment for the Wolverines in the last week.

That gives Michigan football five total in 2021. Yet, there is a lot of work to do and one of the most important targets remaining is four-star running back Donovan Edwards, out of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Edwards is the No. 3 running back in the 2021 class according to the 247 sports composite rankings and simply put, he would be a huge difference-maker for Michigan football.

Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins are big-time players and Blake Corum should be really solid too, but Edwards will be an instant playmaker.

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Michigan football has been communicating with Edwards as much as possible via Facetime and it’s made an impact according to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider ($), who also said that Edwards has taken notice of Jim Harbaugh being more involved.

That’s the good news. If there was a leader right now, it might be Michigan football but it sounds like there is a long ways to go. Edwards wants to take visits according to Webb ($), which could help the Wolverines but also gives Georgia and Oklahoma more of a chance.

It sounds like the role he will play is going to have a big impact on Edwards’ decision and that makes sense. While that could favor Oklahoma, because Lincoln Riley has the reputation of being an offensive genius or Georgia, which has a reputation for turning out running backs, the Wolverines could have a good case to make.

Josh Gattis was more creative last season and used Giles Jackson in some interesting ways. Corum and Chris Evans should be examples too of how Edwards could be used.

Beyond that, Edwards would have a chance to shine right away with Michigan football. He’s a unique player and someone the Wolverines haven’t really had in a long time. The closest thing at running back might be Chris Perry.

So even with Charbonnet, Corum and Hassan Haskins still around, Edwards would have a role to play. The bad news is that Oklahoma and Georgia can both sell the fact that their programs have been to the College Football Playoff.

Michigan can sell a chance at that, if it can convince Edwards he’s one of the missing pieces needed to beat Ohio State, along with five-star QB J.J. McCarthy, who is already committed.

But that could be an uphill battle. The bottom line is that with Edwards, there are reasons to feel good and reasons to be concerned. It’s totally fair to call it a toss-up.