The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1094509
APRIL 2019 THE WOLVERINE 35 2019 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. RUNNING BACKS BY JOHN BORTON I f the holes are as wide open as Michigan's running backs position is heading into spring, somebody's going to be very happy. Just who that designated rusher is remains to be seen. Karan Hig- don — last year's 1,000-yard runner who bolted for NFL preparation prior to the bowl game — is long gone. Michigan's other back with significant experience, would-be senior Chris Evans, was dropped from the roster in the offseason regarding an academic issue. That leaves a world of opportunity, and a handful of hopefuls. It's time for some serious sorting out in spring football. WHO'S GONE TAILBACK KARAN HIGDON Higdon piled up 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018, despite opting out of Michigan's final contest and miss- ing another in the regular season. He proved the workhorse, with nearly three times the carries (224) of any other back and a 5.3-yard average per carry. TAILBACK CHRIS EVANS Evans tacked on 423 yards and four scores on 81 tries in 2018. He looked to be the in the driver's seat among returners, until veering off the road. He's not with the team heading into spring ball, because of what Evans described as academic issues. WHO'S BACK SENIOR TAILBACK TRU WILSON Wilson earned significant trust in 2018, carrying 62 times for 364 yards and one touchdown. His 5.9-yard clip was the best of any rusher with more than 10 totes. REDSHIRT FRESHMAN TAILBACK CHRISTIAN TURNER Turner saw the field sparingly as a freshman, providing a highlight on a play that didn't count. His 48-yard touchdown run in the Peach Bowl got called back when he stepped out of bounds, but he insists he'll find the end zone again — and for the first time, officially — soon. JUNIOR FULLBACK BEN MASON Mason remained Michigan's short-yardage and goal-line battering ram in 2018, carrying 33 times for 80 yards and seven touchdowns. He's been talked about as a linebacker at times, and his role in new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis' attack will bear watching. TOP NEWCOMER FRESHMAN TAILBACK ZACH CHARBONNET The California import is the one to watch here, a 6-1, 222-pounder with good feet, along with 4,766 yards and 65 touchdowns on the ground in his prep career. He's undergone a meniscus surgery since coming to Michigan, so his spring availability and progress will be closely monitored. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL BY THE NUMBERS 1 Touchdown scored in 2018 by Michi- gan tailbacks returning for the 2019 campaign (by senior Tru Wilson). 11 Years have passed since Michigan last featured a tailback going for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Mike Hart last accomplished the feat, in 2006 and 2007. 63.2 Percent of last year's rushing yard- age has departed, most of which was accounted for by Karan Higdon and Chris Evans, who combined for 1,601 yards (60.4 percent of Michigan's to- tal last year) and 14 touchdowns (53.9 percent) on the ground. 2,653 Michigan's team rushing total in 2018, its second-highest tally (be- hind 2,768 in 2016) since Denard Robinson was running wild for the Wolverines in 2010 and 2011. POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Certainly, all eyes will be on the start- ing tailback job, with a secondary look at how the fullback position will be used in Michigan's changing offense. Zach Charbonnet enjoys perhaps the best chance to see significant time as a freshman tailback since Hart closed out the Lloyd Carr era. But the rookie out of California needs to get himself ready to compete after a physical setback that required surgery. Meanwhile, players such as senior Tru Wilson and redshirt freshman Christian Turner will never get a better opportu- nity to assert themselves in a Michigan lineup. "The opportunity is there for Tru Wilson. The opportunity is there for Christian Turner. Spring ball is going to be very important to find out who is going to take the reins of that run game." — Former U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE CHRISTIAN TURNER