The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/698673
68 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW RUNNING BACKS PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Tyrone Wheatley enters his second season as Michigan's running backs coach, after returning to the program in which he starred as a tailback in the early 1990s. In the 2015 season, the Wolverines' rushers gained 2,057 yards on 491 carries with 27 touchdowns. Before returning to Ann Arbor, Wheatley served as running backs coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2013-14. Prior to that, he coached college football at Syracuse (2010- 12), Eastern Michigan (2009) and Ohio Northern (2008). Wheatley coached Syracuse's Delone Carter to a 1,000-yard season in 2010. Wheatley played for the Wolverines from 1991-94, fin - ishing as the second-leading ground gainer (now fifth) in modern Michigan football history with 4,187 yards. He earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1992, as well as garnering notice as a track All-American in the 110-meter hurdles in 1995. Wheatley played 10 seasons in the NFL, with the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders, before turning to coaching. RETURNING PLAYERS JOE BENEDUCCI • FB Jr. • Far Hills, N.J. Ht. 5-9 • Wt. 200 Career Highlights: Has not seen game action. Prep: Played running back and defensive back for West Morris Mendham High School in Mendham, N.J. BOBBY HENDERSON • FB 5th-Sr. • Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Ht. 5-11 • Wt. 245 Career Highlights: Played in three games at fullback in 2015 … Achieved Academic All-Big Ten honors … Made collegiate debut at Michigan State in 2013 … Redshirted in 2012. Prep: Lettered for three seasons at John Jay High School … Earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors as a running back his final two seasons. Personal: Born Oct. 18, 1993 … Enrolled in the School of Information, majoring in science and information. JOE HEWLETT • RB Jr. • Novi, Mich. Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 195 Career Highlights: Switched from quarterback to running back follow - ing the 2015 season. Prep: Played at Northville High School, under the direction of head coach Matt Ladach. Personal: Born June 8, 1996 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. KARAN HIGDON • RB So. • Sarasota, Fla. Ht.: 5-10 • Wt. 189 Career Highlights: Rushed for 19 yards on 11 attempts in three appear - ances in 2015 … Made his college debut against Northwestern, carrying the ball eight times for 16 yards … Earned two carries against Michigan State. Prep: Rushed for 1,471 yards and 16 touchdowns his final two years of high school … Posted 565 yards as a senior, when he was limited to six games due to injury … Averaged 6.7 yards per carry over the course of his career at Riverview High School … Rivals.com listed him as a three-star recruit, Florida's No. 77 senior and the nation's No. 45 running back. Personal: Born Sept. 8, 1996 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. KHALID HILL • FB R-Jr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 263 Career Highlights: Appeared in 12 games in 2015, catching four passes for 71 yards from the tight end posi - tion … Garnered two catches against BYU for 39 yards, with a career long grab of 20 yards … Switched from tight end to fullback following the season … Caught four passes for 37 yards in his redshirt freshman year … Started four of the six games in 2014 before going down with a season-ending ACL injury in October. Prep: Attended Crockett Technical High School and East English Village Prep … Was named to the U.S. Under-19 National Team as a senior … Rated as the No. 21 player in Michigan and No. 32 tight end nationally by Rivals.com. Personal: Born June 4, 1995 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. TY ISAAC • RB R-Jr. • Shorewood, Ill. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 228 Career Highlights: Appeared in six games with one start during the 2015 season … Rushed for a total of 205 yards on 30 attempts … Had his first Michigan start at Maryland, running six times for 17 yards … Ran for a ca - reer-best 115 yards and a touchdown against UNLV, posting a career-long 76-yard run to notch his score … Prac- ticed all year with the Wolverines in 2014, sitting out the season due to NCAA transfer rules after coming in from USC … Appeared in all 14 games for the Trojans in 2013 … Tallied 40 carries for 236 yards (5.9 yards per rush) and two touchdowns … Added four catches for 57 yards … Had his best day at Cal, with 11 carries for 87 yards and two scores. Prep: A four-year starter for Joliet Catholic Academy, racking up 5,305 rushing yards during his career … Totaled 1,500 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, de - spite missing several games to injury … Registered 2,490 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns as a junior, including a title-game record 376 yards in the 2011 Class 1A Illinois state championship contest … Earned Illinois Football Coaches Association first-team All-State honors as a senior … Named a USA Today second-team All-American, an ES - PNHS.com first-team Junior All-American and The Chicago Sun-Times Player Of The Year as a junior … Tabbed as a five- star prospect, the No. 2 recruit in Illinois, and the nation's No. 4 running back and No. 27 overall player by Rivals.com. Personal: Born Oct. 16, 1994 … Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, major undeclared. DRAKE JOHNSON • RB 5th-Sr. • Ann Arbor Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 210 Career Highlights: Played in 12 games with one start during the 2015 season … Rushed for 271 yards on 54 attempts with four touchdowns … Added six receptions for 96 yards and two scores … Made his first carry since Sophomore Karan Higdon was hampered by injuries during his rookie season, but he pos- sesses the talent and tools to be a successful ball carrier. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN