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Michigan football has a 'three-back type of rotation,' according to Jim Harbaugh

orion sang, detroit free press
·3 min read
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Jim Harbaugh said there are three running backs currently sitting atop Michigan football's depth chart — Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

And all three are in line to play this fall.

“As we sit here today, those three are up there high where it would be a three-back type of rotation,” Harbaugh said Thursday at Big Ten media days. “Leaning on Hassan and Blake the most and then Donovan."

Harbaugh characterized the situation by saying Haskins and Corum are “like running back No. 1 and No. 1.”

Michigan running back Hassan Haskins speaks to the media during Big Ten media days in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
Michigan running back Hassan Haskins speaks to the media during Big Ten media days in Indianapolis on Thursday, July 22, 2021.

Haskins, one of three players Michigan brought to media days in Indianapolis, is the most experienced and productive running back on the roster. In 2020, he led the team with 61 carries for 375 yards and six touchdowns. In 2019, Haskins had 121 carries for 622 yards and four touchdowns.

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“There’s nobody I love more than Hassan Haskins on our football team,” Harbaugh said. “As a coach, you love him. I know (U-M running backs coach) Mike (Hart)’s going to love him, Hassan is going to love Mike. Hassan is a freak athlete. Freak athleticism and strength. That’s a guy who high-jumped 6-7 in high school, rushed for 1,400 yards, he had 11 sacks if I remember right. He could be a linebacker.

“He is our arguably our best special teams player, most productive, can play kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return. Whatever the play is blocked for, he’s getting at least another yard or two. If it’s blocked for zero, he’s probably getting one yard. If it’s blocked for two, he’s getting four. If it’s blocked for four, he’s getting six. He’s a real football player. He is as tough as can be. He has soul. You love coaching guys like Hassan Haskins. He’s got our back and our front and our side. He could’ve gotten drafted this year.”

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Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum is tackled by Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Reese Taylor during the first quarter Nov 7, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind.
Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum is tackled by Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Reese Taylor during the first quarter Nov 7, 2020 in Bloomington, Ind.

Meanwhile, Corum received the second-most carries of any back in 2020 as a true freshman, with 26 rushes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 73 yards.

“I mean, he’s a workhorse,” Haskins said. “He’s been working. Blake is my guy. He’s definitely going to be working. Like I said, we’ve all been learning from each other, working with each other.”

The third back in the equation and a true freshman who enrolled early, Edwards “brings a different aspect to the game,” according to Haskins.

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“He’s got a little bit of everything,” Haskins continued. “He’s got speed, he’s got all that. We’re going to see this season how he’s going to do.”

Edwards, who won a state title at West Bloomfield under Ron Bellamy (now the safeties coach) this past winter, was the second-highest ranked member of Michigan's 2021 recruiting class as the No. 41 overall recruit in the nation.

And while he might be behind Haskins and Corum on the depth chart, Edwards could still be a key component of the run game, based on Harbaugh's comments.

West Bloomfield running back Donovan Edwards announces his commitment to play at Michigan during signing day at on the football field at West Bloomfield High School on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.
West Bloomfield running back Donovan Edwards announces his commitment to play at Michigan during signing day at on the football field at West Bloomfield High School on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.

“Donovan’s going to be really good,” Harbaugh said. “There’s such a competitive part about him. And the thing that Donovan understands is that it takes the whole team. It takes a whole team to win a championship. Nobody’s winning any championships unless it’s the team. He speaks that team language as good as anybody I’ve been around. He’s like a blessing that way.

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“He won a championship, he won one at West Bloomfield, so he knows. He’s going to be in the mix. You’ll be seeing Donovan Edwards game 1. ... Donovan’s got the ability to really hit the big ones. So do Blake and Hassan, but Donovan, got a vision of it being extremely good.”

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football has a three-headed monster at running back