The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2018 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. RUNNING BACKS BY THE NUMBERS 3 Returning Michigan running backs who earned at least one start in 2017 (Karan Higdon 8, Chris Evans 2, Ben Mason 1). 5th Michigan's Big Ten rank ing in rushing touchdowns in 2017, with 26. 49th Michigan's national rank in rushing of- fense (177.7 yards per game), which was good for fourth in the Big Ten. 191 Rushing yards by Ev- ans in last year's win over Minnesota to set a career high. 994 Rushing yards for H i g d o n i n 2 0 1 7 , drawing him within six yards of becoming Michigan's first 1,000- yard tailback since 2011. WHO'S GONE TAILBACK TY ISAAC He rushed for 1,170 yards on 192 carries with eight touch- downs over the course of his three-year Michigan career. FULLBACKS KHALID HILL AND HENRY POGGI Hill started 11 of the 45 games in which he appeared at Michigan, rushing 42 times from his fullback spot for 73 yards and 13 touchdowns, with 29 catches for 288 yards and three more TDs. Poggi started 17 of the 45 games he played at Michigan, moving from tight end early in his ca- reer to become an effective blocking fullback. WHO'S BACK SENIOR TAILBACK KARAN HIGDON Higdon fell just one six-yard run in the Outback Bowl from hitting 1,000 in 2017, but he emerged as the Wolverines' lead back, with 200-yard efforts against Indiana and Minnesota. He averaged 6.1 yards per tote and scored 11 touchdowns. JUNIOR TAILBACK CHRIS EVANS He wound up with 685 yards rushing on 135 tries (5.1 aver- age) and six touchdowns last fall, and posted 101 total yards in the regular-season finale against Ohio State. SOPHOMORE FULLBACK BEN MASON Mason earned the team's Toughest Player award in 2017 as a true freshman, and he should get plenty of opportunities to demonstrate that toughness with Hill and Poggi gone. TOP NEWCOMERS FRESHMAN TAILBACK HASSAN HASKINS The 6-1, 207-pounder rushed for 2,197 yards (8.6 per carry) and 31 touchdowns as a senior at Eureka (Mo.) High, while making 12 catches for 165 yards and another pair of TDs. FRESHMAN TAILBACK CHRISTIAN TURNER Turner played a seven-game senior season in Buford, Ga., due to a leg injury, but he still piled up 801 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on 115 carries (7.0 average). FRESHMAN FULLBACK BEN VANSUMEREN The 6-3, 232-pounder could provide a very athletic comple- ment to Mason at fullback, following a senior season at Es- sexville (Mich.) Garber in which he rushed for 387 yards and caught a state regular-season-record 85 passes for 1,259 yards. He totaled 19 scores as a senior. "Did God make anybody to be a fullback more than Ben Mason? I saw him play, but I met him first at the Football Bust. He was meant to be a fullback. I think he's going to be one of the best at that position. "He's a guy you can hand the ball to, and he can do a little bit with it, so you can keep teams honest. And he can catch the ball out of the backfield, which I think is a huge asset. "But for him to be the lead blocker, you can tell him to take out that Mike linebacker, and he's going to say, 'Yes sir, where would you like me to plant him?'" — U-M All-American Jon Jansen QUOTABLE POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH While Karan Higdon emerged as Michigan's starting tailback over the course of the season, Chris Evans wasn't conceding anything. The two will resume that battle for the top spot once again, with a host of other candidates vying for the next- man-up role behind them. BY JOHN BORTON K aran Higdon enjoyed his breakout season in 2017 and should see a clear path to a strong follow-up year as a senior. He consistently demonstrates the quickness and breakaway speed to make big plays. Those clearing the way for all of Michigan's backs in 2018 are tal- ented and growing, but U-M's need at offensive tackle must be well met. An X-factor involves new offensive line coach Ed Warinner, a highly respected mentor for the roadgraders. Michigan's backs also need to take a step forward in pass protection, in concert with those offensive linemen, to keep U-M quarterbacks off their backs in the fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN KARAN HIGDON