The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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30 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2017 2017 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. RUNNING BACKS BY THE NUMBERS 2 Career starts among Michigan's returning tailbacks, a number eclipsed by the eight starts from Hill. 25 Rushing touchdowns by Wolverines who re- turn to the U-M back- field, including 10 by Hill. 2,302 Rushing yards posted last season by Michi- gan's top four backs combined. That's the highest total for a quartet of Wolverine running backs since A n t h o n y T h o m a s (1,733), Chris Perr y (417), Walter Cross (151) and Justin Far- gas (85) combined for 2,386 on the Big Ten champion 2000 squad. The designated lead back is gone, but De'Veon Smith was never a one- man show in Michigan's backfield. The fact that four U-M backs topped 400 yards in 2016, with three of them returning, says plenty about the Wolverines' ability to reload at the position. Top fullback Khalid Hill also is back, bringing blocking and short- yardage power. E vans appears to provide Michigan with the best combination of explosive- ness, moves, hands, etc. He proved to be one Wolverine who could break away from Florida State's quick defense in the Orange Bowl. But Higdon missed much of last off- season with illness, and he figures to make a better run at showing all he can do this year. Kareem Walker was the talk of Michigan's bowl practices in Decem- ber, asserting himself after a rocky adjustment and redshirting during his first year in Ann Arbor. Isaac may find more favor moving forward, with Michigan switching coaches at running back, so the tailback battle is on, with possible sixth-year senior Drake Johnson an X-factor. At fullback, Hill and fifth-year se- nior Henry Poggi lend experience, skill and toughness. — John Borton POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH The No. 1 tailback position doesn't mean everything, the 2016 season underscoring that fact emphatically. But the battle to take the lead is always intensely watched, and whether it's Evans, Higdon, Isaac or redshirt freshman Kareem Walker, someone will emerge. WHO'S GONE DE'VEON SMITH Smith often found himself undervalued out- side Schembechler Hall, but his toughness, pass- protecting ability and experience will be missed, along with the 846 rushing yards and 10 touch- downs he posted last fall. WHO'S BACK SOPHOMORE CHRIS EVANS Evans produced the highest per-carry average (7.0) of all U-M backs last season, rushing 88 times for 614 yards and four touchdowns, and appears ready for a breakout season in 2017. JUNIOR KARAN HIGDON Higdon demonstrated some explosiveness at times, carrying 72 times for 425 yards (5.9) and six touchdowns a year ago, and with a healthier offseason could make a move on extensive play- ing time. FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR TY ISAAC Isaac has always possessed the size (6-3, 230) and the skills as a running back, and took a step forward last year with 417 yards and five touch- downs — consistency is the key. FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR FULLBACK KHALID HILL Hill became Michigan's goal-line go-to back in 2016, rushing for 10 touchdowns with just 39 overall rushing yards, while also catching 16 passes for 118 yards and three scores. TOP NEWCOMERS FRESHMAN O'MAURY SAMUELS Samuels rushed for more than 1,300 yards in each of his three varsity seasons in Los Lunas, N.M., and features the sort of quickness that could get him noticed in a hurry. FRESHMAN KURT TAYLOR Taylor rushed for 930 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in Loganville, Ga., following a junior year featuring 1,631 yards and 22 scores, and he's one class sleeper looking to awaken others to his skills. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN "Who is going to be the one who steps up in spring and says, 'Hey, I'm going to be the bell cow. I'm going to be the guy you can count on to get three or four yards.'" — U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE CHRIS EVANS