The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1386887
THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 69 [ R U N N I N G B A C K S ] Jansen's spring takeaway on the coveted rookie involved what he could become, based on iso- lated moments. "There's a ton of potential," Jansen said. "You saw him use it here and there. Running back is one of those positions where you can come in and have an immedi- ate effect, just because it's such an instinctual position. "When to put the foot in the ground and get north and south, when to bounce, when to cut it back. He's got that feel. He just needs to continue to be more con- sistent. "Also, when we get into the fall, he's going to take more hits. How does he hold onto the foot- ball? What does he do when he gets hit? He's tackled by eight guys — defensive linemen, line- backers and a safety that comes to punch the ball out. "Until he's in that situation, until he's tested like that, you don't know. But he'll get his opportuni- ties. They'll be limited in the beginning of the season, until you build up that trust … and the only way to build up the trust is to get out there." Dunlap, Michigan's other freshman, also got a chance to perform in the work- outs prior to many of his classmates arriv- ing on campus. Gattis called him "a guy who really started coming on this spring." Jansen dubbed him "another natural runner." "I thought that he was, of the young players, the most patient — maybe at times a little too patient and cautious," Jansen noted. "Where Donovan put his foot in the ground and just took off, I just need to see more confidence. Yes, there's patience, and there needs to be a decision that's made. "He was a little hesitant in making that decision. When he did, it usually turned out well. It's just a matter of becoming comfortable in the backfield here." The Hart impact might be difficult to overstate. His presence with the running backs and the team as a whole can't be ignored, Gattis mentioned. "Mike Hart's been a tremendous asset for us," Gattis said. "He's a guy that is going to be a head coach one day. You see his demeanor, his leadership, his no-joke approach, especially with the players. He holds those guys accountable. "He's provides another alpha male presence on the offensive side of the ball. Mike will speak his mind. He'll address the guys in the right way and get the best out of them. That's what we need from these guys." Jansen doubled down on that. He watched Hart carefully as a player, and has followed him throughout his coaching career thus far. There will be elements of toughness and mental ruggedness that make an immedi- ate impact, Jansen assured. "He'll bring a sense of urgency," Jansen said. "Every play matters. If it's a poorly blocked play, you can't just say, 'Oh, nothing can happen,' and you get tackled for a one-yard loss. "I think you're going to see a big difference in how hard these guys run, how they see the field, and more importantly, in how they protect. That's going to be a huge part. If you can't protect in today's game … you used to be able to get by with guys that were average pass protectors, or maybe they couldn't even block at all. "But in today's game, because it is a passing game, you have to be able to protect. Hassan has proven he can do that. But we need to see it from Blake, and we definitely need to see it from those young guys." Hart, though small in stature, proved one of the best pass pro- tectors Michigan has ever fea- tured at the running backs po- sition. He'll attack the blocking aspect of his teaching duties like he attacked pass rushers who out- weighed him by 80 or 90 pounds. "You know what? Sometimes you've got to see it before it happens," Jansen said. "He's not going to strap on the pads, but he'll go through and show these guys ex- actly what they're supposed to do, so they can see it on the field, they can perform it, then they can see it in the film room." Performing is everything in a bounce- back season. The Wolverines rushed for 789 yards in last year's six-game schedule. They'd like to triple that output this year — at the very least. Hart's impact — from the veterans to the rookies — should be quickly felt. If he coaches like he ran, the ferocity and savvy of the current crew should spike as well. ❑ ROSTER No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Elig. Hometown (High School) 31 Lucas Andrighetto* 6-1 202 Sr. So. Mountain View, Calif. (St. Francis) 2 Blake Corum 5-8 200 So. Fr. Marshall, Va. (St. Frances [Md.]) 22 Tavierre Dunlap 6-0 196 Fr. Fr. Del Valle, Texas (Del Valle) 7 Donovan Edwards 5-11 190 Fr. Fr. West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield) 34 Leon Franklin* 5-8 193 Jr. Fr. Southfield, Mich. (Southfield A&T) 41 Isaiah Gash* 5-10 172 So. Fr. Green Bay, Wis. (Bay Port) 25 Hassan Haskins 6-1 220 Sr. So. Eureka, Mo. (Eureka Senior) 22 Danny Hughes* 6-0 200 Jr. Fr. Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central) 36 Nico Tiberia* 5-9 196 So. Fr. Allen Park, Mich. (Allen Park) * Walk-on Tavierre Dunlap rushed for 572 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Del Valle (Texas) High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM