The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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28 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2022 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE DEPARTURES Hassan Haskins He declared for the NFL Draft after four seasons at Michigan, including two in which he led the team in rush- ing (2020 and 2021). He racked up 1,327 yards and a program-record 20 touch- downs on 270 carries this past cam- paign, with no fumbles lost. RETURNERS Sophomore Blake Corum The speedster ran 143 times for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also hauling in 24 receptions for 141 yards and a score during his second season on campus in 2021. Sophomore Donovan Edwards He rushed 35 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns, but was primarily used as a receiving weapon out of the backfield, catching 20 passes for 265 yards and a score. He also threw a 75- yard touchdown pass on a trick play. Redshirt freshman Tavierre Dunlap The 6-0, 222-pounder is the heaviest running back (by 16 pounds) with Haskins off to the NFL and appeared in two games during his de- but season, carrying seven times for 51 yards. NEWCOMERS Freshman CJ Stokes A three-star recruit, Stokes was the 49th-ranked running back nationally and No. 11 player in South Carolina for the class of 2022, according to On3. com. The 5-11, 190-pounder rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his three varsity seasons at Columbia (S.C.) Hammond. RUNNING BACKS 2022 LOOK AHEAD Michigan had a two-headed monster of Haskins and Co- rum lead its backfield in 2021, and there projects to be a strong duo of Corum and Edwards next season. Corum, the 5-8, 200-pound scat back, saw 22 of his 144 rushes go for gains of 10-plus yards, showing his explosive- ness. More than capable of being an every-down back de- spite his usage last season, he led the team with eight total touchdowns and 407 rushing yards in the first three games of 2021, before Haskins took off and became the bell cow. Edwards is a big-play threat, too, exemplified by his 77-yard touchdown catch against Maryland and 43-yard reception versus Georgia. The former four-star recruit was used in the passing attack more than the run game last season, but expect that to change with the departure of Haskins. He appears to be ready for a much bigger role, which will include more carries. Still, Michigan will miss Haskins' ability to fall forward and get the extra yards. He racked up 825 yards after contact with 103 first downs, which led all Power Five backs. The Wolverines are likely to adjust their run game in order to test the edges more, with 534 of Corum's yards and seven of his touchdowns coming outside the tackles last season, but will still have to find ways to pick up the tough yardage when needed. They pursued former Arizona State back DeaMonte Trayanum — a 235-pound physical back who ended up com- mitting to Ohio State as a linebacker Jan. 4 — showing that the staff is aware they have a need to fill in that area. In addition, the Wolverines project to have just four schol- arship backs on the roster next season. The players are qual- ity, but that's a low number given the amount of hits rushers take throughout the course of a year. 2022 ANALYSIS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL