A few days ago, on April 19th, the Michigan Wolverines were able to secure another transfer for their football program. CJ Hester is on his way from the University of Massachusetts and joins a long list of transfers coming to Michigan football for the 2025 season.
Welcome to Ann Arbor, @cjhester_3! 〽️ pic.twitter.com/e92olMHDoa
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 20, 2025
Hester started his college career in 2023 playing at Western Michigan, where he saw limited playing time behind the likes of Jalen Buckley and Zahir Abdus-Salaam. He totaled two rushing touchdowns and 132 yards on 28 carries, being third in rushing yards on the team behind Abdus-Salaam’s 470 yards and Buckley’s 1003 yards.
He then transferred to Massachusetts, where he saw significantly more playing time, scoring four rushing touchdowns and having the second-most rushing yards on the team with 529 rushing yards on 119 carries. Hester was only 54 yards behind his teammate Jalen John, despite having eight more carries than him.
Some thoughts on new Michigan football running back CJ Hester
With the departure of Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, the starting running back position is likely going to be up for grabs between the multiple running backs the Wolverines now have at their disposal. Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes are the top two backs coming out of spring ball, but Hester could provide value as a third option.
Comparing his stats from last year to the current team’s running backs, it seems like Hester should at least be in the mix for some playing time, although overtaking Marshall or Haynes will be difficult.
The Wolverines season begins on Saturday, August 30th, 2025, where they will play the New Mexico Lobos at home.