Michigan Football: Where things stand with 2021 running back recruits

Michigan football is focused on a few key targets at running back for the 2021 class and much of it depends on what happens with 4-star Donovan Edwards.

Right now, four-star running back Donovan Edwards might be the most important possible commitment for the Michigan football program to get in the 2021 recruiting class.

There are some other key battles Michigan football really needs to win, such as with four-star defensive end Quentin Somerville or four-star offensive lineman Rocco Spindler. Another is in-state linebacker Jamari Buddin.

The difference is that with Spindler and Buddin, if Michigan ends up missing, U-M is in solid position with some other solid prospects. At linebacker, Junior Colson seems to be leaning towards the Wolverines and Drew Kendall, a guard ranked in the top 100 by 247 sports own rankings, is doing the same, which could help mitigate the loss of Spindler.

At running back, there are similar backup options if Edwards spurns the Wolverines for Georgia or another school, but at running back, it will be hard to find someone else like Edwards.

Edwards is 38th overall according to the 247 sports composite rankings in 2021 and he’s 23rd overall according to just 247 sports specific rankings. To put it simply, he can do it all and he would be a tremendous weapon for offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.

The only problem is while Michigan once seemed like the favorite, things seem much more open now and with schools like Georgia pushing, along with Michigan State and Penn State, it’s far from a sure thing.

Like other positions, Michigan has some solid choices. Corey Kiner is ranked 163rd nationally and 10th among running backs in 2021. He’s out of Ohio and according to Steve Lorenz of The Michigan Insider ($), his recruitment is down to Louisville and Michigan right now, with a decision coming in July.

Kiner is a bigger, more physical back, who doesn’t have the same speed of explosiveness as Edwards, yet he would be a nice compliment. Another name to consider though is Prophet Brown, a four-star running back out of California, who’s ranked 21st at the position overall in the 247 sports composite rankings and 339th overall. 247 sports ranks him much higher at 180 overall and 14th among backs, but either way, he offers similar skills to Edwards.

Brown is a guy who can lineup all over the field, in the backfield, in the slot. He’s a talented running, but he also offers some receiving options just like Edwards does. You will see him run routes of the slot and even look like a wideout.

Michigan is in solid position here, but you have to wonder how many backs they will take and if there’s room for Brown, if Edwards wants to commit. We shall see.