Michigan Football: Post-spring breakdown of running backs

We continue our position-by-position look at Michigan football post-spring and next up are the running backs. 

There is still a long way to go before Sept. 3 when Michigan football will open up its 2022 season against Colorado State.

However, we got a glimpse of what the Wolverines are going to look like during spring ball, and one thing that seems clear is the offense is going to be really good.

It might even be the best offense of the Jim Harbaugh era.

One reason for that is the collection of talent at running back Michigan football currently has, which is impressive since Hassan Haskins left for the NFL draft.

Replacing Haskins won’t be easy and really, it can’t be done. There isn’t another player on the roster like him and as much credit as Aidan Hutchinson got for what transpired last season, we should never forget the incredible impact Haskins had. He was the Hutch of the offense.

Whether it was hurdling people, running by them, over them, or through them, he made positive yards even when they weren’t there. He also wouldn’t be denied in the red zone (as Ohio State remembers well).

So the running game is going to look different. Instead of Haskins and Blake Corum getting most of the carries, it will now be Corum and Donovan Edwards.

Post-spring thoughts on Michigan football’s running backs

In Corum and Edwards, Michigan might have the best running back tandem in the country. Edwards looked electric in the spring game and down the stretch last season. As both a runner and receiver, he will give defenses fits.

Corum also looked good in the spring game and had one really nice cut and run before basically taking a seat on the sideline (to be safe). He’s got great vision and tremendous speed, and just has a knack for breaking off big runs.

Although Corum fell just short of 1,000 yards last season, I think both backs will make a push for that number again and each should get over 1,000 total yards easily.

Another guy that could reach 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season is A.J. Henning and one reason is that he’s expected to get touches as a running back this year too per Harbaugh.

"“We’re in good shape,” Harbaugh said of Michigan’s running back room. “AJ Henning, we’re experimenting with AJ Henning there as well. It’s not out of the experimental stage, but he’s got the skill set to do it. I kind of envision a Deebo (Samuel) type of role for Henning, just ways to get him more touches, ways to get him the ball more is going to be good for our football team.”"

Henning needs more touches and throwing him in the backfield occasionally will make it even more difficult for defenses to defend him. Yet, the Wolverines still have one role that needs to be filled and that’s the short-yardage, power role that Haskins played.

Of course, Corum and Edwards will be fine in short-yardage too but Michigan football likes having that big back and there are two contenders. Tavi Dunlap, a rising sophomore, was an underrated addition in 2021 and he impressed during the spring.

I always thought he would be a perfect back to pair with Edwards. He’s big, fast, strong, and runs with a no-nonsense style similar to Haskins. But Kalel Mullings, who is now a linebacker and running back, should also be in the mix.

With those options, plus Corum, Edwards, and also Henning, as well as CJ Stokes, Michigan football has plenty of talent and depth at running back.

There was talk of a transfer portal addition but in my opinion, if U-M is going to use a scholarship on a transfer portal guy, it should be on defense, not running back.

At that position, Michigan football should be just fine.