Another reminder that Michigan's running back room will be elite

Michigan football fans are right to be excited about quarterback Bryce Underwood, but that's not the only reason why the offense should be much-improved.

The offensive line will be better, and while the running backs might not be better, necessarily than Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, they'll be at least as good, if not more productive due to a better unit blocking for them, along with the threat of an actual passing game.

Jordan Marshall impressed Michigan football fans with his 23-attempt, 100-yard performance against Alabama to earn him the MVP award of the ReliaQuest Bowl.

The former top-50 overall recruit from the state of Ohio seems every bit as good as advertised. He's expected to be 1A or 1B in the Michigan backfield, along with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes, who averaged 5.9 yards per attempt in two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

It was weird that Haynes wasn't used more, but the upside is apparent. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and averaged nearly six yards per carry on 104 attempts. Haynes deserved more chances than he got and he will get them in Ann Arbor.

It's anyone's guess who will get more carries this season for Michigan football. Haynes seems to have a slight edge in fall camp. It's early, though, and the pads have barely come on.

Haynes has only carried the ball more than 10 times once in his career. So there is a lot of tread on those tires. It's time to wear it down.

Two Michigan running backs make Doak Walker watch list

Both Marshall and Haynes were named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, Michigan football announced on Tuesday. That award goes to the best running back in college football.

There are other tandems from the same school on the list but not many and when the season comes to a close, not many duos will be as productive as Marshall and Haynes.