The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/901162
20 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2017 time. He was so excited. I told him, 'You only have control over yourself. Always give 110 percent, no matter what. You're going to have adversity.' I always remind him of those morals and values. Those are all life lessons." He's learned them, from all ac- counts. Higdon toughened up along the way, mentally and physically. He takes nothing for granted in the race among Michigan's ball carriers. When he gets his opportunities, he hits the hole like he's been shot out of a cannon. He's learning to round out his game, and that bodes well for what remains of his Michigan career, and beyond. "His vision keeps getting better and better, as well as his balance," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. "He's been a hard runner. "He's made the big runs, pass pro- tected well. I like the balance, the low center of gravity, the way he can drop his pads and the physical nature of the way he plays." His teammates, even his mom, use another term when describing his edge. "He's just mean," fifth-year senior center Pat Kugler offered on the 5-10, 190-pounder. "He's smaller, but it's going to take more than one guy to take him down, every time. He can make you look good sometimes, when you don't do something great. That's what makes a back special. "He's a very physical back, and just the way he runs, it's mean. That's what you like to see." "He plays mean," Christian echoed. "He plays very mean. He knows nothing comes easy. He has to fight for playing time, and that's what it's all about for him." BIG MOMENTS, BIG DREAMS Higdon himself doesn't shy from the description. "For sure," he said. "I get angry. I want to hit you before you can hit me. I want to deliver the blow, each and every run." He's delivered some difference- making blows for the Wolverines ever since the Big Ten season began. Kugler referenced Higdon making linemen look good and readily ad- mitted experience in that regard. Kugler confessed to going the wrong way on the decisive overtime play at Indiana. He moved right, with Higdon behind him, but the Hoosiers defense jammed the area, appearing set for a no-gain takedown. Instead, Higdon reversed field, sprinting away to his left on the 25- yard, game-winning touchdown run. That capped a 200-yard, three-touch- down day. Higdon's 158-yard rushing after- noon against Rutgers two weeks later included a 49-yard TD bolt, and his 200-yard night versus Minnesota the following week featured a 77-yard scoring dash. In other words, he won't lack highlight-reel material from his pen- ultimate season in maize and blue. That's not what he's seeking, though. He wants to win. Higdon doesn't possess a Big Ten championship ring, even though he and his teammates have a shot at a third straight 10-win season. He also carries more than the foot- ball when he takes a handoff, Hig- don assured. In his mind, he's car- rying the hopes and dreams of his teammates, and those of people back home. "I know I run mean," he said. "I'm angry when I play, because I'm run- ning for more than just myself. There are other people that look up to me, and I've got to carry a legacy for them. It's more than just me when I play this game. "It's everybody in my community — my family, kids I grew up with that didn't continue their careers playing football, younger kids who maybe want to be me or be someone like me someday. "A lot of people from my city al- ways text me and send me encourag- ing words. It's fulfilling. It lets me know I'm making them happy, and that's important to me." Higdon insists he's "trusting the process," having gotten stronger and faster through weight and speed training at Michigan. He was always bigger than other kids growing up, which allowed him to play against older competition. He got off to a slow start a year Higdon has always had his mother, Samantha Christian, to push him. A 5-year-old Higdon once tried to quit football before his mom told him he couldn't — a memory they still joke about. PHOTO COURTESY KARAN HIGDON