Michigan Football: Where Wolverines stand with 2022 running backs

Michigan football has a new running backs coach in Mike Hart and here’s what the recruiting board at running back is looking like for 2022. 

Recruiting the running back position hasn’t been an issue for the Michigan football program in recent years. The Wolverines have landed some big-time talents at the position, which includes sophomore Blake Corum and freshman Donovan Edwards.

But even though Michigan football has landed some high-ranking recruits at the position, the production hasn’t always matched. Zach Charbonnet was a top-50 recruit and he’s playing for UCLA next season.

Michigan is still set at running back in 2021 with Hassan Haskins, Corum, Edwards, and Tavierre Dunlap, another freshman. But that leaves just four backs in the program, so more additions in 2022 will be needed.

Since Hart took over, there hasn’t been a ton of movement at the running back position. Dillon Tatum was once a target but he’s now shifted to the defensive side of the ball.

Gavin Sawchuk has long been a top target for U-M, but the Wolverines seem to be falling out of contention there as the top-50 back seems destined for Oklahoma.

But two other top targets at the position are set to visit Michigan football in June and those are the two names to know at running back in 2022, which are George Pettaway and CJ Stokes.

Where Michigan stands with Pettaway/Stokes

Pettaway is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound back out of Virginia, and he’s ranked 97th overall according to the 247 sports composite rankings and sixth among ball carriers.

North Carolina leads with the only crystal ball projection right now, but according to his 247 sports profile, Michigan and Penn State are the two schools set to get visits right now.

Hart has done a solid job with Pettaway, who is an exciting runner and an excellent receiver too. Florida is another team that is expected to get an official visit according to 247 sports, but from Jim Harbaugh on down, the staff is making a strong push for Pettaway.

While Pettaway is probably the top target at running back right now, Stokes is another player to keep an eye on as the three-star running back will also visit Michigan on June 18.

Stokes is rated as the No. 850 prospect overall in the class of 2022 and 63rd among running backs. From Columbia, South Carolina, Stokes does rank higher according to 247 sports own rankings and despite crystal ball picks to the South Carolina, Michigan is very much in the mix.

South Carolina seems to have backed off just a bit as Stokes is taking visits to Missouri, Vanderbilt, and also West Virginia, which jumped in with an offer recently.

As the in-state program, the Gamecocks could have an edge if they make a push, but right now, Stokes isn’t using one of his official visits there and if things continue in that direction, you have to feel optimistic about Michigan’s chances with Stokes.

Pettaway is a different story but U-M seems to be heading in the right direction there too and his visit could be key as he appears to be the Wolverines only hope at landing a top-100 back in 2022.