Michigan Football: Hassan Haskins deserves his due too

Hassan Haskins deserves plenty of credit too, along with Adian Hutchinson, for Michigan football’s incredible 2021 season.

Nobody expected a little-known linebacker out of Missouri to have such an impact on Michigan football four years after his freshman season (2018). That’s exactly what happened though.
Hassan Haskins or H2 as his nickname goes, was a former low three-star out of Eureka, Missouri. He was rated the #975th best player (so damn near 1,000) in the country. He was the 49th best running back and 11th best player in the state of Missouri.

I mean when was the last time Michigan fans (besides Haskins) could actually say a low three-star had a significant impact on the team? Not just decent impact, or okay production, but significant production?

As mentioned earlier, Hassan Haskins had to be converted to linebacker during his freshman season and back to running back because Michigan football needed more bodies at the position.

Throughout his career with the Wolverines, Haskins has always been known as a team player, putting his body on the line constantly, and always falling forward, never losing precious yardage (oh yeah not fumbling either).

What made him stand out this year though, was senior leadership, and being a veteran in the room, but also, he has finally been given the opportunity to shine.

Throughout his career, he’s been a backup to various other running backs, never really getting the chance to be an RB1. He’s backed up guys like Karan Hidgon, Zach Charbonnet, Chris Evans, and Blake Corum (until he got hurt obviously).

No, Hassan isn’t the type of back that can go the distance for 65-70 yards to the house, but he can get you those yards after contact, and he always falls forward, so it negates any lost yardage.

He’s that bruiser type of running back. He loves contact, and that’s why his nickname is “thunder.” He lowers the boom running in between the tackles.

He had a coming-out game for the ages though against rival Ohio State in the biggest game of the decade and of the season for Michigan football.

Michigan careers are tainted if you don’t win “The Game”, or don’t do anything in “The Game.”

Hassan Haskins ran wild for 169 yards and FIVE touchdowns against Ohio State and willed Michigan football to the Big Ten Championship game. Without Hassan, Michigan probably doesn’t beat Ohio State.

Haskins deserves his own place in Michigan history

This was Hassan’s last year to etch his name into the history books and leave an impact, and he went out there and got it done.

Aidan Hutchinson may get majority of the love and attention, but Hassan Haskins deserves to be right up there with him.

He has an very solid argument to be known as one of the greatest Michigan running backs of all time (at least his senior season should be), and also has a case to be on the Mount Rushmore of Michigan football athletes.

Aidan Hutchinson, Desmond Howard, and Charles Woodson — all of those guys were highly-rated recruits coming out of high school, some of the best at their respective positions.

Hassan Haskins was nowhere near that highly rated, barely sneaking into the top-1,000, and had to change positions in the off-season. To me, that makes what he has done all the more impressive.

No matter what, Hassan Haskins will forever be loved by Michigan fans, as one-half of the man who slayed OSU (with the other half being Aidan of course) and he will always be remembered as an invaluable and crucial member of Michigan’s ‘21-‘22 CFP run.

Michigan fans, where would you rank Hassan Haskins among Michigan’s all-time running backs?

Does he belong on the Mount Rushmore of Michigan football athletes?