The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
R U N N I N G B A C K S THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 57 POSITION COACH Tony Alford was hired in the spring of 2024, and is in his third season as running backs coach and run game coordinator after nine seasons at Ohio State, in- cluding the final two as assistant head coach for offense. The Wolverines ranked No. 14 nationally with 210.2 rushing yards per game in 2025, led by two rushers that racked up 850-plus yards — Jordan Marshall (932) and Justice Haynes (879). U-M to- taled 12 100-yard rushing performances by four players in 13 games, the most for the program since 1998. Under his watch, Kalel Mullings experienced a breakout season in 2024, leading the team in rushes (185), yards (948) and touchdowns (12). Mullings was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Dono- van Edwards also made the jump to the pros as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets after posting 128 carries for 589 yards and 4 TDs as a senior. With OSU, Alford mentored four RBs who pro- duced six 1,000-yard seasons — Ezekiel Elliott (2015), Mike Weber (2016), J.K. Dobbins (2017- 19) and TreVeyon Henderson (2021). Four of his Buckeye backs were drafted in the NFL, including three top-100 selections in Elliott (No. 4 overall), Dobbins (No. 55) and Trey Sermon (No. 88). Previously, Alford coached at Notre Dame for six years from 2009-14, working with wide re- ceivers for two seasons and running backs for four. The 30-year veteran also coached running backs at Louisville (2007-08), Iowa State (2002- 06), Washington (2001), Iowa State (1997-2000), Kent State (1996) and Division III Mount Union (1995). The Akron, Ohio, native attended Colorado Springs (Colo.) Doherty High and Colorado State University, where he was a four-year running back. RETURNING PLAYERS MICAH KA'APANA • RB Jr. • Waianae, Hawai'i Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 190 • Suffered a season-ending lower-body injury this spring. • Dealt with injury much of the 2025 campaign, rushing 10 times for 38 yards and catching 1 pass for 8 yards in four games. • Appeared in two games in 2024, rushed once for 4 yards. • Named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week in helping prep for Arkansas State. • Helped Las Vegas Bishop Gorman win three straight Nevada Class 5A state championships from 2021-23 and the 2023 MaxPreps na- tional title. • Racked up 732 rushing yards and 9 touch- downs as a senior and rushed for 1,001 yards and 15 scores as a junior. • Tabbed a three-star recruit and checked in as the No. 39 running back in the country and second-best player in Nevada. Year GP/GS Att. Yds. Avg. TD 2024 2/0 1 4 4.0 0 2025 4/0 10 38 3.8 0 Total 6/0 11 42 3.8 0 BRYSON KUZDZAL • RB Sr. • Grand Rapids, Mich. Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 210 • Appeared in nine games with two starts (Maryland, Texas) in 2025. • Rushed 76 times for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, with a 100-yard rushing performance in a win over Maryland. • Former walk-on was the top rusher in the 2025 spring game (14 carries for 105 yards). • Earned a scholarship after the 2024 season. • Appeared in six games on special teams in 2024, making 2 tackles. • Did not see game action in 2023. • Attended Forest Hills Eastern High, rushing for 2,553 yards and 38 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons. • Also competed in basketball and track and field, and was part of a state runner-up Michi- gan Division 2 track and field team. • Named all-state by The Detroit News after his senior season. Year GP/GS Att. Yds. Avg. TD 2023 0/0 0 0 0 0 2024 6/0 0 0 0 0 2025 9/2 76 326 4.3 4 Total 15/2 76 326 4.3 4 DONOVAN JOHNSON • RB So. • Savannah, Ga. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 215 • Redshirted and did not see game action in 2025. • Attended IMG Academy for his final three seasons. • Ran for 463 yards on 74 carries with 7 touch- downs in IMG career (14 games); missed his entire junior season in 2023 due to knee in- jury. • Rushed for 1,336 yards on 170 carries with 10 touchdowns in freshman year at Savannah Calvary Day. • Father, Derrick, played quarterback at The Citadel (1994-95). • No. 44 running back nationally and No. 67 player in Florida, per the On3 Industry Ranking. JORDAN MARSHALL • RB Jr. • Cincinnati Ht.: 5-11 • Wt.: 216 • A second-team All-Big Ten selection, Marshall was named the team's Co-Of- fensive Player of the Year in 2025, appearing in 11 con- tests with four starts. • Registered 150 rush at- tempts for a team-best 932 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, adding 9 catches for 92 yards. • Appeared in five games in 2024 with three appearances at running back with one start, and rushed for 120 yards on 31 carries. • Also returned 9 kickoffs for 225 yards. • Started in the Dec. 31, 2024, ReliaQuest Bowl versus Alabama, rushing 23 times for 100 yards and winning MVP honors. • Totaled 6,196 all-purpose yards in his prep career, including an Archbishop Moeller program-record 4,787 rushing yards with 80 touchdowns (15 receiving). • Tallied 1,554 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns as a senior in 2023, after rush- ing for 1,961 yards and 30 TDs as a junior. • Named the 2023 Ohio Mr. Football, the first Wolverine since Charles Woodson in 1994. • U-M's highest-rated 2023 signee, slotting as the 87th overall player, fourth-best running back nationally and the No. 3 player in Ohio, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Year GP/GS Att. Yds. Avg. TD 2024 5/1 31 120 3.9 0 2025 11/4 150 932 6.2 10 Total 16/4 181 1,052 5.8 10 NEWCOMERS JONATHAN BROWN • RB Fr. • Westerville, Ohio Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 200 • Enrolled early this spring. • A three-star recruit, the No. 803 overall player and No. 49 running back in the na- tion, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. SAVION HITER • RB Fr. • Louisa, Va. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 210 • Enrolled in January 2026. • Rushed for 1,445 yards and 25 TDs as a senior, after put- ting up 1,698 rushing yards and 26 scores as a junior. • Totaled 5,529 rushing yards and 84 touch- downs in his prep career. • Under Armour All-American Game selection in 2025. • 2025 Gatorade and MaxPreps Player of the Year in Virginia. • A five-star-plus prospect and the No. 12 over- all player and No. 1 running back in the 2026 class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.