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Michigan Football: 5 bold predictions for Wolverines in 2021

By Alex Hinton

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines on the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines on the field before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Michigan Football: Blake Corum
. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Hassan Haskins will not be Michigan’s leading rusher

Haskins is Michigan’s leading returning rusher entering 2021 with 997 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in 18 career games. He runs hard and provides Michigan with the floor of a solid Big Ten caliber starting running back. However, Michigan has two talented youngsters in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards behind him. Michigan also has a new running backs coach in Mike Hart, which means no job is guaranteed.

Blake Corum, a former top 150 recruit, is the current Michigan running back that is most similar to Mike Hart as a player. Corum is listed at 5-foot-8 200 lbs and Hart played around 5-foot-9 200 lbs. Both are/were shifty backs and able to squeeze in and out of tight cracks in the line. However, Corum is much faster and has 4.4 speed. Corum got his feet wet last season and 74 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. He also added 5 receptions for 74 yards as a receiver.

Donovan Edwards is Michigan’s much-ballyhooed five-star freshman. Edwards offers the most complete skill set out of Michigan’s running backs. Additionally, running back is a position where freshmen can quickly transition to the college game once they pick up the pass protection schemes and other duties. Edwards occasionally struggled with ball security in high school. However, Mike Hart should be the perfect coach to help with that considering he hardly ever fumbled himself.

Haskins, Corum, and Edwards will all have a role this season. I predict that early on it will be Corum-Haskins in a 1a-1b situation with Edwards getting mop-up duty with his role gradually progressing. With Corum and Edwards being better receivers than Haskins, they are better fits for Josh Gattis’ “speed in space” offense.

As a result, I think they will take snaps away from Haskins, resulting in him not being Michigan’s leading rusher this season. Let’s just hope Michigan does not rotate four running backs this season.

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