Michigan Football: Wolverines are crazy deep at running back

If we get a season, Michigan football is going to have a stacked group of running backs, at least according to some recent camp updates.

It’s Tuesday morning and at this point, we still have no idea when the Big Ten is going to vote or if we will be any closer to knowing when the Michigan football season will start.

There seems to be growing momentum for a fall season, not only for the Big Ten, but the Pac-12 also seems to moving towards a vote to resume the season.

Right now, all signs are pointing towards a season for both conferences coming back in October or November. But until the votes are in, the schedule is out, as well as games played, I don’t think anyone will really believe it’s going to happen. That’s how crazy all of this has been.

While we are still waiting for word from the Big Ten, as rumors swirl that Michigan football and others wouldn’t play, which I for the record don’t believe.

If there is Big Ten football, Michigan will be playing. And if the Wolverines do take the field this season, they will have one of the most talented running back groups in the country.

Chris Balas of the Wolverine, the Michigan Rivals site, had another camp update Monday ($) and had some insane insight about the running back position:

"“One impeccable source said the current depth chart would be fifth-year senior Chris Evans, followed by true freshman Blake Corum and then sophomore Zach Charbonnet. Now, we’ve heard incredible things about Corum, but a depth chart at this point can only say so much.”"

Chris Evans hasn’t played for Michigan football since the 2018 season and missed 2019 due to grades. However, that hasn’t stopped the draft buzz regarding Evans to grow.

In his list of top 50 NFL draft prospects for the 2021 draft, ESPN’s Todd McShay listed Evans as the No. 50 overall prospect.

During his college career, Evans has logged 304 carries for 1,744 yards which equates to an average 5.7 yards per rush. He only has 30 career receptions but in the new offensive system under Josh Gattis, his production there would likely improve.

The surprising thing about Evans being atop the depth chart according to this source, is that sophomore Zach Charbonnet has also been impressive this offseason.

Charbonnet was a top-50 recruit and if he wasn’t injured a year ago, he likely would have gone over 1,000 yards rushing.

Hassan Haskins, who also had an impressive year running the ball in 2019, wasn’t even mentioned. Obviously, that will probably change once the pads come on for real and the hitting starts. It’s hard to judge backs without live contact.

But the fact that Corum, the four-star running back recruit out of the 2020 class, is also getting mentioned before Charbonnet is also a surprise and speaks to the Wolverines incredible depth.

So if we do wind up getting a Michigan football season, the running back position will be one reason for optimism heading into 2020.