Could RB CJ Stokes make an early impact for Michigan Football?

Michigan football has two very talented backs but there could be room for another to get some carries. Could freshman CJ Stokes be that guy? 

You can make the case that Michigan football could have as talented a 1-2 punch as any in college football at the running back position.

Hassan Haskins is gone to the Tennessee Titans of the NFL and Michigan football is definitely going to miss the man who ran over Ohio State for five touchdowns.

Haskins still doesn’t get enough credit for what he did last season. He was absolutely incredible in short-yardage situations and while the line was really good, he did a lot of his own heavy lifting. His leap also turned more than a few runs into something more extraordinary.

This season, Corum is expected to assume the starting role, although labels don’t really matter because both Corum and Edwards will touch the ball plenty.

If I had my way, those guys would probably touch the ball a combined 40 times a game (rushing and receiving). That means there won’t be many opportunities for a third back and much of the discussion has centered around who could fill in as a power back.

Kalel Mullings is one candidate. He’s playing linebacker and running back and was impressive during the spring. Tavierre Dunlap is a personal favorite of mine. He doesn’t dance around and I was always high on him coming out of high school.

Dunlap felt like the perfect back to pair with Edwards. Dunlap is also 6-foot, 217 pounds. Mullings is 6-foot-2, 232 pounds, while CJ Stokes, the freshmen three-star recruit is 5-toot-10, 196 pounds.

What could Stokes role be this season for Michigan football?

Stokes won’t necessarily answer Michigan’s short-yardage problem, but I don’t know that he needs to. I’d trust Corum or Edwards in those situations. The offense line is also going to get a better push in the middle.

The Wolverines upgraded at center and both guard spots will be better as Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter have had another year of seasoning.

That could open the door for Strokes, who enrolled late but has impressed Jim Harbaugh.

"“The young guy, CJ Stokes — you talk about a young guy that does not appear to be a freshman,” Harbaugh said. “I could tell you a couple of great stories of his play. It reminds you a lot of [Michigan junior] Blake Corum as a runner, and as a back. He’s very, very good. It reminds you of Blake, too, in the way he’s serious in how he approaches the game. He is locked in at all times.”"

If Stokes is anything like Corum, then landing his commitment was a home run. He was ranked as a three-star recruit out of South Carolina, but Harbaugh said he’ll be a “really good player” and it will be interesting to see if RB coach Mike Hart was right all along.