The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OCTOBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 65 E ntering this season, Michi- gan football understood that it needed to find ways to punish opposing defenses while easing true freshman quarterback Bryce Under- wood into the starting role. From the outside, the plan seemed obvious: a heavy dose of a heralded running back tandem that would split carries and keep opponents on their heels and Underwood comfortable. U-M, though, has been serving its enemies a lot more justice instead. Justice Haynes, that is. Haynes has been Michigan's bona fide starter at running back with 66 attempts to sophomore Jordan Mar- shall's 36 through four contests. With that workload, the Alabama trans- fer has made an incredible impres- sion in his first month in Ann Arbor. His 66 carries have netted 537 total yards at 8.14 yards per carry and 6 touchdowns. Those are all among the nation's best. He is tied for third in total rushing yards, rushing yards per game (134.3) and rushing scores, and among qualified rushers averaging at least 10 carries per contest, he ranks seventh in yards per carry. In handing out this justice, Haynes has not discriminated against who should receive it. In each of Michigan's first four games, he has recorded at least 100 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry, and a rushing touchdown. His performances have been remarkably consistent, even if the caliber of the opposing defenses have varied. He has posted these num- bers against the likes of New Mexico and Central Michigan at home, and against Oklahoma and Nebraska in hostile envi- ronments. He has demonstrated, so far, that all opponents are equally entitled to this punishment. Haynes also has levied his justice in a very consistent matter. He has been the king of the home run, dealing opposing defenses electrifying quick strikes right through their heart. He has 4 runs of at least 50 yards, including touchdowns of 56 yards versus the Lobos and 75 yards against both Oklahoma and Nebraska. That is tied for the most with UTSA's Robert Henry Jr. Every time that Haynes receives a handoff, he is a threat to take it all the way to the house. As such, Haynes is considered by most, if not all, to be one of the top five run- ning backs in the country through the first third of the season. CBS Sports' "Cover 3" show, one of the top and most popu- lar college football podcasts, nominated Haynes as an easy inclusion in their group of the sport's top five rushers during their Sept. 22 episode. Pro Football Focus has supplied him with a rushing grade of 84.9, which is fifth among Power Four running backs and sixth among all running backs with 50-plus attempts. Haynes has bro- ken onto the national scene and left many wondering how the Crimson Tide could have let him depart Tuscaloosa and enter the transfer portal. Haynes' numbers have been so good that it is difficult not to start peeking at the Wolverines' record book and seeing if they will be historic. Notwithstand- ing that Michigan has been blessed with many talented and accomplished runners, Haynes may be trying to write his own page. If he maintains his pace of 134.3 rushing yards per game, he will have 1,611 yards at the end of the regular season. That would be sixth on U-M's single-season list and, with at least one postseason game to play, 207 yards shy of Tim Biakabutuka's record of 1,818 in 1995. Additionally, Haynes' 8.14 yards per carry is the highest average among all Wolverines with at least 50 carries in a season. The current best in that de- partment is Tyrone Wheatley's 7.3- yard average on 185 rushes in 1992. Therefore, through September, Haynes has set himself up to be one of the best running backs in the coun- try and maybe — just maybe — have one of the best seasons by a Michigan running back. Whether Haynes can keep this stride remains to be seen. It is un- likely that he will have a historic sea- son. First, he probably will not have the volume needed to break 1,600 rushing yards. Head coach Sherrone Moore and staff likely will want to keep Haynes fresh and not siphon away Mar- shall's touches. Plus, Underwood's legs are a weapon that will be utilized more deeper into the season. Second, it is un- clear if Haynes can keep ripping off large chunks. He has not been bowling over defenders methodically with a high suc- cess rate. His rushing success rate of 43.8 percent is tied for 148th among quali- fied runners. Rather, his yards have come in bunches with 59.4 percent of them on 7 runs of at least 15 yards. That is the eighth-highest breakaway rate according to PFF. If defenses start to limit the explo- sives, Haynes' effectiveness may wane. But defenses must prove they can take the right angles and fill the right gaps to put the lid on Haynes. Because as he has shown, one small misstep, and he will serve them six more points. ❑ INSIDE THE NUMBERS ❱ DREW HALLETT Serving Justice Through the first four games of the season, Justice Haynes has a Pro Football Focus rushing grade of 84.9, the fifth-best mark among Power Four running backs. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Staff writer Drew Hallett has covered Michigan athletics since 2013. Contact him at drew.c.hallett@gmail.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @DrewCHallett.