Michigan’s Rushing Juggernaut
The Michigan Wolverine run game has been completely unstoppable the last 2 seasons. They have been absolutely stacked at the Half Back position, as well as having great depth behind their award winning Offensive Line. 2024 is looking to be more of the same, pure domination running the football.
“Big Game” Donovan Edwards
This year for The Michigan Wolverine’s offense, we will get to see Donovan Edwards lead the historic run game. For the last two seasons, Edwards has been HB2 to record holding HB Blake Corum. Typically, you wouldn’t see much production out of the next man up, but this is what has earned him the name “Big Game Don”.
In the 2022 season, we watched as Edwards exploded with long touchdown runs against Ohio State. He also took over the running game when Corum was injured. Fans watched in 2023 as it looked like Edwards struggled to get his share of carries, yards, and touchdowns. At times, his frustration was visible. But by the time the game against Penn State came around, Big Game Don reappeared and reminded everyone how explosive he really is.
Edwards looks to have a great season at Michigan, with Kalel Mullings playing his old role. We saw great things from Mullings in 2023, as he made a transition from Linebacker to Running Back, and 2024 we should get to see him given even more touches. This will let Edwards get the rest he needs to stay fresh for the end of the season. Sophomore Ben Hall will be the one to pick things up to give Mullings a break.
The Moving Parts Of The Michigan Offense
The Running Back Room at Michigan, will again be made possible by another great Offensive Line. Many lineman are returning, and the depth on the O-line will be retained. This will give the Wolverines the same advantage as last year, of rotating linemen in and out while keeping everyone fresh and ready to play.
With all the coaching changes taking place in Ann Arbor, the Offensive line will have a new leader. Grant Newsome will be taking over. This is a move that has everyone excited as Newsome follows in the footsteps of new head coach, Sherrone Moore, moving from coaching the Tight End group, to the 2024 Offensive Line Coach.
Newsome, a former Wolverine Tackle, also earned two degrees from his alma mater. The Wolverine fanbase loves seeing a Michigan Man moving up the chain of command, but we will see how he works with new Running Back coach, Tony Alford.
Putting It All Together
Michigans total offense production, as well as the season, will still(unless a transfer makes a move to Ann Arbor) be in the hands of first year starter, Alex Orji. In the previous season, we saw JJ McCarthy leave the field so Orji could get a decent amount of late game snaps in more dominant wins. Possibly more important, we also saw the team and coaching staff rally around him as he found the end zone for a rushing touchdown against an in state rival, Michigan State. If this is any foreshadowing for the season to come, with Orji being the athletic freak that he is, he should add another element to the Michigan run game in a great way.
The schedule for the Wolverines will be well balanced, but with the B1G incoming teams losing coaches and key player, we can expect to the same criticisms to be made about a soft schedule. The first test for the Michigans run heavy offense, will be in week 2 against Texas. The Longhorns are expected to be right back in playoff contention, but the first elite defense the wolverines will play won’t come until the last game of the season, against Ohio State.