Justice Haynes had an incredible first season with the Michigan football program, at least while he was on the field.
The former five-star recruit and Alabama transfer rushed for 857 yards this season for the Wolverines on just 121 carries. He averaged 7.1 yards per attempt, with a season-low of 5.1 yards per attempt against USC, when he was initially hurt and only carried the ball 10 times.
Haynes had two 75-yard touchdown runs this season, one against Oklahoma and another against Nebraska. He also had a 43-yard run against Wisconsin and a 59-yarder to open the season against New Mexico for a touchdown.
The kid is special and might have been a Heisman Trophy contender if he stayed healthy. There were rumblings that he was going to try and play against Ohio State. However, he was still in a walking boot.
Michigan football doing everything it can to keep Justice Haynes
There's a chance Haynes, who is NFL draft eligible, has played his final game for the Wolverines. Yet, with just eight games played last season, he might do his draft stock a favor by returning, something Michigan football is surely hoping for, according to Josh Henschke of Rivals.
Henschke reports that Michigan football is "swinging for the fences" in its efforts to bring back Haynes on a massive NIL deal for next season. That would give the Wolverines one of the best running back rooms in the country with Jordan Marshall and five-star freshman Savion Hiter.
Even if Haynes leaves, Marshall looked like an All-Big Ten running back this season. Marshall was fifth in the BIg Ten in rushing yards (932) and averaged 6.2 per attempt. He also had the fewest rushing attempts (150) of anyone in the top five.
With the way Michigan's back went down to injury this season, more depth could be nice, but you wonder if the backfield would feel too crowded. We'll see, but if Haynes returns, the Michigan running game might be the best in college football next season.
It should be among the best even if he doesn't.