The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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RB The Total Package will help establish an identity for our offense," Jackson said. "He runs with a power that is contagious. He runs with his pads Jackson is prepared to spend the first 10 practices of preseason low and he runs angry. That's like Chris Perry. A lot of big guys run camp evaluating all of his running backs, but he'd like to begin narhigh but he doesn't. rowing down his list, deciding on a No. 1, a No. 2 and a No. 3 ball "When he's behind a guard, he's running as low as Mike Hart ran, carrier. If all goes according to plan, Toussaint will hold one of those and he's going to hit you, and if you're not spots, and quite possibly the first because of ready for it, or you're smaller than he is, his experience and overall game. Leading Rusher Year-By-Year you're going to end up on your butt." "He's very important to this offense. Year Player Carries Yards TD Green rushed for 3,643 yards and 50 Denard Robinson 177 1,266 7 2012 When we get this thing going, you want a 2011 Denard Robinson 221 1,176 16 touchdowns during his prep career, and, in guy in there that can play all three downs, 2010 Denard Robinson 256 1,702 14 Jackson's estimation, he has only improved and he can do that," Jackson said. "With our Brandon Minor 96 502 8 2009 since, bulking up to 236 pounds (from 220) other running backs, all of them do a lot of 2008 Brandon Minor 103 533 9 on his 5-11 frame. good things, but there is something they're Mike Hart 265 1,361 14 2007 "In the Ohio game, twice we had thirdall missing, but Fitz isn't missing anything. 2006 Mike Hart 318 1,562 14 2005 Mike Hart 150 662 4 and-ones and we didn't get it. He'll get that That's why he's our starter." Mike Hart 282 1,455 9 2004 yard," Jackson said. Robinson led U-M in rushing with 1,266 2003 Chris Perry 338 1,674 18 Though not as heralded, the 5-11, yards in 2012, but among Big Ten running 218-pound De'Veon Smith runs with a simibacks, Toussaint's 514 yards represented lar style, taking on anyone between him and the end zone. He's not the lowest tally among the conference's top rushers from each team. near the finished product Green portends to be, but he could be the Two seasons ago, however, he was a 1,000-yard back, and Jackson is freshman that complements Toussaint or a veteran. confident he can be again. "He's a shifty runner that can attack you like a cobra after he "More than 1,000 yards — 1,300, 1,400 yards, in that range if he's moves on you," Jackson said. "He will actually try to run through 100 percent," Jackson said. "Even coming off his injury and last year, you all the time, but we have to coach that out of him because he's he should be better than he was as a sophomore." not quite big enough. Toussaint isn't the only ball carrier that possesses every trait neces"I had to do that with Mike Hart. When Mike came here, he wanted sary to demand 25 carries. Incoming freshman Derrick Green was a five-star prospect and the nation's No. 1 tailback for a reason. to run through people. I told him, 'Forget that. You're 5-7. Side step, "You have to give him a chance in camp because he's a complete slide step, shallow cut, jump cut.' And that's how Mike ended up the player and can just do some things, from a physical standpoint, that success he was. Fifth-year senior Fitzgerald Toussaint (left), redshirt sophomore Justice Hayes (center) and redshirt freshman Drake Johnson (right) will look to give the Wolverines a potent stable of running backs this season. photo by lon horwedel The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview ■ 91