The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BY CHRIS BALAS For years, Michigan churned out great running backs that put up huge numbers. Since Mike Hart graduated in 2008, however, U-M's stable has been mostly hit and miss. Fitzgerald Toussaint became the Wolverines' first back since Hart to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark when he rushed for 1,041 in 2011. It would take seven more years before Karan Higdon joined him in the millennium club, running for 1,178 yards this sea- son despite skipping the bowl game and missing another contest earlier in the year with injury. Many close to the program expect it won't take nearly as long to find the next one. Redshirt freshman Christian Turner is skilled, and another — fresh- man early enrollee Zach Charbon- net of Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian — has been hailed as one of the most promising backs Michigan has recruited in a decade. "We fell in love with him as a foot- ball player the first time we met him because he's so big and tough," head coach Jim Harbaugh said on his 'At- tack Each Day' podcast this February. "He also has great balance and speed. He can carry a team and has every- thing we're looking for. "It's rare for a freshman to arrive wanting to get in the weight room at 6:00 a.m. and be in bed by 10 p.m. — it usually takes guys a few years to get that way, but he has it." Then Harbaugh paid him the ulti- mate compliment. "Zach reminds me of [former star NFL running back] Edgerrin James in some ways, because he can jump gaps due to how light he is on his feet," he continued. "Zach just straps it up, buckles his chin strap, and runs and blocks with a purpose — he wants to play strong, tough and fast, and I re- ally appreciate that about him." The 6-1, 222-pound Charbonnet, a blend of power and finesse, finished his prep career with 577 carries for 4,766 yards and 66 total touchdowns, including 1,795 yards and 17 touch- downs on 215 carries in 2018, aver- aging 8.3 yards per touch. He also notched 171 receiving yards on 15 catches and snared three interceptions on defense. Charbonnet, who enrolled at U-M in January, was invited to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-American Game, but did not participate due to injury. He's since had an undisclosed surgery that will likely at least limit him in spring ball. He's adapting to his new surround- ings, Oaks Christian head coach Charles Collins said, and will be back and better than ever. "I've talked to him, and he's frus- trated by the surgery," said Collins, a former NFL receivers coach. "I had that conversation with him about him having patience and understanding the process. He's so driven, and he wants to get it now and go. I had to re- mind him he has to embrace his own process while he's recovering. "He can still get stronger, watch film and do a lot of other things while he rehabs. That can change the per- spective that maybe it's cold, or 'I'm bored.' I tell him, 'You shouldn't be bored. You can watch film, study … you never have to be bored.'" It was his work ethic that helped make Charbonnet an elite prep back and one who is expected to play a role Zach Charbonnet Has A Chance To Be Michigan's Next Elite Back STATISTICS Year Car. Yards TD 2018 215 1,795 17 2017 265 2,049 23 2016 82 844 23 2015 15 78 2 HONORS • 2018 USA Today All-State second- team running back. • L a n d e d o n t h e Lo s A n g e l e s Times' All-Star team as a senior, while also being named their "All-Star Foot- ball Back of the Year." • Pegged as the Division 2 All-CIF Southern Section Offensive Player of the Year as a junior; he was named to his division's All-CIF Southern Section team each of his final three seasons. • Tabbed to The Los Angeles Daily News' All-Area first team in 2017 and 2018. • Shared the Marmonte Football League Player of the Year award in both 2017 and 2018 with five-star defensive end teammate Kayvon Thibodeaux, who will be attending Oregon. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on June 23, 2018, via Twitter, picking the Wolver- ines over UCLA, USC, Washington and Wisconsin. Also had offers from Flor- ida and Notre Dame, among others. • Cited U-M's strength coach, Ben Herber t, and Michigan's business school as the two biggest reasons he pledged to the Wolverines. • Stayed away from the camp circuit throughout his recruitment. • Running backs coach Jay Harbaugh spearheaded U-M's pursuit of him. ZACH CHARBONNET RUNNING BACK 6-1 • 222 OAKS CHRISTIAN H.S. CAMARILLO, CALIF. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 60 4 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 38 4 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 101 5 15 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 2019 Projection With Karan Higdon gone to gradu- ation and the uncertain status of senior Chris Evans, Charbonnet can be expected to play as a freshman. Rivals rates Charbonnet as the nation's No. 60 overall player and No. 4 running back. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM 38 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2019